Whole Body Vibration (WBV)

What is Whole Body Vibration?

On a WBV machine, the platform you stand on moves very rapidly. This controlled motion is transferred up through your body. All of your body tissues are forced to react to the stimulus of the vibrating platform. Blood flow increases considerably and more oxygen gets circulated throughout your body. Lymphatic drainage improves which aids in detoxification and increased bone mineral density.

The way you position your body on the vibrating platform determines what tissues are affected. You have complete control over the body part you want to target and how challenging the workout is.

What are the benefits of Whole Body Vibration (WBV)?

There are numerous benefits of WBV training as evidenced by its acceptance in major medical, rehabilitation and therapeutic centers across the country.

• WBV works and tones your muscles more efficiently than conventional exercises
• WBV increases your lymphatic drainage and the release of endorphins
• WBV trains your equilibrium sense for improved balance and coordination
• WBV enhances your blood flow and oxygenation
• WBV improves bone mineral density
• WBV lowers your stress hormone Cortisol

The health benefits are multifold and results can be achieved easily no matter which type of WBV technology you use. WBV can enhance your general well being and quality of life regardless of age, current exercise habits, or physical condition. WBV training is not difficult, but it can be challenging – it can be as simple or as hard as you make it.

Practical experience indicates that there are a number of disorders where it is beneficial to integrate Whole Body Vibration training into ones treatment.

Are there any contraindications to Whole Body Vibration (WBV)?

If you have any known medical condition, or any physical limitation on your ability to exercise, PowerVibe strongly recommends that you seek the advice of a physician before using Whole Body Vibration. 

It is always advisable for people to consult with their physician before starting any exercise program. Ongoing research in the field of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) indicates that many conditions can actually benefit from this form of therapy. However, if you suffer from any of the following contraindications it is imperative that you discuss Whole Body Vibration therapy with your physician before beginning any training program with PowerVibe equipment. This list of contraindications is not absolute.

• Pregnancy
• Detached Retina
• Acute/ Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Serious Cardiovascular Disease
• Pacemaker
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Acute hernia, Discopathy
• Acute disc related problems, Spondylosis, gliding Spondylolisthesis or fractures
• Severe Diabetic neuropathy
• Tumors
• Recent Surgeries
• Epilepsy
• Gallstones, Kidney stones, Bladder stones
• Cardiac dysrhythmias
• Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Acute/sever inflammations, infections and/ or fever
• Acute Migraine
• Fresh (surgical) wounds
• Surgical metal implants
• Osteonecrosis
• Severe Osteoporosis with BMD < 70mg/ml
• Metastatic Tumors

Research is still being conducted on the effects of vibration on a variety of medical conditions. Practical experience indicates that there are a number of disorders where it is beneficial to integrate Whole Body Vibration training into one's treatment.

Is the list of contraindications absolute?

The list of contra-indications is a list of all medical conditions that would be a reason to advise against using the “WBV” Device. This does not mean that if you are suffering from any of the conditions on the list, you could never user the “WBV” Device at all. In a number of cases it is highly recommended to integrate vibration training in a treatment plan. Of course, this would have to be under medical advice of a doctor, specialist or physiotherapist, and under strict supervision of an instructor. Because there are several studies being conducted at this time on the effects of vibration training on several physical problems, the list of contra-indications may be adjusted in the future. Some empirical studies have shown that there is an entire range of conditions where vibration training may play an important part, such as C.V.A. (cerebro-vascular accidents, also known as a stroke) and Parkinson's disease.

Is an adjustment period anticipated when beginning Whole Body Vibration (WBV)?

Because the initial training phase on the “WBV” Device occurs on a neurological level (as it also does with conventional training), it is necessary for all persons training on the “WBV” Device to acclimate to this new form of training to benefit from the full effects of vibration. Dependent on the condition of the individual, the duration in the Adaptation Phase may last as long as four weeks or more, or as rapidly as less than two weeks. Recommended progression:

1    Extend the time of each exercise -
      30s to 45s, 45s to 50s
2    Reduce the rest period between exercises -
      60s to 45s, 45s to 30s, etc.
3    Increase number of sets per exercise
4    Perform exercise dynamically
5    Add additional exercises
6    Increase frequency - 
      30Hz, 35Hz, 40Hz, 45 etc..
7    Incorporate unilateral movement
     (i.e., perform exercises on one leg, etc.)
8    Increase Amplitude - Low to High

How does Whole Body Vibration (WBV) cause muscles to contract automatically?

Due to mechanical vibration produced by the “WBV” Device the body will react immediately. While standing on the “WBV” Device, the natural balance in the human body is disturbed. Many muscles will be activated in order to recover the balance lost. By changing the angles of the joints and the position on the “WBV” Device the muscles around the joint involved will stretch. This stretching is registered by the muscle spindles, which will send a signal through the afferent nerves to the cortex, which in turn will react with signals through the spinal cord and cause a reflex contraction of the muscles involved. The change of position is thus countered as soon as possible.

History of Whole Body Vibration (WBV):

WBV in the United States

Several WBV manufacturers have penetrated high-end fitness and medical markets here in the US. Many professional sports teams use big machines made for athletes who lift weights on the vibrating platform.  These machines are priced in excess of $8,000 - $15,000. Since many of these units are developed to help professional athletes, they tend to be very large units and are uncomfortable for the standard user. They are simply too powerful.  In America it's common to think that more is better but this isn't the case with WBV.

The origins of Whole Body Vibration technology can be traced back to the Swedish gymnast, physician, and inventor Gustav Zander (1835-1920) and Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (1852-1943).

The Germans picked up on the health and wellness benefits that vibration technology offered in the 1960’s by developing an exercise technique called rhythmic neuromuscular stimulation.

Then the Russians moved vibration technology forward for good in the 1960’s. The space race between the Russians from Eastern Europe and the United States from the west fueled research and development of all kinds of new products. The Soviets quickly realized that being exposed to zero gravity conditions in outer space caused severe deterioration of bone mineral density and muscle tissue. The concept of humans living with the constant force of Earth’s gravity is where the theory behind WBV originated.

The Russian space program used Whole Body Vibration as a way to simulate weight bearing loads for their cosmonauts while training and rehabbing before, during, and after trips in outer space.

Introducing WBV in zero gravity conditions is something that worked to simulate the forces of gravity when there isn’t any. Cosmonauts (and now NASA) used WBV machines to maintain bone mineral density and muscle strength. Instead of being too weak to walk upon returning from orbit, the Russian cosmonauts were returning from space in almost the same condition as when they left.

Ever wonder why the Russians were so dominant in the Olympics during the 1980’s. You guessed it...their athletes were using WBV regularly in training and rehabilitation programs.

German Universities continued their own research on the effects of WBV. Many studies were done on a variety of effects on the body, such as WBV and Osteoporosis, developing muscle mass, improving balance and circulation, rehabilitation for injuries, weight loss, and the like.

This is not WBV... and here's WHY.

The famous exercise belt of the 1950s is not comparable to today's form of WBV. PowerVibe utilize weight bearing load (your body) that is in line with the vibration stimulus to produce positive effects. Your body experiences rapid acceleration and deceleration in the tissues that are in line with the vibrations.

Whole Body Vibration Research Studies:

WBV is backed by over 40 years of scientific research.  Athletes, astronauts, and celebrities have been using WBV for years.  The research is proven and sound.  We know that WBV can do wonders for strength, flexibility, balance, energy levels, and overall well-being.  If you focus on making a small change in your nutrition, rest, and cardiovascular exercise while using WBV you will feel and see significant gains in your health and wellness.

There are literally hundreds of research studies that have been published concerning WBV.  Download the collection of studies that's focused on what you're most interested in.