Abstract

BACKGROUND: Age-related changes in body composition are well-documented with a decrease in lean body mass and a redistribution of body fat generally observed. Resistance training alone has been shown to have positive effects on body composition; however, these benefits may be enhanced by the addition of a vibration stimulus.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 8 months of resistance training with and without whole-body vibration (WBV) on body composition in sedentary postmenopausal women.

METHODS: Fifty-five women were assigned to resistance only (RG, n=22), vibration plus resistance (VR, n=21) or non-exercising control (CG, n=12) groups. Resistance training (3 sets 10 repetitions 80% strength) was performed using isotonic weight training equipment and whole-body vibration was done with the use of a vibration platform three times per week for 8 months. Total and regional body composition was assessed from the total-body DXA scans at baseline (pre) and after 8 months (post) of training.

RESULTS: In the VR group, total % body fat decreased from pre- to post-time points (p<0.05), whereas the CG group had a significant increase in total % body fat (p<0.05). Both training groups exhibited significant increases in bone-free lean tissue mass for the total body, arm and trunk regions from pre to post (p<0.05). CG did not show any changes in lean tissue.

CONCLUSION: In older women, resistance training alone and with whole-body vibration resulted in positive body composition changes by increasing lean tissue. However, only the combination of resistance training and whole-body vibration was effective for decreasing percent body fat.

Source: Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research. The Week in Chiropractic, Wednesday, May 5, 2009.

Right now, at age 75, after about eight months, I am exercising with the PV machine about four times a week. Last Spring I wanted to loose some weight and went on a diet. In about three months I lost eighteen pounds, which was easier and more successful than previous tries and it seems less an effort now to maintain the loss. I think the Power Vibe definitely plays a role in the weight loss process. After an exercise session on the Power Vibe, I feel energized and, at the same time, feel relaxed and always enjoy the session. In addition to the Power Vibe, I practice Hatha Yoga three times a week and walk about a mile and a half four times a week. The Power Vibe has certainly made a difference to me in ways I can see and I’m sure in less obvious areas like bone density and circulation.

Judy

When the page loads, click on “Osteoporosis” to go straight to Dr. Reichardt’s article.

Dr. Christian Reichardt, president of PowerVibe USA, is a featured speaker with The Vitality Depot.  Some of the topics Dr. Reichardt covers are: Transitioning from Passive to Active Care, Osteoporosis: The Hidden Epidemic, Restoring the Body’s Full Range of Motion.  

Check out the www.VitalitySpeakers.com webpage for Vitality Sponsored Speakers photos, bios and speaking topics. 

• Increase flexibility
• Reduce stiffness and inflammation
• Strengthen muscles around joints
• Achieve long-term pain relief

Exercise improves more than arthritis symptoms. It reduces the risk of other health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. It can also boost your energy level and sense of well-being, help you sleep better, and make weight control easier.   Your program should include both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. In addition, flexibility exercises may ease joint stiffness.

A lot of times a rebounder (aka: mini trampoline) is recommended for an arthritis workout. By bouncing lightly on the rebounder it helps to stimulate lymphatic drainage. Whole Body Vibration can provide these same results, but in a much shorter amount of time. For example: when standing on a vertical vibration platform that is set for 20 HZ your muscles are contracting and relaxing 20 times per second in response to the vibrations. This is like jumping 20 times per second on a rebounder! The vibration stimulus travels straight up through the body. Your whole bodyweight is being mobilized to circulate lymphatic fluids. This creates the same benefits as a rebounder, just in a much shorter amount of time. Exercise can reduce pain and disability by decreasing muscle inhibition and by improving local circulation.

Once you start exercising, start slow and go slow.  Then, gradually increase the time. Your body needs time to adjust to your new activity level.

Whole Body Vibration is a great option to relieve arthritis pain and suffering, maybe even reverse the effects naturally.

More than 10 million people in the U.S. have osteoarthritis of the knee, and your lifetime risk of developing it is nearly one in two. But there is good news: Experts keep finding more steps that people can take to reduce discomfort and to prevent, delay, or slow osteoarthritis.

 Achieve a healthy weight

According to one national survey, obese women had nearly four times the risk of getting osteoarthritis of the knee than their lighter peers; obese men had five times the risk.  Losing just 10 pounds can significantly reduce your chances of developing the disease.

 Strengthen your muscles

In a recent University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics study, women with stronger quadriceps, or front thigh muscles, were better protected from knee osteoarthritis than weaker subjects.  Exercising on a whole body vibration platform improves muscle strength, reflexes, and joint motion.  Increased muscle contractions improve muscle strength, ton and endurance.  Muscular and neurological coordination is improved.  The effect on muscles is similar to that of other powered exercise devices, such as treadmills and bicycles- but in a condensed period of time.  

 Stretching

A lack of joint mobility has been directly linked to knee pain.   If you have difficulty bending your knees when you walk or run, you end up placing excess pressure on a small area around the kneecap. Regular tai chi or yoga sessions have been found to help increase range of motion.  Regular stretching is also very beneficial.  Stretching is enhanced when done on a whole body vibration platform.  The direct effect of whole body vibration stimulates blood flow to ligaments and tendons and enhances the stretch reflex.   

Whole Body Vibration has been shown to reduce the pain and disability associated with Osteoarthritis.  Exercise can reduce pain and disability by decreasing muscle inhibition and by improving local circulation.  Unfortunately, most osteoarthritis sufferers tend to not adhere to an exercise regimen due to the discomfort associated with working out.  The more difficult the exercise, the less likely they will do it.  Whole Body Vibration is particularly suited for these people because it exercises the postural system.  Whole body vibration is easy to use, the exercise sessions are short, and it’s safe.

WBV has nothing to do with pharmaceutical pills or chemicals. It’s about simple concepts such as increasing circulation and oxygenation throughout the entire body. Waking up cells, tissues, and muscles that haven’t been active in years is at the heart of why WBV works.  Increasing amount of interest is directed to whole body vibration technology as studies indicate promising results. Numerous findings include increase in muscle strength, enhancing balance and co-ordination, improved flexibility, increase in bone mass density therefore decreasing osteoporosis, stimulating the lymphatic system, massage effect on muscles and providing low joint impact.

Research has shown vibration to increase range of motion beyond that of static stretching alone.  The underlying means with whole body vibration is thought to be the elicitation of muscular activity via stretch reflexes.  At increased intensity, there seems to be effects similar to those of massage such as increased blood flow and heat and furthermore there is a release of hormone response comparable to that found after resistance type exercise.  The many positive aspects of whole body vibration on the neuromusculoskeletal system make it very beneficial when implemented as part of a chiropractic treatment.  Overall whole body vibration can make it easier to administer the spinal manipulative treatments because the muscles are more relaxed. The need to apply soft tissue therapy can be decreased. 

Our society is one that is fast-paced, information packed, and non-stop. People want to live healthier, but few actually do. Why? There isn’t enough time and solutions often seem too difficult. Our times are characterized by people needing to be told what to do, and to be shown a reasonable solution. With WBV, if you can get a patient to compromise for 10 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week, they will experience measurable positive benefits.

These findings should make every chiropractor excited to inquire further into this technology.  The findings seem ideal to include with the chiropractic treatment.

In the last 10 years a whole new science has come about of the effects of the hormone known as vitamin D-3 on the body.  D-3 is has been referred to as a hormone rather than a vitamin.  D-3 impacts your heart, organs and most every tissue and cell in your body.  D3 targets more than 2,000 genes in the body. That’s 10 percent of the total number of genes in the human body.  Deficiencies have been implicated in at least 17 different cancer types, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, and more. 

Further research has found additional medicinal benefits of vitamin D in the prevention or treatment of serious diseases. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that deficiencies were linked to autoimmune conditions (such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes). Vitamin D doesn’t just play a role in specific diseases and disorders; it affects the body in many ways.  People suffering from vitamin D deficiency have a more difficult time with pain management.  Plus deficiencies have been linked to Cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Depression, and other health issues.

Vitamin D-3 is thought to be the most impactful and wide reaching nutrient for your body. The sun’s rays are UVA and UVB ultraviolet rays.  But only the UVB rays are vitamin D producing when they hit your skin.  The fear of skin cancer has stopped many individuals from obtaining beneficial amounts of sunlight.

Did you know that everyone living north of 35° latitude will get no UVB rays between the months of November through March because of the angle of the sun?  Two/thirds of the U.S and all of Canada are above the 35° latitude mark.  The equator is at 0° latitude and gets the benefit of the highest level of the sun’s UVB rays, whereas the North Pole is at 90° latitude and gets the least benefit.

We do not get the same amount of UVB rays year round. As the seasons change, so does the angle of the sun’s rays.  In the summer, with the sun directly overhead, we get the maximum number of UVB rays.  As the season moves toward winter, we get fewer and fewer rays and in the winter, if you live in 35° latitude and above, you will get no UVB rays at all.

Have you had your dose of vitamin D-3 today?  Get out and enjoy that summer sun!

Whole body vibration machines move in different planes and depending upon which plane the vibration plate or user moves in, determines the type of effects on the body. There are three planes that whole body vibration machines move in. The first is strictly up and down (also called lineal or vertical movement), the second is called pivotal (see-saw or teeter-totter), and the third way of movement is called elliptical (more horizontal and less vertical motion).

Vibration platforms are scientifically calibrated to produce precise vibrations at a set amplitude (vertical displacement) and frequency (platform speed). When the user stands on the platform, the vibration energy is transferred to the entire body. These vibrations generate involuntary contractions in the muscle fibers several times per second. By adjusting either of the two variables (amplitude or frequency) you can affect the number of times per second your muscles contract, the amount of G force exerted on your body, the degree of difficulty for stabilization, the detoxification effect, etc.  Different frequencies will have different effects on the body. Depending on what you want to accomplish with WBV, will determine what frequency you should set your machine at.

As a result of the vibration exercise, the body will respond with several healthful benefits.

These include:

• Increased bone mineral density
•  Increased overall strength
•  Increased flexibility
•  Increased core strength
•  Improved blood and lymph drainage (detoxification effect)
•  Improved balance, stability and coordination
•  Burn fat-weight loss
•  Muscle relaxation Rehabilitation of injuries
•  Joint mobilization
•  Scar tissue healing
•  Hormonal changes
•  Neurological stimulation
•  Increased mobility
•  Decreased lower back pain
•  Improved muscle tone.

Most whole body vibration exercise sessions are designed for use in short sets.  Therefore, an entire workout can consist of only 10-15 minutes actually spent on the platform. Performing these exercises three to five times per week will yield incredible health and fitness benefits for users of all age groups.

The medical community has also embraced whole body vibration exercise as a safe therapeutic modality. Professional athletes are adding WBV exercises to their training regimens while gyms, spas and wellness clinics and even assisted living facilities have incorporated this technology into their programming and business models.

To help combat Osteoporosis, bone-building drugs called bisphosphonates became widely available in the mid-1990s.  But recent reports of scary side effects from bisphosphonates including Fosamax, Actonel and Boniva are circulating on the Internet and in medical journals. Hundreds of lawsuits allege that the drugs cause a rare condition in which part of the jaw bone dies.

There is plenty of evidence that taking these “bone-building” drugs called bisphosphonates, can cause your jaw bone to deteriorate. The pharmaceutical companies already know this, but now there is evidence that they can also cause your thigh bones to break too.  These drugs are even being sold to women who may never really need them. 

The real prescription for reversing and preventing osteoporosis is weight bearing exercise!  Men and women need resistance training to maintain and build bone mass, it’s that simple. Whole Body Vibration is another proven and effective way to increase bone density.  Whole Body Vibration has been shown to increase bone mass and should be considered as a natural treatment for Osteoporosis.  When standing on a Whole Body Vibration platform, the body tissues are rapidly accelerated and decelerated multiple times (5-50) every second.   This rapid acceleration/deceleration creates a weight bearing load that places stress on bones, which results in increased bone mass.  The physiological benefits of weight bearing exercise are achieved in an extremely shortened time frame.  Vertical Vibration has been proven to be the most effective for enhancing bone density because the user’s entire body weight is mobilized on each vibration cycle.

The only side effect you’ll have from this prescription is looking and feeling better!