Vibration therapy has quickly become a rising health trend in recent years. Both traditional and alternative practices are beginning to offer vibration therapy as part of their wellness offerings.
Vibrating plates or machines send vibrations up and down your body, stimulating muscles to contract and relax repeatedly. They can be used on an overall body basis or targeted specifically towards certain parts of the body.
Improved circulation
Circulation is essential in providing oxygen and nutrients to all cells and tissues in our bodies while eliminating waste products such as carbon dioxide. Poor circulation can result in cold hands and feet, muscle cramps, slow healing wounds, as well as cold hands and feet syndrome. According to studies, vibration therapy may improve circulation significantly.
Combining whole-body vibration therapy and strength training has proven especially effective in helping older adults improve both strength and physical performance compared to those who only did strength training alone. According to one 2021 study, those who combined whole-body vibration therapy and strength training saw significant gains compared with those who only did strength training alone.
Vibration therapy works to stimulate muscles in your legs and back, increasing circulation to these areas and producing neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine to regulate mood and reduce stress relief.
Prior to beginning vibration therapy, it’s wise to consult your physician. While vibration therapy can be harmful for those suffering from blood clots, heart conditions or nerve damage, low-impact whole body vibration (WBV) treatments may provide safer results that are available at gyms or at home.
WBV involves standing or sitting on a vibrating platform while performing exercises, with vibrations traveling from your head down through to your feet, targeting hard-to-reach muscles and providing an added boost of circulation. WBV can serve as a good alternative to high-impact workouts which may be too intense for certain individuals.
Localized vibration therapy (LVT) works similarly to WBV therapy but targets only one area at once, using handheld devices applied directly to muscles or joints. This therapy may help relieve chronic conditions like fibromyalgia while also alleviating delayed-onset muscle soreness after intense exercise.
Vibration therapy for bone loss has recently gained in popularity, with studies revealing its ability to increase density of bones and relieve osteoarthritis symptoms. Vibrations stimulate production of new bone cells that strengthen and protect bones – an approach NASA has long employed in order to boost astronauts’ bone mass and prevent fractures on board the space station.
Reduced stress
Vibration therapy uses vibratory vibrations to induce small shock-like sensations in order to relieve stress and promote relaxation. Research has indicated that vibration therapy helps stimulate endorphin release – your body’s natural feel-good chemicals – which in turn relieve anxiety, as well as decrease cortisol, which is the main stress hormone. Furthermore, vibration therapy may help relieve muscle knot pain. It may help relieve tight, hardened areas which cause referred discomfort elsewhere on your body such as muscle knots.
Vibration therapy has long-term positive impacts on mental health and well-being when used regularly, serving as an effective supplement to other forms of treatment for mental health conditions like psychotherapy or medication. Vibration therapy‘s physical benefits can increase their efficacy by improving blood flow and decreasing tension – making people more receptive to therapeutic techniques or conversations.
Vibration therapy can be performed using either a whole-body vibration machine or localized device. The former requires standing on a platform that vibrates to transmit vibrations directly into your body, while localized devices typically involve smaller devices that can be placed in hands or elsewhere on your body to deliver smaller doses of vibration therapy. Users have control over frequency and intensity settings of vibration therapy allowing them to determine what level is appropriate for their own individual needs.
Vibrations may be horizontal, vertical or mixed and can move through your body from front to back. Their intensity and direction play a pivotal role in their impact on your health; for instance they could increase or decrease circulation or cause feelings of euphoria or calmness in various ways.
Though vibration therapy has numerous positive outcomes, not everyone should pursue this practice. People suffering from cardiovascular disease or deep vein thrombosis should stay away, and pacemakers must use caution as vibrations may interfere with their function. In general though, vibration therapy should be safe for most healthy adults without preexisting medical issues or complications.
Increased muscle strength
Vibration therapy sessions involve individuals standing, sitting or exercising on equipment that emits low to moderate-frequency vibrations, which trigger reflexive muscle contractions to strengthen both large and small muscle groups throughout their bodies, improving strength, co-ordination and balance. Vibrations also stimulate bone cells which may increase bone density over time – this therapy may prove particularly helpful for older individuals at risk of osteoporosis or seeking optimal bone health.
Vibration therapy can be practiced at both home and professional sessions. Regular sessions can help to build muscle strength while alleviating chronic pain caused by conditions like fibromyalgia. Furthermore, this therapy reduces stress levels and enhances mental clarity.
Localized vibration therapy can be an excellent way to target specific areas of the body and can be particularly useful in treating painful joints. Vibration can increase range of motion and tissue extensibility in areas like shoulders, wrists, knees and back. Practitioners can identify areas requiring increased treatment by experiencing different tactile or auditory sensations; vibrations may feel “thudier” over affected tissue or sound louder in comparison with other vibration frequencies.
Vibration therapy using a vibration plate can significantly alleviate pain by blocking pain signals to the brain, providing both acute and chronic relief from conditions like fibromyalgia. Furthermore, vibration therapy promotes lymphatic drainage, thus decreasing swelling while speeding healing processes.
Although vibration therapy offers numerous health and fitness advantages, its vibrations may cause uncomfortable or even harmful side effects. Therefore, it is wise to consult a healthcare provider prior to beginning any vibration therapy routines – whole body vibration can be especially dangerous for those suffering from cardiovascular diseases, deep vein thrombosis, osteoporosis or pregnancy, while targeted vibration therapy (like Intellinetix products) is safe and can easily be tailored according to individual thresholds to reduce discomfort.
Improved sleep
Vibration therapy is an all-natural solution to improve sleep. By stimulating the nervous system to calm you, vibration therapy can help you fall asleep faster and experience deeper restful slumber. Furthermore, increased oxygen circulation to your brain can keep you more alert throughout the day; ultimately reducing instances of stress-related insomnia and other sleep disorders.
Vibration therapy offers another advantage in relieving pain, which can be particularly useful for chronic conditions like fibromyalgia that cause discomfort across multiple body regions. One study demonstrated how vibration therapy reduced pain levels in participants’ hands and feet as well as improving sleep quality for all those taking part.
Vibration therapy appears to help mental health as well. A 2023 study demonstrated how vibration therapy could enhance cognitive function among both healthy people and those with comorbidities alike, by increasing blood flow to the brain and neurotransmitter production in the hippocampus – both essential components for memory.
Vibration therapy can also be an effective treatment option for anxiety. The gentle vibrations can soothe nerves and boost energy flow to your body, which in turn makes you feel more relaxed and less anxious. Furthermore, vibration therapy may be combined with psychotherapy or medication as effective treatments against anxiety.
Vibration therapy can also help those struggling with balance issues to strengthen the muscles that help control balance while increasing range of motion in legs – helping improve balance and prevent falls that could prove especially hazardous to older adults.
Vibration therapy can be utilized in either the home or gym setting. There are various vibration machines that vary in intensity and frequency to provide therapeutic support, some whole body while others focus specifically on specific parts of the body such as the feet. You may even use wearable vibration devices on your ear, helping alleviate tinnitus symptoms while decreasing nail biting which is a telltale sign of anxiety.
