| Whole Body Vibration Technology (WBVT) has been | | | | WBV exercise in addition to muscle strengthening, |
| touted as the next generation exercise and weight | | | | balance, and walking exercises in improving the |
| loss machine and has been credited with some | | | | walking ability in the elderly. WBV exercise was safe |
| amazing claims. This paper is to redefine and define | | | | and well tolerated in the elderly. (Kawanabe K. et al, |
| those claims and validate the existing credible | | | | 2007) Please see reference list for more research |
| research into this technology. | | | | into bone density. |
| Historically speaking WBVT first began in 1857, is | | | | Whole body vibration has demonstrated positive |
| backed by over 40 years of research and was | | | | effects on blood flow. Gentle rapid contractions, |
| originally developed to prevent and treat bone and | | | | repeated at a high rate, allow the muscle to work as |
| lean muscle loss in cosmonauts who amassed time in | | | | a pump, resulting in increased blood flow within the |
| a weightless environment. We begin by delving into | | | | peripheral circulatory system. This results in the body |
| the history of WBVT and onto creditable research | | | | carrying off waste products much faster, thereby |
| and studies into the fitness and health benefits of | | | | enhancing recovery. Effects of vibration therapy on |
| using vibration techonology. | | | | circulatory system include: |
| Vibration therapy is not new, originally developed by | | | | - Enhanced peripheral and systemic blood flow |
| a Swedish doctor, Dr. Gustav Zander who build and | | | | - Enhanced peripheral lymphatic flow |
| tested over 70 different types of exercise machines | | | | - Increased venous drainage |
| some of which were based on vibration exercise. In | | | | A study by the Dept of Physical Therapy Loma Linda |
| the 1960's Dr John Kellogg the originator of Kelloggs | | | | University found that short duration vibration sessions |
| Cornflakes also developed a 'shaker' which he claimed | | | | significantly increased skin blood flow and hails WBVT |
| could cure constipation, headaches and back pain. | | | | as an emerging therapeutic modality. (Lohman E. et al; |
| Whole body Vibration Technology was developed | | | | 1985) |
| and refined by Russian scientists who began the real | | | | Aged care is not simply about extending life years, |
| studies of Whole Body Vibration used the technology | | | | but increasing the quality of life. 'Functional age' is |
| for many years to rehabilitate their cosmonauts after | | | | much more important that 'chronological age.' This is |
| returning from space to help restore atrophied | | | | interpreted as the ability of an individual to maintain |
| muscles and bone density compromised due to the | | | | certain parameters as they age, such as strength, |
| weightless environment of space. | | | | balance, and agility. Exercise has shown significant |
| Many of these cosmonauts were so weak they | | | | benefits in combating some of these problems. |
| needed assistance emerging from the aircraft and | | | | Aging and Inactivity |
| Russian scientists were called in to come up with a | | | | - Muscle loss occurs at a rate of 1% per year after |
| therapy that could focussed on hyper-gravitational | | | | the age of 40 |
| force to mimic a gravitational field in space. | | | | - Bone density is correlated with muscle strength. |
| The vibration platform and Whole Body Vibration | | | | Decreases in muscle mass and strength can affect |
| Technology was born and researchers were | | | | bone density |
| astounded to find that it not only stopped the loss, | | | | - Loss of muscle strength may increase risk of falls |
| but also increased bone density and strengthened | | | | and fractures |
| muscle tissue. They then used this technology to | | | | To implement an exercise program for the aging |
| prevent injury to and rehabilitate their Olympic | | | | population, it must be safe, gentle, and effective. |
| athletes from injury and found that it could almost | | | | Whole body vibration has attracted increased |
| halve the recuperation time. Since this time WBVT | | | | attention as an exercise alternative to combat the |
| has spread to the world and even NASA has | | | | effects of inactivity and aging. Current research has |
| incorporated vibration technology into their space | | | | shown positive benefits. These results have led to |
| program. NASA-funded scientists suggest that | | | | continuing research around the world, reinforcing |
| astronauts might prevent bone loss by standing on a | | | | vibration exercise's role in promoting healthy aging. |
| lightly vibrating plate for 10 to 20 minutes each day. | | | | (Kawanabe K. et al; 2007) |
| Held down with the aid of elastic straps, the | | | | Aging and Vibration Exercise |
| astronauts could keep working on other tasks while | | | | - Improvement in chair rising test, indicative of |
| they vibrate.The same therapy, they say, might | | | | improvement in muscle power |
| eventually be used to treat some of the millions of | | | | - Improve elements of fall risk and health-related |
| people who suffer from bone loss, called | | | | quality of life |
| osteoporosis, here on Earth. (NASA) | | | | - Ability to promote ambulatory competence |
| WBVT is now used in rehabilitation and | | | | (improved walking) in elderly women |
| physio-therapy clinics in Europe and the US and is | | | | - Beneficial for balance and mobility in nursing home |
| now filtering into to the rest of the world on a wave | | | | residents with limited functional dependency |
| of interest and marketing. Now used to treat many | | | | - High compliance with vibration exercise |
| health challenges, scientists are documenting positive | | | | A study on nursing home residents using Vibrational |
| changes in more and more health related challenges | | | | Technology to enhance balance and mobility |
| by the day including; osteoporosis, loss of muscle | | | | concluded with this statement: "In nursing home |
| tone in MS, Parkinson's Disease and even various | | | | residents with limited functional dependency, six |
| forms of paralysis, back pain, pain, ankle and knee | | | | weeks static WBVT exercise is feasible, and is |
| injuries, arthritis, emphysema, stroke recovery, | | | | beneficial for balance and mobility. The supplementary |
| varicose veins, and cerebral palsy just to name a | | | | benefit of WBVT on muscle performance compared |
| few.By standing on the plate, the vibration generates | | | | to classic exercise remains to be explored further." |
| systematic involuntary muscle contraction through | | | | (Bautmans I. et al; 2005) |
| out the body, which not only increases your flexibility | | | | Scientific principles underlying vibration training: |
| but also burns fat by increasing your metabolism | | | | - Myotatic Stretch Reflex |
| while it improves your circulation and provides your | | | | - Tonic Vibration Reflex |
| cells with ideal oxygen and nutrient delivery to slow | | | | - Neurological Adaptation to Exercise |
| the degenerative process.The platform drops either 2 | | | | - Excitation of the GTO (Golgi Tendon Organ) |
| or 4 mm. This is a very small and gentle drop. For | | | | - Optimal Recruitment of Motor Units |
| example, let's say that you are standing on the | | | | - Force and power output through increased |
| vibration plate with a gentle knee bend. Once the | | | | acceleration |
| platform drops 2 mm, your muscle is quickly | | | | - Stretch-Shortening-Cycle (SSC) Model |
| lengthened, or 'stretched'. The body reacts to this by | | | | - Effects on the Hormonal System o Effects on the |
| quickly contracting the muscle. By the time it does | | | | Circulatory System |
| that, the platform is already back at the first position. | | | | - Effect on the skeletal system through Wolff's Law |
| The platform drops again and this is repeated. Since | | | | adaptation, shifting the force/velocity curve to the |
| the platform has been designed to do this 20 to 50 | | | | right (faster strength gains) |
| times per second, you can get a maximum of 50 | | | | In summary it could be said that WBVT holds |
| muscle contractions per second! In one minute, you | | | | promise as a significant tool for physiotherapists, |
| can actually get 3000 safe and gentle muscle | | | | sport injury specialists and rehabilitation clinics. It use |
| contractions. This is the equivalent to doing 3000 | | | | in such places is certainly warranted and more |
| knee bends. In addition to these muscle contractions, | | | | research should be encouraged to further the |
| vibration exercise is also able to work more of the | | | | documentation of positive health and fitness benefits |
| muscles. | | | | for any age of person and many health challenged |
| Because the vibration effect makes the muscles | | | | individuals. |
| contract involuntarily, all muscles that are being | | | | Resources: |
| exercised will be activated. In fact, with regular | | | | Barry, Patrick L. quot;Good Vibrations: A New |
| training such as weight lifting, only 40% of your | | | | Treatment Under Study by NASA-funded Doctors |
| muscles will be working. With vibration exercise, that | | | | Could Reverse Bone Loss Experienced by Astronauts |
| number can reach nearly 100%. Not only will you get | | | | in Space." Science @ NASA Web site, Nov. 2, 2001. |
| more muscle contractions in a short period of time, | | | | Bone Density: |
| but also more of your muscles will be working during | | | | Clinton Rubin, Robert Recker, Diane Cullen, John |
| this time. All this leads to vibration exercise being a | | | | Ryaby, Joan McCabe,and Kenneth McLeod4JOURNAL |
| safe and fast way to exercise effectively.Research | | | | OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCHVolume 19, |
| published in the American Journal of bone Mineral | | | | Number 3, 2004Published online on December 22, |
| Research has shown that vibration technology can | | | | 2003; doi: 10.1359/JBMR.0301251© 2004 |
| lead to an increase in bone density similar to that | | | | American Society for Bone and Mineral Research |
| achieved by weight-bearing exercises normally | | | | Kawanabe K., A. Kawashima, I. Sashimoto, T. Takeda, |
| prescribed for osteoporosis. WBVT is delivering | | | | Y. Sato, and J. Iwamoto, (2007). "Effect of |
| results in less time and with less stress on older | | | | whole-body vibration exercise and muscle |
| patients and can even be used safely in aged care | | | | strengthening, balance, and walking exercises on |
| homes. | | | | walking ability in the elderly." Keio Journal of Medicine. |
| In addition to the increase in bone density the | | | | 2007 Mar. 56(1): 28-33. |
| research also showed that the acceleration training | | | | Verschueren, S., M. Roelants, C. Delecluse, S. Swinnen, |
| led to an improvement in postural control and balance. | | | | D. Vanderschueren and S. Boonen. "Effect of 6-Month |
| These effects can help to reduce the risk of falls and | | | | Whole Body Vibration Training on Hip Density, Muscle |
| therefore reduce the risk of broken bones in | | | | Strength, and Postural Control in Postmenopausal |
| osteoporosis patients."After twelve weeks of steady | | | | Women: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study." |
| use once, twice or three times per week with 20 | | | | Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Vol. 19, March |
| subjects, including myself, I am happy to share with | | | | 2004, pg. 352-359. |
| you the very positive effects my clients and I have | | | | Circulation |
| enjoyed due to use of the Power Plate: | | | | Kerschan-Schindl K, Grampp S, Henk C, Resch H, |
| 1. Increased endocrine balance ... | | | | Preisinger E, Fialka-Moser V, Imhof H. (2001). |
| 2. Increased range of motion ... | | | | Whole-body vibration exercise leads to alterations in |
| 3. Improved circulation and lymphatic return ... | | | | muscle blood volume. Department of Physical |
| 4. Rapid growth of lean muscle ... | | | | Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Vienna, |
| 5. Improved proprioception, balance, righting and tilting | | | | Vienna, Austria. PMID: 11380538 [PubMed - indexed |
| reflexes ... | | | | for MEDLINE]Lohman EB 3rd, Petrofsky JS, |
| 6. Loss of subcutaneous fat ... | | | | Maloney-Hinds C, Betts-Schwab H, Thorpe D. The |
| 7. While my clients hope to see, over time, reversal | | | | effect of whole body vibration on lower extremity |
| of bone loss, they have baseline bone density | | | | skin blood flow in normal subjects. Department of |
| measurements to compare to ... | | | | Physical Therapy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, |
| 8. Pain reduction ... | | | | CA 92350, USA. PMID: 17261985 [PubMed - indexed |
| 9. Increased energy ... | | | | for MEDLINE] |
| After the 2-month exercise program, the walking | | | | Aging and Geriatric Care |
| speed, step length, and the maximum standing time | | | | Bautmans I, Van Hees E, Lemper JC, Mets T. (2005) |
| on one leg were significantly improved in the WBV | | | | The feasibility of Whole Body Vibration in |
| exercise plus routine exercises group, while no | | | | institutionalised elderly persons and its influence on |
| significant changes in these parameters were | | | | muscle performance, balance and mobility: a |
| observed in the routine exercises alone group. Thus, | | | | randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN62535013]. |
| the present study showed the beneficial effect of | | | | |