The history behind
Whole Body Vibration (WBV)
Whole Body Vibration has been in use for a long time,
possibly as far back as ancient Greece. In the late 1800s, John Kellogg used
vibrating platforms, bars and chairs as a wellness strategy in his sanitarium.
An East German doctor studied the effects of cyclic oscillations in the 1960s.
Around the same time, a Russian scientist named Nazarov
observed that athletes using vibration had a substantial increase in strength
and flexibility.
The Russian, European and American space programs have
been experimenting with vibration systems on cosmonauts and astronauts to
counter the bone loss and muscle atrophy that occurs from the lack of gravity
on space missions. Cosmonauts using WBV were able to stay in space for 420
days, as opposed to those who did not use WBV, who could stay only 120 days.
What is WBV?
Whole Body Vibration, a user stands or uses specific
poses on a vibrating platform. Vibrations travel through the body, causing
subconscious muscle contractions.
There are two main types of systems: pivotal/oscillating
and linear. Pivotal systems have higher amplitudes of oscillation and lower
frequencies, while linear systems have lower amplitudes and higher frequencies.
Linear machines are popular with football and basketball teams while pivotal
machines are more popular in general and inhabit more studies on WBV.
Vibration against
Depression and Anxiety
Depression, anxiety, stress and other mood disorders are
at epidemic levels, especially in the United States and throughout most of
North America. Many people have described depression as an oppressive black
curtain of despair that engulfs their lives. Depression deeply affects their
life, including the lives of those around them. It can severely disrupt how
they function, eat, sleep, and get along with others. Although most people who
suffer from depression feel as though they are isolated in their suffering,
they are not alone, roughly 20% of the American population suffers from this
disorder. The good news is that they can find relief from the devastation of
this and other associated mood disorders. Depression is a disease, and like any
other disease, it can be treated and managed.
Anxiety is often a precursor for depression. Some degree
of anxiety is perfectly normal in today’s world, but for some people anxiety
becomes overwhelming and may interfere with the normal functioning of life,
often leading to sever depression, sometimes causing withdrawal from ordinary
social activity.
When pondering treatment options for depression and its
related disorders, you may consider Whole Body Vibration (WBV) therapy as a
sort of drug-free medicine. Stress, anxiety and depression are responsible for
80 to 90 percent of all disease, experts say. Whole Body Vibration (WBV)
machines allow patients to get easy to reducing tension, stress and depression
level.
It has been clinically demonstrated that Whole Body
Vibration therapy has a positive effect on the production of hormones and
neurotransmitters. The massaging effect of the vibrations initiates an increase
in Dopamine and Serotonin levels. This suggests a decrease in stress levels and
depression.
Regular use of WBV therapy balances neurotransmitters
such as dopamine and serotonin, increases key hormones, and lowers stress
hormones like cortisol.
If Cortisol, a stress hormone, is chronically elevated,
it can have harmful effects on weight and immune function, as well as increases
inflammation and damages the structure of the brain. When Cortisol levels are
lowered, stressors are easier to manage and the brain works better.
When Dopamine levels are optimal, memory improves, pain
regulation in the body is more efficient, people become better at
problem-solving, and are able to hold their attention and focus longer.
Serotonin, the most widely studied neurotransmitter, helps regulate a vast
range of functions from mood balance to bowel function. It plays a part in
reducing the appetite, forming blood clots, regulating libido, anxiety, social
behavior, and more. Lastly, neurotropin is a growth hormone that acts as a
brain stimulator that helps with the survival, development, and function of
neurons and is needed to keep brain cells alive.
After just 10 minutes of WBV exercise, patients are more
relaxed and feel good. A routine of regular daily WBV therapy will continue to
yield an increase in these key hormones, WBV exercise will also counter mental
lethargy and enhance overall mood while sharpening the ability to focus and
concentrate. Serotonin also happens to be the most widely studied
neurotransmitter since it helps regulate a vast range of psychological and
biological functions beneficial to optimal health.
There was a small study (14 people) done at Holos
University in Kansas. Eight of the 14 subjects reported depression before the
study. After regular use of a Whole Body Vibration machine, 7 of these 8
subjects reported no depression. In addition, they noted that DHEA increased
for 10 of these 14 subjects and as you might know DHEA is a beneficial hormone.
Its levels decrease with aging. This correlates to depression, increased risk
of cancer, and many other degenerative syndromes.
Although this study was relatively small and the amount
of time the subjects spent on the WBV machine was somewhat limited, the results
are astonishing nonetheless. With just this small amount of exposure to the
machine, the majority of the subjects experienced significant results. All of
them reported positive reduction in symptoms.
In general, most people have reported an increase in a
feeling of optimism after a short session on WBV equipment, which has lead to
the conclusion that while the stimulating effects of the WBV machine will help
counteract most types of depression it also greatly increased personal
motivation.
Whole Body Vibration therapy is also an amazing form of
exercise. Exercise has been known to be one of the most important factors for
brain health, leading to increased neural cell growth and strength. 97% of all
your muscles are mobilized and engaged while standing on a platform, increasing
oxygen uptake and producing endorphins, much like you would while running
without the added stress on your body.
Becky Chambers, a leading author and expert on WBV,
believes that the intense vibration of WBV is leading to growth and health in
the peripheral nervous system in the brain- after over a decade of working with
this technology. Since the peripheral nervous system connects the central
nervous system to the limbs and organs, strengthening that system of the body
can mean better communication between the brain and spinal cord with the rest
of the body.
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.
Other Positive
Effects
Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland at the
base of the brain, being a substance that supports childhood growth and helps
in maintaining the health of tissues and organs throughout life. GH helps
regulate body fluids and body composition, as well as muscle and bone growth,
being involved in the regulation of sugar and fat metabolism, and possibly in
heart function as well.
Growth hormone stimulates the growth of cartilages,
boosts the production of proteins, promotes the utilization of fat and raises
blood sugar levels by interfering with insulin. In a healthy organism, the
production of GH decreases naturally with age, and some people may develop
growth hormone deficiency. This condition is rare, but can have serious effects
on one’s health, so GH injections may be administered to counteract these
issues.
In children, GH administration is approved for conditions
like Turner’s syndrome, HGH deficiency or insufficiency, Prader-Willi syndrome
and chronic kidney insufficiency. In adults, the administration of this hormone
is approved for short bowel syndrome, HGH deficiency and muscle-wasting disease
associated with HIV/AIDS.
Although the studies on the effects of GH on healthy
adults are limited, it appears that this substance can increase muscle mass and
help in reducing the body fat percentage in older adults.
In obese individuals, growth hormone may help in reducing
body fat, and researchers have found that whole body vibration exercises may
help in boosting the production of growth hormone in these people. A study
published in the Obesity Facts journal by Italian researchers showed that WBV
alone or combined with squatting stimulates the release of growth hormone in
obese women, peaks occurring immediately after the exercise session.
Sources and
Additional Information:
