Tendonitis: Can Whole Body Vibration Help?
Rob asks:
“I have recently been diagnosed with Tendonitis of the wrist. Will vibration training compound this condition, stopping me from training or can I modify my workout?”
Lloyd Shaw offers this answer:
“I have lost count of the people we have had through with Tendonitis and the results to date have been positive but we have learnt a few things.
Overall the negative response (pushing against a unit and being pushed back - such as a push-up) has the most immediate benefits with little irritation. So a basic program like the “Bullet” workout shown earlier on this site is ideal.
However pulling on straps or handlebars can irritate the condition, so even in the basic squat position it is important NOT to lean back and use the handlebars for support.
Later when the condition has cleared up, light pulling applications could be applied to strengthen the tendon system. “
14 Comments
- Di
March 29th, 2008Not the exact forum for my comment but another physical condition that makes exercise very difficult.
I have a medial meniscus tear (torn cartilage) in my right knee. I first injured this knee about 5years ago, then moderately re-opened the tear a year ago when I got up from floor in a twisting manner. Now I have once again quite severely re-opened the tear during a run/walk event a month ago, probably extended the tear also. My upper leg has been very swollen and still has some swelling. I have severe sudden pain when lying on my side and rolling over (as in bed and wake in night with bad pain). I cannot fully flex my knee. Most people would have surgery for this but it’s not an option for me.
I did vibration training at Vibra-train when I first re-injured my knee and in the next two weeks but only sporadically as even though I have proven it does help, I was hesitant as the actual session causes discomfort during and after. I then skipped about 10days and did no training but went to physio twice but because of swelling he can only do a little. I’m using a stationery bicycle to help get more leg movement and reduce sweeling but not much else and walking is okay but very limited (about 200 metres now only if I have to).
On Friday night I went back to Vibra-Train / Lineal Vibration Training and using a machine with negative response platform and positive response handlebars (to support my weight/ take some of the vibration weight off my legs by using my arms for support also), I did the full recommended regular program. I was in a lot of pain overnight friday but amazingly (or really as I should already have known!) the degree of flex of my knee and the reduction in swelling was huge the next day.
Today (Sunday) I have just done another session and again it hurt but not so badly and I have so far, no ongoing pain. It will be interesting to hear what my Physio says when I return to him this week as my improvement was marked by huge gains from doing Vibration Training on Friday Night.
Lloyd Shaw will say I should have known that Vibration Training on a quality machine would help as I have proven this before but no one likes a painful workout (that’s my excuse - Lloyd please do comment). I never go 10 days without training so I was foolish to stop.
I have once again proven the amazing use of these machines - for therapy as well as for fitness.Please do ask someone who knows what they are talking about before treating any condition with a WBV machine ! But I’m just telling my story and once again thanks to Lloyd for a quality product that does what it’s claimed to do, both for fitness, sport and rehab. (Apologies for mentioning brand but it’s essential that the type/or brand of machine is known when treating an injury or medical condition.
- Gene Smith
June 18th, 2008Hi, my wife has been using our new machine for nearly 2 weeks now, and has developed large dark bruises on the outside of both legs. Is this a coincidence all could it be something to do with vibration training or how she is doing it.
I’m sorry if I have posted in the wrong section, it is a bit hard to workout where to actual go to ask a question.
Gene, describe the exercises she has been performing on the machine. Is the machine pivotal or lineal?
- Gene Smith
June 19th, 2008She only does a few exercises, mainly just standing with slightly bent knees and also shallow squats.
She exercises in 10 min sessions once a day.
It is a pivotal machine from Hypervibe and she generally trains at 26hz. - Di Heap
June 19th, 2008Gene, I suggest you phone Murray Seaton and ask his advice. You said you found him helpful when you visited him. Did he suggest that your wife use only the “tone” program? I see from his website that he has 4 different fq specific programs.
Does your wife have any blood circulation problems? Does she have very cold (pale/then blue/then red) hands, ears, feet when exposed to temperature change/winter? (Reynauds syndrome).
Also with pivotal machines I’ve read that you can use them every day but really, what other exercise would you do every day? Maybe she needs to take a few days break each week to allow muscle recovery.
Still the Best advice is, ask Lloyd. He may ask you more questions, about your wife’s general health and her weight (you said you wanted your machine for weightloss). For now I suggest your wife takes some time off and I hope her legs soon recover.
- Gene Smith
June 19th, 2008Thanks for the input Di, the weight loss comment was about me not my wife. She is not oversized but would like to still lose a little. Yes i guess I will try Murray and see if he has any knowledge in this area. The other exercise she does that I didn’t mention was that she also stands on the ball of her foot to work the calves. Yes she possible does use it too much, just like a kid with a new toy. It was suppose to be my toy though. I have suggested that she backs off and only train each second day.
- Di Heap
June 19th, 2008Hi Gene, It does like over-use causing venous reflux in the smaller veins near the surface of her legs - the veins valves are maybe not opening properly to let the increased blood flow back up the body when your wife is using the machine so the blood is pooling. (or even a valve problem in a larger vein causing backflow). I guess that sounds extreme but if so, it can cause varicosed veins. Personally I’d be resting until this is completely healed and then seeking advise on the best program for your wife to use. Don’t ask me though, as I know very little about pivotal machines.
I would need to see the marks, but without direct contact with the machine it should not really leave a bruise.
I have seen some massage poses that could do that , but you say your wife does not do these ?
It will be interesting to see what Murry and his team of research experts say.
- Gene Smith
June 19th, 2008Vein valves not opening properly sounds very scary stuff, health wise I hope what your saying Di sounds worse than it actually is.
Of course as I said it could also just be coincidence that it has come out at the same time as she has started using the machine.
I did also write a couple of days ago that she is extremley itching all over her legs as soon as she gets off the machine, so whether this is also a sign as well of some problem.
- Gene Smith
June 19th, 2008I guess I should also mention she trains without any shoes on, which was my suggestion as I thought shoes might reduce the amount of vibration entering the body. I got that idea from reading somewhere about people putting mats under their machines on timber floors to try and quie them down and stop them vibrating around the floor, and the response was that puting a mat under your machine would act as a dampener to the vibration. This then led me to wrongly summise that shoes could possible have the same effect. But as Lloyd has pointed out to me, it would be better to have stiff soled shoes on.
The itchy legs are normal Gene, just blood flow to the skin surface, (hyper-circulation) good for you
- Di Heap
June 20th, 2008Ooops what I wrote does sound extreme Gene, sorry, but you do have me a bit worried. Like Mike said, Itchy legs are totally normal but you said bruises and that suggests injury and if this hasn’t come from an impact then it does seem rather odd although some people seem to bruise very easily. Usually veins do their job correctly when people are active (it’s sitting for long periods like i do at computer that’s bad) and the machine is providing activity but what else could explain bruising. Lloyd will know way more than I do but like I suggested at first, ask Murray - his machine so he will know.
- Keith
June 22nd, 2008Thanks Lloyd for the advice regarding the back problems. Will update you on progress if he chooses to go ahead. Much Appreciated.
October 1st, 2007
Will that be the case for all tendonitis cinditions? ie compression (pusshing) movements rather than traction (pulling) movements?