More recently, whole body vibration, or WBV, therapy has been investigated as an intervention for people with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, some forms of … "The early results from the research with post-menopausal women are very encouraging -- but they are preliminary. WBVT may be useful as a form of exercise, but it does not appear to have any specific or unique benefits beyond that. The authors found evidence that vibration therapy can … In simpler terms specific to sport, vibration is physical contact in a rhythmic pulse for training effects and therapy. There are different types of vibration healing, including localized vibration therapy (in which vibration is delivered only to the area of the body in need of treatment) and whole-body vibration (in which treatment is administered through the use of a machine or chair that vibrates the entire body at once). The objective of this study is to assess the safety of treatment with vibration massage using a deep oscillation device and the effects on symptom severity and quality of life in patients with primary fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The results suggest that people with debilitating conditions may achieve the many benefits of exercise while working within their personal limitations and minimizing stress on their joints and ligaments. Various types of vibration can be used. In patients with lung disease, for example, either COPD or following lung transplantation, there seems to be benefit for walking endurance. Finally, one of the potential benefits of vibration therapy that attracts a … 2020 Apr 20;2020:8062017. doi: 10.1155/2020/8062017. The simplest way to make sense of the entire research literature on WBVT, in my opinion, is this – WBVT provides exercise to the legs, especially the thighs. In a recent "Phase I/II" clinical trial of vibration therapy, researchers applied the treatment to 60 post-menopausal women. Much of the research behind whole-body vibration therapy (1) (2) (3) is in its relative infancy. I think it is beneficial to our understanding, to guiding research, and to evaluating interventions to understand what they actually are, and to not get distracted by their superficial or gimmicky aspects. Therefore, if we are caught in the middle, which the body is between gravity and the whole body vibration plate we also realize the benefits we are getting from the load of gravity, from the ability of the gravity to stimulate our bones, stimulate our muscles, stimulate ou… Vibration can apply either local area or whole body vibration. A 2015 systematic review found: Although balance and mobility appeared to be responsive to WBV-plus-exercise, particularly in lower-functioning patients, compared with WBV-only, caution is required when interpreting the findings. For many with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), some of the many complaints is the inevitability of loss of mobility, loss of muscle strength, and impaired balance. reviewed the research on vibration therapy’s effects on muscle strength and bone mass. WBVT is exercise, and provides the expected benefits of exercise, without providing any additional or novel benefits. The vibrations used in vibration healing provide mechanical signals to bone and muscle that may help stimulate various growth factors and jumpstart previously inactive muscle fibers and nerve pathways.1… USA.gov. What about older subjects as a subgroup? Primary outcome parameters wer… Mechanical oscillatory motion provided by vibration therapy. Some research shows that whole-body vibration, when performed correctly and under medical supervision when needed, can: Reduce back pain Improve … While there are many studies at this point, more research is needed on the long-term effects of whole body vibration. Studies using adolescent girls with very low bone density and children with cerebral palsy are also underway. Does it actually work, however, for the indications claimed? Although there is some evidence for an overall effect of WBV on selected balance and mobility measures, its impact remains inconclusive. Application of whole body vibration therapy in postexercise demonstrates less pressure pain threshold, muscle soreness along with less reduction maximal isometric and isokinetic voluntary strength and lower creatine kinase levels in the blood. He is also the host and producer of the popular weekly science podcast, The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, and the author of the NeuroLogicaBlog, a daily blog that covers news and issues in neuroscience, but also general science, scientific skepticism, philosophy of science, critical thinking, and the intersection of science with the media and society. WBVT is a reasonable intervention to study, and it seems that more high quality studies are needed before we can definitely conclude its ultimate effects. The studies are mostly preliminary and tend to find that WBVT has some benefit for leg strength, specifically knee extension, but overall no significant difference than regular exercise. This damage is characterized by muscular pain, decreased muscle force production, reduce range of motion and discomfort experienced. This could simply be a leg strength effect, however. It is also pulling equally on every atom in one’s body (ignoring insignificant tidal effects over the distance of a human body). What about balance and walking overall? What Makes Vibration Therapy Effective? In many ways, whole-body vibration therapy can simulate the effects of a low-intensity exercise. eCollection 2020. de Benito AM, Valldecabres R, Ceca D, Richards J, Barrachina Igual J, Pablos A. PeerJ. Many scientific studies have been taking place. National Center for Biotechnology Information, Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. However, research using modern WBVT machines is about 15 years old. It was on this basis that Soviet doctors first tested vibration therapy. WBVT is considered a passive exercise modality, in which something is being done to the person, rather than the person actively engaging in an activity, such as walking, weight lifting, or swimming. Braun Janzen T, Paneduro D, Picard L, Gordon A, Bartel LR. eCollection 2019. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212021. Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation for Reducing Muscle Soreness after Eccentric Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Whole-body vibration machine benefits Some studies have … The aim of this study was to investigate and to compare the effect of 24 weeks "whole body vibration" training and fitness training on body composition and on muscle strength. Get the latest research from NIH: https://www.nih.gov/coronavirus. Even if a case of frozen shoulder is completely dominated by contracture, it’s still a condition that relies heavily on the use-it-or-lose-it principle, and there’s almost always some inhibition piled on top of the contracture. In fact, I would not consider WBVT a CAM therapy. Vibration is often utilized as a mechanical stimulation in research experiments. Next up is bone density. Romero-Moraleda B, González-García J, Cuéllar-Rayo Á, Balsalobre-Fernández C, Muñoz-García D, Morencos E. J Sports Sci Med. Meanwhile, it's important to recognize that vibration plates carry some risks too. Perhaps WBVT is another option. Keywords: This question has to be asked for every individual use – WBVT by itself or combined with other forms of exercise and therapy, for each specific indication, and for various outcomes. Effects of massage on delayed-onset muscle soreness, swelling, and recovery of muscle function. There are two basic categories of whole body vibration – physiotherapy simply uses vibrations to stimulate tissues, but not induce actual exercise. Vibratio… VT was effective for reduction of DOMS and regaining full ROM. Vibration therapy is one of these newer therapies. Other benefits of vibration include: Improved balance for older adults Pivotal refers to a “teeter-totter” movement. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! With WBVT users lay, sit, or stand on a platform that vibrates rapidly in one or more directions. Some studies state that whole body vibration therapy does not increase bone mineral density (BMD) while others show positive results. Whole body vibration (WBV) is a form of treatment that has been shown to have an important role in increasing neuromuscular performance, improving muscular strength, balance, gait mechanics, and quality of life. This makes sense, as the knee-extension muscles (quadriceps) are exactly those that would seem to be most exercised by standing on a vibrating platform. Some forms can also take place at home. J Strength Cond Res. Research has also shown that vibration therapy can reduce the production of the stress hormone, cortisol. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. At present, there is not enough research to support these proposals. Previous research among healthy adults, including post-menopausal women, has demonstrated that whole body vibration therapy can promote bone and muscle health. Side-alternating vibration treatment optimizes “motor relearning” under the principle of repetition; it’s easy to use, promotes early rehabilitation and provides efficient therapy in a short period of time. When skeptics hear the term “vibration” a red flag goes up, because that is a common term used in pseudoscientific jargon. Similarly, there is no evidence suggesting that yoga is anything but exercise, that meditation is anything but relaxation, or that Tai Chi is anything but exercise and balance training. 2019 Feb 11;18(1):172-180. eCollection 2019 Mar. The trap to avoid with this and other similar interventions is to fail to separate out specific from non-specific effects. And if we can enhance that very quickly, very rhythmically, that is good. Not surprisingly, the commercial claims significantly outstrip the evidence. New research is emerging all the time, suggesting novel and exciting ways to heal our nerves. We found borderline indication for improved 2-6 min walking endurance [ES=0.25 (95% CI=-0.06-0.0.55)] favoring WBV training whereas no benefits were indicated for short-distance (20m or less) walking speed or balance. No randomized trial has examined the effects of whole body vibration on bone mineral density in older men. Of course, gravity does not push people down from the top. In 1949, W… The presence of DOMS increases risk of injury. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. This may improve strength, endurance, and walking. Therefore, if we are caught in the middle, which the body is between gravity and the whole body vibration plate we also realize the benefits we are getting from the load of gravity, from the ability of the gravity to stimulate our bones, stimulate our muscles, stimulate our nerves, becomes very, very powerful. The scientific research evaluating the efficacy of whole body vibration therapy for osteoporosis has generated mixed and confusing results. A parallel randomized controlled trial examining the effects of rhythmic sensory stimulation on fibromyalgia symptoms. Vibration could represent an effective exercise intervention for enhancing neuromuscular performance in athletes. This exercise especially eccentric in nature caused primarily by muscle damage is known as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). After associating clinical improvement of his patients with Parkinson’s disease and prolonged train rides, he described in 1892 the creation of a similarly shaking chair – and similar clinical improvement.1Although his student Georges Gilles de la Tourette created (and published) data on a vibrating helm for migraine, little else was done with therapeutic vibration for half a century. Especially in […] HHSA 290 2007 10064 1 Prepared by: … | Effect of whole-body vibration on delayed onset muscular soreness, flexibility, and power. Perhaps the first patients intentionally treated with vibration were those of neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot. PLoS One. Why is this important? For most people, vibration machines produce a minuscule movement as you perform static poses like stretching or dynamic exercises. smell, sight, hear, touch and taste. Outpatients with FMS performed an observational prospective study with visits 2–4 weeks after the last treatment (control) and after further 2 months (follow-up). 2014 Dec 31;10(6):349-56. doi: 10.12965/jer.140179. A vibration is “an oscillation of the parts of a fluid or an elastic solid whose equilibrium has been disturbed, or of an electromagnetic wave,” according to one online definition. doi: 10.7717/peerj.8000. This takes the healthy benefits of whole body vibration much deeper than stimulating strength in muscles. Never-the-less, vibration therapy is easy to implement. This therapeutic approach might be more useful for folks with frozen shoulder (AKA adhesive capsulitis) than many other conditions. Let’s break down what the latest research has found about vibration machines for weight loss and muscle gain. As is often the case, there is the science of WBVT and its ethical incorporation into medical practice, and in this case also physical therapy and fitness, and then there are the claims that are made for WBVT by companies selling equipment. A range of interventions aimed at decreasing symptoms of DOMS have been proposed. 2013 Sep;27(9):2527-32. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31827fd618. The idea is that the rapid vibrations force the muscles of the body to contract in reaction, providing a form of exercise. Vibration could represent an effective exercise intervention for enhancing neuromuscular performance in athletes. Vibration therapy improves muscular strength, power development, kinesthetic awareness, decreased muscle sore, increased range of motion, and increased blood flow under the skin. It does not appear to be superior to other forms of exercise, or to add much to a regular exercise program. Another 2007 review by a different group found: Preliminarily, there is strong to moderate evidence that long-term whole-body vibration exercise can have positive effects on the leg muscular performance among untrained people and elderly women. Sensory processing issues: It is normally observed that kids with sensory processing problems are unable to synthesise information in the five basic sense, i.e. However, existing evidence argues against any dramatic or specific benefit from WBVT. A 2011 systematic review found: Whole body vibration is beneficial for enhancing leg muscle strength among older adults. 2019 Nov 26;7:e8000. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Steven P. Novella, MD – Founder and Executive Editor, David H. Gorski, MD, PhD – Managing Editor, The Amarin case: off-label promotion and a double standard for prescription drugs vs. dietary supplements. 2020 Nov 19;19(4):690-694. eCollection 2020 Dec. Biomed Res Int. Other results from vibration therapy are increased blood flow and stronger and more flexible joints. Alterations to mechanical motion may increase strain placed on soft tissue structures. In case you didn’t know, lifting isn’t the only thing that will get you to … A review of nutritional intervention on delayed onset muscle soreness. WBVT has also been looked at in patients with specific problems. They also include this amusing explanation for why their product works so well: We have gravity that pushes us from the top, it jams us into the earth and we have ground reaction force. The therapy helps develop these self-help skills in the kids. Effects of Vibration and Non-Vibration Foam Rolling on Recovery after Exercise with Induced Muscle Damage. Whole-body vibration and the prevention and treatment of delayed-onset muscle soreness. Some therapists suggest that this may reduce hyperactivity and promote social interaction. The plausibility of this treatment is therefore higher than many of the CAM therapies we typically discuss on SBM. NIH Whole Body Vibration if properly mechanically designed, like the VibePlate, gives us vertical hits of the same kind of thing from the bottom up. J Athl Train. The Acute Effects of a Percussive Massage Treatment with a Hypervolt Device on Plantar Flexor Muscles' Range of Motion and Performance. Again, there seems to be a benefit for leg strength, but no specific benefit for bone density in women. Boosted muscular strength. Women, who underwent six weeks of vibration therapy for their whole body, and for treating fibromyalgia, found that there was a reduction in fatigue and pain. Science is still determining what benefits a vibration plate can provide. We have gravity that pushes us from the top, it jams us into the earth and we have ground reaction force. Reduced force output may signal compensatory recruitment of muscles, thus leading to unaccustomed stress on musculature. Many look for ways to alleviate these symptoms as MS progresses overtime. 2003;33(2):145-64. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200333020-00005. Although voluminous research has been done in this regard, there is little consensus among the practitioners regarding the most effective way of treating DOMS. The Benefits of Vibration Therapy Whole-body vibration therapy is a therapy that uses a vibrating machine, often a vibration platform, to create a repetitive or vertical motion around a central point. This can be a serious problem in older individuals. Exploring issues and controversies in the relationship between science and medicine. In multiple sclerosis the evidence so far is unimpressive, as a 2015 review concludes: Quality assessment revealed that the WBV training protocols were heterogeneous and the methodological quality of the studies was generally poor. Both athletic and nonathletic population when subjected to any unaccustomed or unfamiliar exercise will experience pain 24-72 hours postexercise. Finally, a 2012 systematic review looking at functional treatment in neurological patients concluded: There is insufficient evidence of the effect of WBV training on functional performance of neurodegenerative disease patients. Vibration has shown effectiveness in flexibility and explosive power. Actually, the idea of using physical vibrations as therapy is probably much older, going back to the 19th century. A 2007 review found: Twelve articles were included in the final analysis. DOMS is due to microscopic muscle fiber tears. Differences in strength ratios may also cause excessive strain on unaccustomed musculature. We now know that it can alter the release and concentration of hormones, which can have an impact on all systems of the body. Several case studies have shown that vibration therapy can significantly improve muscle strength and functionality. However, the review suggests that whole body vibration has no overall treatment effect on bone mineral density in older women. eCollection 2014 Dec. Konrad A, Glashüttner C, Reiner MM, Bernsteiner D, Tilp M. J Sports Sci Med. Stimulate Your Nerves with Whole Body Vibration Therapy. Patients were treated with 10 sessions of 45 min deep oscillation massage, 2/week. | The vibration therapy effectively reduced cortisol and glucose levels while stimulating two thyroid hormones. It is being offered as a treatment for balance, back pain, neurological disorders, and also simple fitness. Whole-body vibration is also said to reduce cellulite and stimulate collagen production for smoother skin. I don’t know why they felt obligated to include a completely pseudoscientific explanation such as this, but it calls into question the reliability of everything on their site. In four of the five studies that used an adequate design with a control group performing the same exercises as the WBV group, no difference in performance improvement was found between groups, suggesting no or only minor additional effects of WBV as such. A reduced range of motion may lead to the incapability to efficiently absorb the shock that affect physical activity. Certainly those marketing WBVT machines exploit this phenomenon. | Whole body vibration training, however, uses the vibrations in combination with positions that induce muscle exercise, and should essentially be looked at as a form of physical exercise. 2019 Mar 1;14(3):e0212021. Early research also suggests that vibration therapy may have a calming effect. It is simply a relatively new treatment idea that is being explored. Vibrations, however, are also a real thing, referring to physical oscillations. Vibrations are often used to refer vaguely to energy or some physical or even spiritual property that cannot be detected, and is used in a hand-waving manner to explain extraordinary claims. Whole body vibration therapy (WBVT) refers to these legitimate physical vibrations. Reviewed studies offered little information on potential harms. HHS A number of questions regarding the optimal population for treatment, optimal treatment protocol, key outcome measures, and whether whole-body vibration therapy is an adjunctive or distinctive therapy emerged from the published literature and key informant discussions. Mechanical oscillatory motion provided by vibration therapy. eCollection 2019. Dr. Novella also has produced two courses with The Great Courses, and published a book on critical thinking - also called The Skeptics Guide to the Universe. A 2012 systematic review found: Whole body vibration training may improve strength, power and balance in comparison with a control group, although these effects are not apparent when compared with a group that does conventional exercise. Get the latest public health information from CDC: https://www.coronavirus.gov. If the freezing is functional — if the joint is stuck because it’s inhibited rather than a physical limitation3— vibration might be quite a good way to disrupt the inhibition. WBVT is also being marketed at neurological populations, with the implication that it can positively affect neurological function beyond leg strength. 2011 Jan-Feb;46(1):43-9. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-46.1.43. Either can also be high or low frequency. Delayed onset muscle soreness : treatment strategies and performance factors. J Exerc Rehabil. Gravity is an attractive force – it is pulling down (at least in classic physics). For some, however, it has the allure of novelty, with the suggestion that it will provide some benefit beyond regular exercise. Although voluminous research has been done in this regard, there is little consensus among the practitioners regarding the most effective way of treating DOMS. Osteoporosis is a disease of the skeletal system characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue.1 Osteoporosis is a significant public health problem that leads to increased bone fragility and an increased risk of bone fractures typically in the wrist, hip, and spine.1 In an epidemiological study conducted in Switzerland, half of all fractures in women and 24 percent in men were considered to be osteoporotic.2 In the United States, the estimated 1.5-million yearly osteoporotic fractures result in mor… Effect of vibration vs non-vibration foam rolling techniques on flexibility, dynamic balance and perceived joint stability after fatigue. Regardless of mechanism, the primary question is whether or not WBVT is an effective intervention. Its repeated pulses of intensive force is considered effective in signaling and regulating molecular activities, for the production of cells, hormone, enzymes for tissue regeneration. Aminian-Far A, Hadian MR, Olyaei G, Talebian S, Bakhtiary AH. This is another theme in the research results – WBVT works as a form of exercise for improving leg strength, but no better than other more conventional forms of exercise. Part I. Simply stating that WBVT is a form of exercise does not seem sufficient, there has to be a gimmick. Early Soviet research suggested that regular vibration therapy using a vibrating plate not only improved users’ bone density, but also strengthened their muscles. Find NCBI SARS-CoV-2 literature, sequence, and clinical content: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sars-cov-2/. For example, the Vibeplate has a long list of indications for WBVT including detox, back pain, increasing energy levels, increasing bone density, and neurological rehab. The vibration therapy has since then been used actively by astronauts. It has already been demonstrated that weight-bearing exercise is beneficial to bone density. Whole-Body Vibration Therapy for Osteoporosis Prepared for: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 www.ahrq.gov Contract No. Disruption of pain signals. Looking through the specific studies, including some later than these reviews, that is generally what I find. Whole Body Vibration if properly mechanically designed, like the VibePlate, gives us vertical hits of the same kind of thing from the bottom up. Zainuddin Z, Newton M, Sacco P, Nosaka K. Sports Med. Founder and currently Executive Editor of Science-Based Medicine Steven Novella, MD is an academic clinical neurologist at the Yale University School of Medicine. Scientific research on the effects of vibration therapy has been conducted all over the world. A lot of it is recently performed, and many of the available papers mention that further research … Also, there is insufficient evidence regarding its beneficial effects on signs and symptoms of the disease, body balance, gait, muscle strength and quality of life compared to other active physical therapy or passive interventions in Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. Forty-eight untrained females (21.3 +/- 2.0 yr) participated in the study. The whole body vibration group (N = 18) performed unloaded static and dynamic exercises on a vibration platform (35 - 40 Hz, 2.5 - 5.0 mm; Power Plate). DOMS; Management; Vibration therapy. NLM Lineal refers to up and down movement. It does not appear to have any specific benefits for bone density. Let’s take the most basic question first – does WBVT have added benefit to regular exercise? COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. One research group looking at all the current literature published about whole body vibration therapy (VT) found that one session of VT decreases coordination deficits, reflex excitability, and spasticity, positively affecting gross motor skills, gait, mobility, and strength in patients with cerebral palsy, with effects lasting up to 30 minutes after VT. It seems that the marketing culture for medical devices and products requires this sort of magical explanation.