Physical therapy clinicians strive to choose the most effective, economical and beneficial treatment regimens for their patients. Whole Body Vibration therapy may be the answer to these needs.
Whole Body Vibration exercises primarily rely on the involuntary stretch reflex of mechanoreceptors creating greater communication between the brain and contracting muscles. This concept is important during neuromuscular re-education because the increase in involuntary muscle response creates a jump-start effect on the muscle spindles. The response is called a tonic vibration reflex. The reflex amplifies the neuromuscular efficiency by stimulating 100 percent of muscle spindles at the same frequency of the vibration.
Current research on WBV reveals promising results for increasing endocrine function, metabolic processes, and for neurological and orthopedic rehabilitation. Studies also confirm that its use has produced successful functional outcomes in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI), and improved postural stability and balance in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients.
Whole Body Vibration offers a low-impact exercise program that offers results without the risk of hurting fragile or injured joints and bones. Also, the benefit of exercise to the brain is clearly documented and is responsible for enhancing memory and cognitive function. Research supports that voluntary exercise increases neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus and improves spatial learning ability. Research from over 30 years ago led to many more studies showing that axons of neurons in the brain and spinal cord can regrow to some degree after trauma. This research has encouraged universities and rehabilitation centers across the world to study the effects of WBV in the Central Nervous System.
Read more about the positive effects of WBV on Spinal Cord Injury and Parkinson’s disease patients.
