Whole Body Vibration Technology
(WBVT) has been touted as the next generation exercise and weight loss
machine and has been credited with some amazing claims. This paper is
to redefine and define those claims and validate the existing credible
research into this technology.
Historically speaking WBVT first
began in 1857, is backed by over 40 years of research and was
originally developed to prevent and treat bone and lean muscle loss in
cosmonauts who amassed time in a weightless environment. We begin by
delving into the history of WBVT and onto creditable research and
studies into the fitness and health benefits of using vibration technology.
Vibration therapy is not new,
originally developed by a Swedish doctor, Dr. Gustav Zander who build
and tested over 70 different types of exercise machines some of which
were based on vibration exercise. In the 1960’s Dr John Kellogg the
originator of Kelloggs Cornflakes also developed a ‘shaker’ which he
claimed could cure constipation, headaches and back pain.
Whole body Vibration Technology
was developed and refined by Russian scientists who began the real
studies of Whole Body Vibration used the technology for many years to
rehabilitate their cosmonauts after returning from space to help
restore atrophied muscles and bone density compromised due to the
weightless environment of space.
Many of these cosmonauts were so
weak they needed assistance emerging from the aircraft and Russian
scientists were called in to come up with a therapy that could focussed
on hyper-gravitational force to mimic a gravitational field in space.
The vibration platform and Whole
Body Vibration Technology was born and researchers were astounded to
find that it not only stopped the loss, but also increased bone density
and strengthened muscle tissue. They then used this technology to
prevent injury to and rehabilitate their Olympic athletes from injury
and found that it could almost halve the recuperation time.
Since this time WBVT has spread to the world and even NASA has
incorporated vibration technology into their space program. NASA-funded
scientists suggest that astronauts might prevent bone loss by standing
on a lightly vibrating plate for 10 to 20 minutes each day. Held down
with the aid of elastic straps, the astronauts could keep working on
other tasks while they vibrate. The same therapy, they say, might
eventually be used to treat some of the millions of people who suffer
from bone loss, called osteoporosis, here on Earth. (NASA)
WBVT is now used in rehabilitation and physio-therapy clinics
in Europe and the US and is now filtering into to the rest of the world
on a wave of interest and marketing. Now used to treat many health
challenges, scientists are documenting positive changes in more and
more health related challenges by the day including; osteoporosis, loss
of muscle tone in MS, Parkinson’s Disease and even various forms of
paralysis, back pain, pain, ankle and knee injuries, arthritis,
emphysema, stroke recovery, varicose veins, and cerebral palsy just to
name a few.
By standing on the plate, the vibration generates
systematic involuntary muscle contraction through out the body, which
not only increases your flexibility but also burns fat by increasing
your metabolism while it improves your circulation and provides your
cells with ideal oxygen and nutrient delivery to slow the degenerative
process.
The platform drops either 2 or 4 mm. This is a very small and
gentle drop. For example, let’s say that you are standing on the
vibration plate with a gentle knee bend. Once the platform drops 2 mm,
your muscle is quickly lengthened, or ‘stretched’. The body reacts to
this by quickly contracting the muscle. By the time it does that, the
platform is already back at the first position. The platform drops
again and this is repeated. Since the platform has been designed to do
this 20 to 50 times per second, you can get a maximum of 50 muscle
contractions per second! In one minute, you can actually get 3000 safe
and gentle muscle contractions. This is the equivalent to doing 3000
knee bends.
In addition to these muscle contractions, vibration exercise
is also able to work more of the muscles. Because the vibration effect
makes the muscles contract involuntarily, all muscles that are being
exercised will be activated. In fact, with regular training such as
weight lifting, only 40% of your muscles will be working. With
vibration exercise, that number can reach nearly 100%. Not only will
you get more muscle contractions in a short period of time, but also
more of your muscles will be working during this time. All this leads
to vibration exercise being a safe and fast way to exercise effectively.
Research published in the American Journal of bone Mineral
Research has shown that vibration technology can lead to an increase in
bone density similar to that achieved by weight-bearing exercises
normally prescribed for osteoporosis. WBVT is delivering results in
less time and with less stress on older patients and can even be used
safely in aged care homes.
In addition to the increase in bone density the research also
showed that the acceleration training led to an improvement in postural
control and balance. These effects can help to reduce the risk of falls
and therefore reduce the risk of broken bones in osteoporosis patients.
"After twelve weeks of steady use once, twice or three times
per week with 20 subjects, including myself, I am happy to share with
you the very positive effects my clients and I have enjoyed due to use
of the Power Plate:
- Increased endocrine balance
- Increased range of motion
- Improved circulation and lymphatic return
- Rapid growth of lean muscle
- Improved proprioception, balance, righting and tilting reflexes
- Loss of subcutaneous fat
- While my clients hope to see, over time, reversal of bone loss, they have baseline bone density measurements to compare to
- Pain reduction
- Increased energy
After the 2-month exercise program, the walking speed, step
length, and the maximum standing time on one leg were significantly
improved in the WBV exercise plus routine exercises group, while no
significant changes in these parameters were observed in the routine
exercises alone group." Thus, the present study showed the beneficial
effect of WBV exercise in addition to muscle strengthening, balance,
and walking exercises in improving the walking ability in the elderly.
WBV exercise was safe and well tolerated in the elderly. (Kawanabe K.
et al, 2007) Please see reference list for more research into bone
density.
Whole body vibration has demonstrated positive effects on
blood flow. Gentle rapid contractions, repeated at a high rate, allow
the muscle to work as a pump, resulting in increased blood flow within
the peripheral circulatory system. This results in the body carrying
off waste products much faster, thereby enhancing recovery.
Effects of vibration therapy on circulatory system include:
- Enhanced peripheral and systemic blood flow
- Enhanced peripheral lymphatic flow
- Increased venous drainage
- A study by the Dept of Physical Therapy Loma Linda University
found that short duration vibration sessions significantly increased
skin blood flow and hails WBVT as an emerging therapeutic modality.
(Lohman E. et al; 1985)
Aged care is not simply about
extending life years, but increasing the quality of life. ‘Functional
age’ is much more important that ‘chronological age.’ This is
interpreted as the ability of an individual to maintain certain
parameters as they age, such as strength, balance, and agility.
Exercise has shown significant benefits in combating some of these
problems.
Aging and Inactivity
- Muscle loss occurs at a rate of 1% per year after the age of 40
- Bone density is correlated with muscle strength. Decreases in muscle mass and strength can affect bone density
- Loss of muscle strength may increase risk of falls and fractures
To implement an exercise program for the aging population, it
must be safe, gentle, and effective. Whole body vibration has attracted
increased attention as an exercise alternative to combat the effects of
inactivity and aging. Current research has shown positive benefits.
These results have led to continuing research around the world,
reinforcing vibration exercise’s role in promoting healthy aging.
(Kawanabe K. et al; 2007)
Aging and Vibration Exercise:
- Improvement in chair rising test, indicative of improvement in muscle power
- Improve elements of fall risk and health-related quality of life
- Ability to promote ambulatory competence (improved walking) in elderly women
- Beneficial for balance and mobility in nursing home residents with limited functional dependency
- High compliance with vibration exercise
- A study on nursing home residents using Vibrational Technology to
enhance balance and mobility concluded with this statement: “In nursing
home residents with limited functional dependency, six weeks static
WBVT exercise is feasible, and is beneficial for balance and mobility.
The supplementary benefit of WBVT on muscle performance compared to
classic exercise remains to be explored further.” (Bautmans I. et al;
2005)
Scientific principles underlying vibration training:
- Myotatic Stretch Reflex
- Tonic Vibration Reflex
- Neurological Adaptation to Exercise
- Excitation of the GTO (Golgi Tendon Organ)
- Optimal Recruitment of Motor Units
- Force and power output through increased acceleration
- Stretch-Shortening-Cycle (SSC) Model
- Effects on the Hormonal System
- Effects on the Circulatory System
- Effect on the skeletal system through Wolff’s Law adaptation, shifting the force/velocity curve to the right (faster strength gains)
In summary it could be said that WBVT holds promise as a
significant tool for physiotherapists, sport injury specialists and
rehabilitation clinics. It use in such places is certainly warranted
and more research should be encouraged to further the documentation of
positive health and fitness benefits for any age of person and many
health challenged individuals. This is in addition to its use as an
exercise and performance boosting machine for home and fitness centres,
gyms and athletic clinics.
A summary of vibration exercise effects:
- Similar strength gains from 3 months of vibration exercise (maximum time 20 minutes) compared to 1 hour of conventional strength training
- Doubling of blood circulation after vibration training, resulting in the body carrying off waste products much faster, thereby enhancing recovery
- Duration vibration exercise stimulates force and power output
- Significant hormonal effects from training (increased testosterone and growth hormone, and decreased cortisol, ‘stress hormone’)
- Increased flexibility
- Increased explosive power
- Explosive strength increases from 10 minutes a day of vibration training for 10 days is equivalent to those found from 200 drop-jumps from 24 inches, twice a week, for a year
- Accelerated gains in neurological adaptation, shifting the force/velocity curve to the right (faster strength gains)
Resources:
Barry,
Patrick L. quot;Good Vibrations: A New Treatment Under Study by
NASA-funded Doctors Could Reverse Bone Loss Experienced by Astronauts
in Space." Science @ NASA Web site, Nov. 2, 2001.
Bone Density:
Clinton Rubin, Robert Recker, Diane Cullen, John Ryaby, Joan McCabe,and Kenneth McLeod, (2004) JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH Volume
19, Number 3, 2004 Published online on December 22, 2003; doi:
10.1359/JBMR.0301251 © 2004 American Society for Bone and Mineral
Research
Kawanabe K., A. Kawashima, I.
Sashimoto, T. Takeda, Y. Sato, and J. Iwamoto, (2007). "Effect of
whole-body vibration exercise and muscle strengthening, balance, and
walking exercises on walking ability in the elderly." Keio Journal of
Medicine. 2007 Mar. 56(1): 28-33.
Verschueren, S., M. Roelants, C.
Delecluse, S. Swinnen, D. Vanderschueren and S. Boonen. "Effect of
6-Month Whole Body Vibration Training on Hip Density, Muscle Strength,
and Postural Control in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled
Pilot Study." Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Vol. 19, March
2004, pg. 352-359.
Circulation:
Kerschan-Schindl
K, Grampp S, Henk C, Resch H, Preisinger E, Fialka-Moser V, Imhof H.
(2001). Whole-body vibration exercise leads to alterations in muscle
blood volume. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. PMID: 11380538 [PubMed - indexed
for MEDLINE]
Lohman EB 3rd, Petrofsky JS, Maloney-Hinds C,
Betts-Schwab H, Thorpe D. The effect of whole body vibration on lower
extremity skin blood flow in normal subjects. Department of Physical
Therapy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA. PMID:
17261985 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Aging and Geriatric Care:
Bautmans
I, Van Hees E, Lemper JC, Mets T. (2005) The feasibility of Whole Body
Vibration in institutionalised elderly persons and its influence on
muscle performance, balance and mobility: a randomised controlled trial
[ISRCTN62535013]. PMID: 16372905 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Paralysis:
John
G. Gianutsos, PhD, Liisa C. Oakes, BA, Vincent Siasoco, MD, Stacy
Appelblatt, MS, PT, Juliana Hamel, MS, PT, Joan T. Gold, MD (2001)
“Motor rehabilitation of spinal cord dysfunction by means of whole body
vibration” (NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY)
For more research articles and studies please see our 'Research into Vibration Technology' page. Click here to Return to Vibration Platform Product Page...
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