Whole Body Vibration: Exercise Without Working Out

Have you ever dreamed of exercising without working out?

"I've seen some remarkable results in terms of bone density -- working better than conventional exercise -- plus good effects on circulation and muscle stimulation for those who can't do conventional exercise," says Ben Quist, DPT.

The History

Although some say the history of vibration therapy dates back to ancient Greece, many recognize Gustav Zander, a Swedish doctor, as the founder. He built several different exercise machines that incorporated vibration, which could have been similar to this health jolting chair, and exhibited them at two World Fairs.

In the 1960s, Russian scientists began studying its benefits in rehabilitating their cosmonauts (astronauts trained by the Russian Agency). They were amazed to realize it not only reduced bone density in space, but increased it!

In the same year, the Russians who were trained on Whole Body Vibration won 43 Gold Medals at the Olympics.

In 1995, a Russian Cosmonaut (and medical doctor) named Valery Polakov set a world record for being in space for 438 days thanks to vibration technology. Because of the Russian’s advantage of vibration technology, their astronauts were able to stay in space almost 4x longer than Americans.

To this present day, NASA continues to actively use Whole Body Vibration therapy in ongoing studies for the maintenance of bone density and muscle strength.

The Benefits

Athletes

Manny Camara, a Rehabilitative Specialist with over 30 years experience, has been using WBV as a treatment modality for professional athletes for years. He tells us: "Using whole body vibration, I’ve seen incredible improvements in grip strength, reflexes, balance, and coordination. In fact, I don’t know of any other modality or training technique that can produce these kinds of results."

One study showed hockey players increased in their flexibility.

Another study of young female athletes showed that whole body vibration improved knee strength, vertical jump, and flexibility.

Elderly Populations

My 93-year old grandma swears by the benefits of Whole Body Vibration ("shaky" as she fondly calls it), which resolved the numbness in her feet after six months of use. She has faithfully used WBV ever since-- twice a day for 20 minutes for 15 years. She has noted how it has greatly improved her balance, endurance, and has quickened her recovery from colds.

Very similarly, a study on elderly nursing home residents concluded that short training sessions using controlled Whole Body Vibration 3 times a week for 6 weeks improved gait, body balance, motor capacity, and self-reported quality of life.

In another study, six months of WBV training increased the muscle strength and bone density in postmenopausal women, who are the most at risk for osteoporosis.

Scientists found that after 8 weeks of a WBV training program, inflammation levels decreased in the elderly population.

Multiple Sclerosis

One study concluded WBV may positively influence postural control and mobility in multiple sclerosis patients.

Cerebral Palsy

Scientists found that for those with Cerebral Palsy, WBV can be used to help increase muscle mass, increase bone mass, improve mobility, and increase bone density.

Type 2 Diabetes

Within another study, WBV was found as a treatment to Type 2 Diabetes! Daily WBV improved Type 2 Diabetes by reducing symptoms of excessive thirst and improving blood sugar control.

A Healthier Microbiome

A recent study showed that WBV may help increase good gut bacteria. (In mice, good gut bacteria increased 17x in just 4 weeks of daily WBV).

Weight Loss

Scientists found that overweight or obese people who regularly performed exercises (e.g. squats, lunges, calf raises, etc.) on WBV in combination with a calorie restricted diet were more successful at long-term weight loss than those who combined dieting with a more conventional fitness routine. In fact, in comparison to four different study groups, the vibration group lost 11% of their body weight during the first six months and still maintained a loss of 10.6% at 12 months.

Dirk Vissers, a physiotherapist, says: "These are very encouraging results, but it doesn't mean people trying to lose weight can ditch aerobic exercise and jump on the vibration plate instead. They still need a healthy diet and aerobic exercise, but this could be a viable alternative to weight lifting."

Hormonal Benefits

A study found that in men, WBV increased both testosterone and growth hormone, but decreased cortisol levels (stress hormone).

Wellness Room Remodel

Due to the increasing demand for massage therapy, we remodeled our wellness space to add another therapy room and, sadly, no longer offer Whole Body Vibration as a service. However, we HIGHLY recommend purchasing your own machine at home for a daily lymphatic boost, or book an ionic foot detox with us as an alternative lymphatic cleanse.