The
revolutionary technology of Whole
Body Vibration (WBV)is being used
by professional sports teams, universities,
healthcare practitioners, fitness
centres and elite athletes in a variety
of applications. Vibration exercise
training is looking to be the next
big thing in fitness. A gaggle of
celebrities and models - such as
Madonna, Jessica Alba, Claudia Schiffer
and Heidi Klum have been known to
be users. Ever since Madonna admitted
to using it sales have skyrocketed
around the globe.
It is claimed that this technology
allows you to burn fat and cellulite,
increases Human Growth Hormone, increases
muscle strength, increase metabolism,
increase bone density, and improve
flexibility.
Vibration Exercise technology originated
in the Soviet Space Program, which
pioneered the technology now applied
in the fields of health and fitness.
Russian scientists discovered that
cosmonauts that spent extended amounts
of time in space experienced significant
loss in bone density and muscle tissue
due to the lack of gravity. Russian
researchers were led to experiment
with Vibration Exercise technology,
finding that by using this equipment
they could not only stop the loss,
but amazingly increase bone density
and strengthen muscle tissue.
Using Vibration Exercise technology
the Russians were able to set a record
of more than 420 days in outer space
in 1994/1995. American astronauts,
training on conventional fitness equipment,
were forced to return after just 120
days due to bone and muscle degeneration.
It wasn’t until after the fall
of the Iron Curtain, that Vibration
Exercise technology found its way to
other countries. Today NASA fully embraces
Vibration Exercise technology with
much success.
Like all forms of “alternative” health
options, such as acupuncture, reflexology,
magnetic therapy, iridology, aromatherapy,
to name a few, there are believers
and there are non-believers when it
comes to WBV. To complicate matters,
there are also different WBV machines,
and brands of WBV machines – with
various bodies and organisations, distributors
and manufacturers all claiming the
high moral ground with regard to effectiveness
and outcomes - purporting superior
performance over their competitors.
1. Research
claims that:
WEIGHT
LOSS
“...the same benefits
in 15 min. as a 1 hour gym
workout....And Madonna isn’t
the only one to jump on the
bandwagon, purchasing the machine
for home use...Celebs such
as Claudia Shiffer, Natalie
Imbruglia,...and Donatella
Versace are all fans.”
Sunshine Coast Weekender Magazine
SPORT - FITNESS
“...WBV,
and the reflexive muscle
contraction it provokes,
has the potential to induce
strength gain in knee extensors
of previously untrained females
to the same extent as resistance
training at moderate intensity.”
Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics
Laboratory, Katholieke Universiteit
Leuven, Belgium*
”Flexibility
expressed through doing leg splits
improved by 14.5cm (using WBV)
compared to 4.1cm with conventional
stretching… Exercise physiologists
worldwide have been shocked and
thrilled by their research results...Brisbane
Lions have their own WBV machine...
Manager of Sports Science at
the NSW Institute of Sport said...‘WBV
has very exciting implications
for speed- power development.’ ”
The Daily Telegraph 21 October
2006 p75*
HEALTH
“Effect
of 6-month whole body vibration
training on hip density,
muscle strength, and postural
control in postmenopausal
women...Vibration training
improved isometric and dynamic
muscle strength (+15% and
+ 16%) respectively...and
also significantly increased
BMD of the hip.”
Laboratory
of Motor Control, Katholieke
Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium.*
“The
effects of random whole-body-vibration
on motor symptoms in Parkinson's
disease....tremor and rigidity
scores were improved by 25% and
24%, respectively”
Institute of Sport Sciences, Johann
Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt,
Germany*
2. Prices for
WBV Machines range from $300 -
$20,000+.
When these
two points are considered, the
potential market for this technology
is significant.
It is no wonder
that companies selling these machines
are keen to differentiate their
product from their competitors’ in
an effort to gain maximum market
share, out of what research indicates,
is a very significant breakthrough
in health/exercise/sport technology!
Whole Body Vibration is the application
of variable vibrating frequencies
to the body’s muscular, skeletal,
organ, glandular and nervous systems.
These Whole Body Vibrations are created
by a mechanically vibrating platform
and transferred through the body
via the feet or hands or other parts
of the body which are in contact
with the vibrating plate, platform
or handlebars. The body automatically
adjusts to these mechanical stimuli
by responding with a stretch/resistance
reflex. These vibrations can
range from 5 Repetitions Per Second
(RPS) to 100 RPS depending on the
setting, the type and the brand of
machine being used.
- It is very dangerous to
use WBV machines when the
subject is pregnant, has
a pacemaker, is epileptic,
or has certain implants,
and that WBV may be dangerous
for other medical conditions. All
parties seem to agree that,
like most physical therapies,
WBV should never be used
without first consulting
a doctor.
- The differing vibration
frequencies (speeds) have
different effects on body
function. Typically in Whole
Body Vibration:
- Lower frequencies (speeds)
are very effective for strength
training, warming up and
cooling down, while
- Higher frequencies (speeds)
can be damaging when used
in whole or significant body
weight based strength training
and are usually used for
massage and increasing blood
circulation to peripheral
body tissues.
- Strength training of specific
muscle groups should not
be done for more than 30
seconds at one time when
first using a WBV machine,
and should be increased to
no more than 3 minutes maximum
over time.
- Full extension of either
arms or legs under weight
using WBV is not recommend
as it can cause temporary
damage tendons and ligaments
in joints (arms and legs
should always be slightly
bent when under weight during
WBV).
|
|
