A major cause of overall vitality loss is stagnant lymphatic and other body fluids.  Unlike changing the oil in our cars, we are not able to remove dirty, stagnant fluids in our body and replace them.  Rather than replacing our fluids, we have to stimulate circulation to facilitate detoxification and enhance the flow of energy throughout our bodies.  As blood and lymph circulate through our bodies, they remove toxins and other waste products.   Exercise and good circulation help increase the flow of our vital fluids and assist in the removal of these harmful elements.

It is said that the lymphatic system is the most neglected system of the body.  Even conventional medicine is looking to this system as being the leading cause of many disorders in the body.  Lymphatic massage has become a popular modality for addressing the congestion and release of toxins.  WBV is also a very effective tool for the movement and release of congested, stagnant lymphatic fluids. WBV works from the inside out.  Waste products are expelled at a cellular, lymphatic and excretion level.

Lance Walker, Director of Training at Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney, TX demonstrates how to use PowerVibe Whole Body Vibration (WBV) to enhance lower kinetic chain mechanics.

This video demonstrates a Posterior Lateral Excursion on the PowerVibe Zen Pro 5900.

Lance Walker, Director of Training at Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney, TX demonstrates how to use PowerVibe Whole Body Vibration (WBV) to enhance lower kinetic chain mechanics.

This video demonstrates a Balance Excursion on the PowerVibe Zen Pro 5900.

This increase in circulation may cause you to notice a tingling or itching sensation after standing on a Whole body vibration (WBV) platform for a short time.  This is a signal your body is sending you- a message confirming just how much you really need to be using a WBV machine.  Even though it doesn’t seem like you’re doing much, a lot more is going on than you expect.

The sensations are actually a good thing.  What’s happening is your body has clumped together fat cells, often along with the formation of cellulite, which causes a type of blockage restricting blood flow.  After a few minutes of Whole Body Vibration exercise your capillaries expand and freshly oxygenated blood starts to flow into areas that were previously suppressed.  During vibration exercise your muscles are not only contracting at a much higher rate, but with a lot more pressure than you could exert yourself.  Every muscle is becoming a little heart pumping your blood around your body.

The tingling/itching sensations will diminish as your body becomes accustomed to vibration exercise, letting you know you’re burning the fat and relaxing the cells, allowing increased blood and prompting the carrying away of toxins from your body’s tissues.  This is completely normal and to be expected.  It is the allowing of the capillaries to expand, supplying more blood to these areas and stimulating lymphatic drainage, which eliminates toxins from the body at an accelerated rate.

Lance Walker, Director of Training at Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney, TX demonstrates how to use PowerVibe Whole Body Vibration (WBV) to enhance lower kinetic chain mechanics.

This video demonstrates a Balance Excursion Progression on the PowerVibe Zen Pro 5900.

Lance Walker, Director of Training at Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney, TX demonstrates how to integrate PowerVibe Whole Body Vibration (WBV) to enhance strength training and correct faulty moving patterns.

This video demonstrates a Lateral Step Up Correction on the PowerVibe Zen Pro 5900.

Lance Walker, Director of Training at Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney, TX demonstrates how to use PowerVibe Whole Body Vibration (WBV) to enhance lower kinetic chain mechanics.

This video demonstrates a Posterior Tibialis Toe Raise on the PowerVibe Zen Pro 5900.

Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage wears, frays, ulcerates and, in some cases, disappears completely, leaving bare joints.  Symptoms include morning stiffness, tenderness, loss of mobility and function, and creaking and cracking of joints.  The causes of osteoarthritis are unknown; age, genetics and a lifetime of wear and tear are thought to be culprits.  Although no cure exists, much can be done to ease aches and improve movement.

If you have osteoarthritis, you already know how painful it can be just to tie a shoelace or bend down.  It is possible to feel better by improving your diet, adding the right medications and supplements and starting an exercise program.  You don’t have to be a world-class athlete to benefit from exercise.  Start slowly and try to make a schedule and stick to it.

WBV improves muscle strength the same way as regular exercise does.  Vibrations lengthen and shorten the fibers the number of times per second that you have the frequency set at, which is more efficient and increases strength. The direct effect of WBV stimulates blood flow to ligaments and tendons and enhances the stretch reflex. The proprioceptive system (your equilibrium) is stimulated and challenged.

Increased blood circulation is a notable benefit of whole body vibration even at low speeds.  As a result your cells receive more oxygen and nourishment. The body may also develop better lymphatic drainage to improve overall health and immunity.  It does this by taking away waste products and moving white blood cells to where they are needed. White blood cells are like the cavalry of the body removing debris from broken down cells and attacking invading agents, such as poisons and bacteria.

Whole Body Vibration is a sensible choice because it is a safe, fast, and effective way to stay active in less time. It can be done in the comfort of your home. There is no learning curve. You are in charge of how challenging of a workout you experience. You determine your own rate of progress.

Working out with weights doesn’t just shape a more pleasing body. It also rewards you with stronger, healthier bones, ligaments and tendons, improvements in blood glucose, better balance and flexibility and the ability to perform everyday tasks with ease, greater cardiovascular health and endurance, more refreshing sleep and reduced anxiety and depression.

Building good health resistance exercise helps you lose pounds, improves cholesterol levels and lower blood sugar and blood pressure. Consistently working out also increases energy and improves balance, reducing the risk of falling. That’s good news for people with thinning bones, or osteoporosis, who are at greater risk for debilitating fractures but who may be avoiding exercise for safety reasons. Under supervision, they can use resistance exercise to build and strengthen their bones and muscles.

Whole Body Vibration can aid elderly people by stimulating muscles, joints, and tissues. The effects of increased blood flow improve bone density and may even boost neurological function. Worldwide research highlights the physiological and neuromuscular benefits unique to Whole Body Vibration. These studies show astounding results for improved fitness and health in the fraction of the time, compared to conventional exercise. Professional sports teams have adapted whole body vibration to develop explosive strength and for rehabilitation. Many personal trainers are using it exclusively for the ultimate whole body strength and toning workout.

With WBV you may expect similar gains to conventional resistance /gym training, but in a fraction of the time. Scientific studies have proven these rapid strength gains. A 10 minute vibration workout may give similar benefits to a 1 hour gym session.

Ask your doctor whether you have any medical conditions that may increase your risk for injury and find out the side effects of any prescription or over-the-counter medications you use and how soon after taking them you can safely exercise. Remember to start slowly and progress gradually.

Whole body vibration is a great option for cross training.  There are many benefits and it is a fast, effective alternative to resistance training that enhances muscular strength and power in both sedentary and athletic populations. Because of the low-impact nature of the exercise and the relatively low exertion required make whole body vibration an attractive exercise mode when working with obese and elderly clients. Additionally, it can be a good cross-training option for athletes wishing to minimize the amount of repetitive joint loading on their bodies.

Whole-body vibration training has been shown to increase muscular strength, explosive power and anabolic hormone levels when performed for as little as 4 minutes three times a week (Bosco et al. 2000; Torvinen et al. 2002). It requires relatively little exertion compared with traditional forms of exercise; yet studies comparing this training method to traditional strength training have found similar gains in strength and, in some cases, more gains in explosive power (Delecluse, Roelants & Verschueren 2003; Roelants et al. 2004).

Benefits of Cross Training

• ·          Reduces exercise boredom
• ·          Allows you to be flexible about you training needs and plans 
• ·          Produces a higher level of all around conditioning
• ·          Conditions the entire body, not just specific muscle groups
• ·          Reduces the risk of injury
• ·          Work some muscles while others rest and recover
• ·          Can continue to train while injured
• ·          Improves your skill, agility and balance

 It is always recommended that an individual should consult with their family physician who understands their medical history before embarking on any new exercise or rehabilitation protocol.  Exercise can strengthen the cardiovascular system, bones, muscles, joints, reduce body fat and improve flexibility, balance and coordination. But if you want to see all of these benefits, you’ll need to start cross training. What better time to start than now with whole body vibration?