Posts Tagged ‘wellness’

Whole Body Vibration shown to benefit Stroke Recovery

March 4th, 2010

A stroke can critically impair motor function, including manipulative abilities in the upper extremities and balance and gait in the lower extremities. There is a well-established relationship between the reduction in voluntary strength in the affected muscles of the lower extremities and the ability to execute activities of daily living.  Plus, decrease in voluntary strength of the knee extensors in the affected limb is closely linked to reductions in walking speed, impaired stability and increased postural sway. 

There is growing support for the use of resistance training in stroke rehabilitation, but there are several factors that still limit the use in a rehabilitation program.  After a stroke many patients have » Read more: Whole Body Vibration shown to benefit Stroke Recovery

Positive Effects of Whole Body Vibration for Rehabilitation

February 24th, 2010

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 » Read more: Positive Effects of Whole Body Vibration for Rehabilitation

Healing Faster with Whole Body Vibration

February 23rd, 2010

An injury to your body can be very difficult to overcome.  By adding Whole Body Vibration to your rehabilitation you can make the most of your physical therapy and rehab program to allow you to get back to life without pain and with full ability faster. 

Whole Body Vibration increases circulation very quickly. The increased blood flow to an injury helps it to heal much quicker.  Whole Body Vibration can be used » Read more: Healing Faster with Whole Body Vibration

A Natural Treatment for Osteoporosis- Whole Body Vibration

February 19th, 2010

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures.  These fractures are most common in the hip, spine, and wrist, although any bone can be affected. 

Osteoporosis is a major health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans.  In the U.S. today, 10 million individuals are already estimated to have the disease and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass placing them at an increased risk for Osteoporosis.   Osteoporosis is thought of to be an older person’s disease, but it can happen at any age. 

The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends » Read more: A Natural Treatment for Osteoporosis- Whole Body Vibration

Whole Body Vibration- Future Applications

February 16th, 2010

Whole Body Vibration is an active form of exercise that has already demonstrated its enormous potential to improve bone density, balance responses, arterial circulation, and muscle strength.  These benefits have been described in many studies that have been conducted throughout the world.  We have seen new and exciting potential for Whole Body Vibration technology » Read more: Whole Body Vibration- Future Applications

Whole Body Vibration Benefits

February 8th, 2010

Out of the many benefits of Whole Body Vibration one of the most popular is the weight loss benefit that can be experienced.   WBV is a 10 minute workout that has the benefits of a 1 hour workout.  A recent research study found that body strength increases from 10 minutes of vibration fitness training were similar to those seen in an hour of regular resistance training.  These results may seem to be unbelievable, but more and more scientists are proving the results to be real.  WBV has been shown to increase your metabolism, and it helps to regulate insulin. You feel more energetic as more energy is released for every movement you do to transform fat to muscle.  Typically you can see noticeable results » Read more: Whole Body Vibration Benefits

Whole Body Vibration improves pain and fatigue in women with Fibromyalgia

February 2nd, 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 6 week traditional exercise program with supplementary whole-body vibration (WBV) in improving health status, physical functioning, and main symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) in women with FM.

For this study, 36 women with Fibromyalgia were randomized into 3 treatment groups: exercise and vibration, exercise, and control.   Exercise therapy, consisting of aerobic activities, stretching, and relaxation techniques, was performed twice a week (90 min/day). Following each exercise session, the Exercise and vibration group underwent » Read more: Whole Body Vibration improves pain and fatigue in women with Fibromyalgia

Whole Body Vibration treatment for Parkinson’s disease

January 28th, 2010

Recently a study was done on the effectiveness of Whole Body Vibration as a non-traditional therapy method for Parkinson’s disease patients.   Scientists have shown that short term whole body vibration therapy significantly improves the clinical symptoms (loss of gait, tremors, and akinesia) in Parkinson’s patients. 

In this clinical study, sample populations of 40 PD patients were subject to » Read more: Whole Body Vibration treatment for Parkinson’s disease

Healthy Whole Body Vibration

January 26th, 2010

There’s a lot of talk about Whole Body Vibration these days. Whole Body Vibration that is used for therapy and fitness should not be confused with those sources of dangerous occupational vibration that can sometimes lead to severe disability.

Bad Whole Body Vibration for example, is the kind of vibration experienced by truck drivers, factory workers and construction workers. That type of disruptive vibration is characterized by constant, extremely high frequencies and amplitudes (how hard a person is vibrated), as well as uneven and unpredictable spikes in frequency and amplitude. » Read more: Healthy Whole Body Vibration

Effect of Whole Body Vibration on Overweight and Obese Women

January 25th, 2010

A study was completed to determine the effect of whole body vibration on oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production among overweight and obese women. 

For this study measurements of ventilation of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and heart rate were taken using a portable gas-analysis system on 20 adult overweight women.  Exercises were performed on a vibration platform with a frequency of 35 Hz and with amplitude of 4 mm. Two dynamic exercises (squatting and calf raises) and one static exercise (standing) were performed » Read more: Effect of Whole Body Vibration on Overweight and Obese Women