Minnesota Vibration Therapy

Benefits to Brain Function

VibrationThere is a term “proprioception” that could be described as “the sixth sense”. It is the process by which the brain continuously receives information from the entire body concerning the posturing and general movement of the body. Proprioceptive signals come primarily from receptors in the muscles, the skin and the joints. Based on the messages coming from these receptors, the body is continually sending reflex corrections back to the muscles. With Whole Body Vibration exercise, one is repeatedly exposed to these tiny rapid movements. The body’s integral balance system is stimulated continuously and by assuming a range of different positions people will feel more confident in their balance almost immediately.

Neurotropin (a brain stimulator) levels are raised under the influence of Whole Body Vibration exercise. Whole Body Vibration exercise research has shown a marked increase in serotonin levels (the “feel good” hormone), and the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), are lowered significantly resulting in a feeling of relaxation after a training session on a Whole Body Vibration platform.

Release of Beneficial Hormones

When training with a Whole Body Vibration machine, an increased release of many key hormones has been found. One of these key hormones is human growth hormone (HGH), which is secreted to a greater extent while doing Whole Body Vibration exercise. This hormone stimulates protein synthesis and in so doing helps to build up lean muscle tissue. HGH also plays a major role in erythropoiesis, the process through which new red blood cells are created.

Besides this, Whole Body Vibration increases the production of another growth hormone (IGF I) which has a direct effect in the stimulation of lipolysis; causing a reduction of body fat levels.

Bone Mass and Density

Extensive scientific research has already shown on a number of occasions the effects of mechanical loads on our skeletal system and its relation to increased bone density. In orthopedics, it is known that bone adjusts its strength to allow for the forces applied to it. The mechanical stimuli transmitted to the bones by Whole Body Vibration exercise ensure that mechanical stresses are placed on the bones effectively and efficiently.

In combination with the release of hormones such as testosterone, this has a very positive effect that stimulates our Osteoblasts (bone building cells) to build more new bone tissue, boosting bone mass and density.

Blood Oxygenation and Circulation

Whole Body Vibration training produces immediate improvement in blood circulation by the pumping action of the rapidly contracting muscle fibers. This pumping action is much less noticeable during conventional training. Whole Body Vibration exercise widens the peripheral blood vessels and oxygenates blood cells; this can be observed as a pink skin tone after training, or it may even go as far as a mild tingling feeling.

Research has shown that peripheral circulation rises by 100 to 150% during a Whole Body Vibration session. Anyone who has cold feet will notice when they get onto the Whole Body Vibration plate that this complaint will be quickly alleviated by the machine’s mechanical vibrations and the local vasodilatation that these Whole Body Vibrations produce.

Strengthen Your Core Muscles

There has been an increasing focus on core muscle training in the past few years. Your core muscles are the most important muscle group in your body. They dictate how your entire body including your arms and legs will function. WBV will help firm and tone your core muscles.

Exercise with Oxygen Therapy Whole Body Vibration Exercise

EWOT, or Exercise with Oxygen Therapy, is exercising while breathing in higher concentrations of oxygen. Right now, you are breathing approximately 21% oxygen. When you increase the level of oxygen you are breathing it has immediate benefits including an increase in strength, endurance, and energy.

How does this work? When the blood carries oxygen to the capillaries, the oxygen must dissolve into the fluids of the body in order to reach your cells. This happens through pressure, which unfortunately, tends to decline with age and disease. Anything from stress, lack of exercise, smoking, toxins, and sedentary life styles, breathing bad air or free radicals can contribute to this loss of pressure. Over time, your pressure can decrease from 100mm of arterial oxygen pressure (Average 20 year old) to 60mm (average 70 year old).

EWOT actually raises the pressure back to more youthful levels. As long as you continue with your daily EWOT sessions, you can continue to make sure your cells are getting all the oxygen they need.

Benefits of Exercise with Oxygen Therapy

  • Increase energy, endurance and strength during exercise
  • Increase your oxygen to more youthful levels
  • Burn up to 30% more calories in the same 10 minute Whole Body Vibration Exercise session
  • Anti-aging through increasing oxygen carrying capacity
  • Illness prevention through increasing blood plasma oxygen levels
  • Improve well-being and reduce risk of disease

Recommended Usage
When in conjunction with Whole Body Vibration - use up to 10 minutes daily

Contraindications of Whole Body Vibration Exercise, Notify Therapist if You Have:

  • Acute thrombosis
  • Serious cardiovascular disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Pacemaker
  • Recent wounds from an operation or surgery
  • Hip and knee implants
  • Acute disc hernia or discopathy
  • Severe diabetes
  • Epilepsy
  • Severe migraine
  • Tumors
  • Recently placed IUDs, metal pins, or plates
  • Electrolyte imbalance
  • Phlebitis or other risk factors associated with of pulmonary embolism
  • Gall bladder problems relating to lymphatic drainage
  • Existing retinal detachment or any predisposition to retinal detachment.

A Few Scientific Studies on the Benefit of Whole Body Vibration Exercise:

  1. Six weeks of whole-body vibration exercise improves pain and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Oct; 14(8):975-81. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that a 6-week whole-body vibration exercise safely reduces pain and fatigue, whereas exercise alone fails to induce improvements.
  2. Effect of 6-month whole body vibration training on hip density, muscle strength, and postural control in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled pilot study.J Bone Miner Res. 2004 Mar;19(3):352-9. Epub 2003 Dec 22. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that WBV training may be a feasible and effective way to modify well-recognized risk factors for falls and fractures in older women and support the need for further human studies.
  3. Whole body vibration versus conventional physiotherapy to improve balance and gait in Parkinson's disease Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Mar; 89(3):399-403. CONCLUSIONS: Equilibrium and gait improved in patients with PD receiving conventional WBV or conventional PT in the setting of a comprehensive rehabilitation program.