Posts Tagged ‘Vibration Exercise’

Whole Body Vibration: Fastest Growing Fitness Sector in the US

May 28th, 2010

 Whole Body Vibration is sweeping across the USA from Europe and is now commonly used by doctors and physicians to treat patients.  Vibration machines are now becoming the world’s top trainer’s key training tool. 

Whole Body Vibration (WBV) technology originated in Europe and has been an evolving technology for the past 50 years. Sweden, Italy, Germany, and Russia have contributed immensely to the progression of WBV research and development for the purposes of fitness and rehabilitation. Many scientific research studies have been performed which validate the benefits of WBV with respect to » Read more: Whole Body Vibration: Fastest Growing Fitness Sector in the US

Adding Whole Body Vibration to a Fitness Center

May 20th, 2010

WBV machines offer a variety of benefits, but which exercises and applications are best for a commercial setting?  The scientific evidence shows that WBV is a useful and effective modality in rehabilitation, general fitness and sports performance.  The technology behind WBV has been proven with over 40 years of research. 

WBV training contracts virtually 100% of the muscle fibers of any particular muscle, whereas weight resistance training only fires about 40%. WBV fires not one muscle group after the other, as typical weight training does, but the whole body neuromusculoskeletal system is being stimulated at once. That is why with WBV your training time is significantly reduced.

Strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination are all key aspects to athletic performance. WBV can be used to stimulate an athlete’s adaptive response to performance‐driven activities. WBV training routines can be as challenging as you make them and the versatility of the vibrating platform allows you to target any part of the body. Athletes who train with WBV are faster, more explosive, less prone to injury, and ultimately more competitive.

To make WBV effective in your facility it is important to educate the staff on WBV and how to use it within a fitness program.  With education and direction such as posters, wall charts, and videos members can safely and effectively use WBV on their own.  Also, personal trainers may be an important part of the usefulness of WBV in fitness centers.  Clients will not only be better educated on the uses of WBV when working with a trainer, but other members who see the product in use are more likely to follow suit.  

Whole Body Vibration is a sensible choice because it is a safe, fast, and effective.  Better results in less time!  It’s a must have for all fitness centers.

Acute Effects of Whole Body Vibration

May 12th, 2010

Whole body vibration has been reported to produce immediate effects on anabolic hormone levels and muscular power.  Studies have shown a significant increase in blood concentrations of testosterone and growth hormone following short sessions of whole body vibration training in healthy men. Whole body vibration training also elicited a decrease in the blood concentration of Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, suggesting that whole body vibration does not produce a general stress reaction, a response that is common for high-intensity exercise.

Other studies have reported significant increases in » Read more: Acute Effects of Whole Body Vibration

Whole Body Vibration Activates Natural Stretch Reflex

May 11th, 2010

Whole Body Vibration stimulates the body’s natural stretch reflex and causes muscle contractions in much the same way that a doctor’s tapping below a patient’s patella with a reflex hammer elicits a knee-jerk response. The stretch reflex is controlled by stretch receptors called muscle spindles that are located in skeletal muscle. Muscle spindles are usually activated when a muscle is under a static stretch or is quickly stretched or overstretched, causing a reflex contraction of the muscle. With whole body vibration (WBV), this reflex action is continually stimulated, so a muscle continues to contract and relax until the vibration stops.  Studies have reported that activation of one muscle spindle will cause a reflex contraction and relaxation in many adjacent muscles.

WBV training contracts virtually 100% of the muscle fibers of any particular muscle, whereas weight resistance training only fires » Read more: Whole Body Vibration Activates Natural Stretch Reflex

Whole Body Vibration Benefits the Nervous System

May 5th, 2010

Your nervous system, which consists of sensors (eyes, ears, spindle organs, proprioceptors), the nerves, nerve junctions, the spine and the brain, exert tremendous influence over how you perceive the world, your health, and your motivation. If you can make small improvements to the functioning of the nervous system, everything else in your life improves automatically. This includes your ability to achieve fitness goals, to lead a stress-free life, and to pursue creative projects and other worthwhile objectives you set for yourself. Whole body vibration holds the key to unlocking your full potential.

There are many psychological systems aimed at getting peak or improved performance out of people. Most of these systems work solely on » Read more: Whole Body Vibration Benefits the Nervous System

Benefits of Yoga with Whole Body Vibration

May 4th, 2010

Yoga means union of body and mind and you probably know what sets it apart from stretching or your physical exercise routine:  the deep and distinct connection with your breath.  Regular yoga practice has been shown to prevent middle-age spread in people of healthy weight and promote weight loss in those who are overweight. 

Almost any position from a yoga or fitness class can be performed on a whole body vibration platform, and Yoga postures are usually held for a minute or two to allow time to focus on alignment. » Read more: Benefits of Yoga with Whole Body Vibration

Detoxification with Whole Body Vibration

April 21st, 2010

Whole body vibration training does more than just build strength or increase metabolism. It also detoxifies your internal organs and cells. As your metabolism increases, cells begin to function better again and they start to expel accumulated wastes and toxins. This waste gets deposited into the blood stream and then » Read more: Detoxification with Whole Body Vibration

Whole Body Vibration may improve Balance in Fibromyalgia Patients

April 20th, 2010

About 50% of women with fibromyalgia or pain in connective tissue and muscle have poor balance.  Symptoms vary from joint stiffness to debilitating body pain, headaches, indigestion, and fatigue to name a few of the most prominent. Fibromyalgia treatments are dedicated to treating these symptoms.

Recently, a study showed that vibration therapy may » Read more: Whole Body Vibration may improve Balance in Fibromyalgia Patients

Adding Whole Body Vibration to your Life

April 13th, 2010

The benefits of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) are widespread over the web and almost everywhere.  This type of fitness equipment can make getting in shape easier than ever.

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 » Read more: Adding Whole Body Vibration to your Life

Whole Body Vibration and Metabolism

April 8th, 2010

Whole Body Vibration platforms stimulate the endocrine system and improve fat metabolism.  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.  This is important for building muscle, and muscle is calorie-burning tissue, and so that increases your total calories burned.  » Read more: Whole Body Vibration and Metabolism