A member asks a question…..

I am a 38 year old female, being diagnosed lip oedema last year. This is a disease that causes fat to get stuck locally, especially in the legs and for some also in the arms. This disease is not to be confused with lymph oedema, which is a disease of the lymphatic system. However lip oedema can evolve into lymph oedema if not treated. Unfotunately the only treatment for lip oedema seems to be pressure or liposuction.

Liposuction seems too extreme to me, especially with the lymph oedema risk and therefore I have found an alternative solution in ultrasonic treatment which appears to implode fat cells. In order to help the fat drainage, I am looking to buy a vibration training machine. So in short this machine would be for vibro training purposes and more specifically fat reducing. At first I had a professional Power Plate in mind, but because of the high price I have taken my time to think about it and luckily I ran into this website.

Can anyone help me answering following questions:
1. is it sure that lip oedema is not a contra-indication for whole body vibration???
2. if Q1 is OK, can vibro training be of help in my specific case to have local fat reduction (legs) + overall fat reduction too
3. what would be a good machine for personal use, knowing that I live in Belgium: so far I have found ‘body coach’ and ‘Lumen’ by Body Coach of Punch Int., Wave (if so, where to get it in Belgium) -> will these machines work for me or else can you advise another make?

Lip oedema is not that well known here in Belgium (don’t know for the ROW), so I would be so happy to get some advise on this…

As you already have noticed, there have been some significant changes at VibrationTraining.net.  I thought it would be a good idea to start off with a brief introduction of myself and some ideas about where I would like to see this website go in the future.  Some of you have already commented on the look of the site.  A stodgy,  more conservative look was chosen for a reason.  The subject matter of this website is very serious, and to be taken serious it is helpful to have a website that looks more conservative, even if it is boring.  What we want is for the information, the articles, the content, the comments, to take center stage, and a boring design doesn’t distract attention from that.

For those of you who were concerned about VibrationTraining.net being bought by an industry insider with an agenda, please set that concern aside. The website was bought by Peter Davis who is a professional web developer and online community builder. The primary goal is going to be growing the site into a community platform where all interested parties, whether industry insiders, consumers, the media, or anyone for that matter, can exchange ideas and learn about vibration training, therapy, as well as the products and service providers in the industry.

As well as re0pening comments, we will be adding new interactive features to the website in the near future.  Also, you are encouraged to contact me if you are interested in having an article published on the site.  We are actively seeking new and interesting items and information about the field to publish, whether articles, photos, video or other types of media.  If you cannot use the site’s contact form, you can email me at ptdavis@gmail.com.

Thanks!

As a Physical Therapist, I often encounter individuals who suffer from more complex and often painful conditions.

These individuals, whether it is their joints (Rheumatoid Arthritis), their tendons or bursae (Connective Tissue Rheumatism), their muscles (Regional Myofascial Pain Syndrome) or their whole entire body (Fibromyalgia), struggle day in and day out with nowhere to turn.

Since I have utilized Vibration Therapy to treat these patients, one thing has been clear; the ability they have to push their bodies physically while reducing their pain is unlike any other intervention. Vibration Therapy as well as Vibration Training, when done correctly and safely, is a highly beneficial exercise program with little to no negative musculoskeletal stress.

Due to the unique complexities of the issues mentioned above, they are deserving of their own articles. My goal with this article however, is to raise awareness to another condition that in itself is a problem and can benefit from Vibration Therapy. A condition that has an increasing amount of connectivity to each of the above mentioned conditions…..

“Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (BJHS)”

Definition:

This medical diagnosis, inaccurately termed “benign” usually takes anywhere from 2 – 5 years to be identified and properly diagnosed. It is defined as “the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain in and around hypermobile joints (otherwise referred to as joints with “loose” or “lax” ligaments) in the absence of systemic rheumatological disease”. The latter portion, I believe, is inaccurate as a general rule however, and time will likely prove this point.  So how exactly does BJHS become problematic and how does Vibration Therapy help?  It all starts and ends with communication.

Lost In Translation:

By nature, the function of ligaments is to provide stability to our joints. This stability allows the primary movers of our joints, the muscles, to carry out their functions efficiently. Surrounding all muscles and ligaments, and connecting everything together, is fascia. Within the ligaments, muscles, and fascial tissue are “reporting stations” (aka joint receptors) whose vital function is to relay the information relating to these specific tissues to our brain. This communication system is called Proprioception. This crucial information traveling to the brain determines the nature of the information going away from the brain. It is a two way street of dependency and includes not only messages to and from the connective tissue, but to and from other vital body functions. This information also dictates the release of nutrients and neuropeptides. Neuropeptides control our mood, energy levels, pain and pleasure reception, body weight, and ability to solve problems; they also form memories and regulate our immune system.

When these systems, as a result of hypermobility and the resulting movement dysfunction, become inefficient, the information systems become altered. This leaves us, with a reversal of roles (tight muscles and fascia around loose joints), and both an alteration in the transmission of the nutrients and neuropeptides as well as detrimental changes in circulation and oxygen supply. For the muscles fortunate enough to maintain their normal function, they inevitably compensate, become overworked, and develop internal dysfunction (Ever heard of a “trigger point”? That is internal dysfunction of a muscle).  Finally, to complete the downward spiral, with all of the above considered, the end result is unavoidable stress to the joints and their internal structure.

Re-establishing Communication and Function via Vibration:

To effectively treat BJHS you must selectively harness the mechanical energy of the platform to create proper restorative changes to “the system”. This can be accomplished in several ways:

• Increasing Local Circulation – Utilizing the muscle spindle (a reporting station) and the stretch reflexes it creates, we can rapidly restore local blood flow. In BJHS, this is crucial for restoring oxygen supply to the muscles so that trigger point (aka “knots’) reduction can occur. With reduced internal muscle tension, the muscle’s efficiency is restored, and there is improved permeability of the tissue to nutrients and fluids, including water. Water, a vital component of fascia further allows for improved connective tissue mobility. With better circulation and improved tissue mobility, tissue healing occurs more rapidly and restricted areas where nerves perforate the connective tissue are released. This all contributes to the mechanism by which we experience pain relief.
• Improving Muscular Stability – Through excessive stimulation of the muscle spindle, we can increase the tone (resting tension level) of the muscle. Normally known for aesthetic benefits only, in BJHS, this assists in creating muscular stability for a joint that is unsupported by its ligaments. Being that excessive mobility is where this syndrome originates, this benefit gets to the “root” of the problem and is the most crucial component of restoring normal function and eliminating pain.
• Improving Muscle Flexibility – For those muscles that have become shortened in an attempt to stabilize the joints, we can now utilize selective stretching positions on the platform to normalize their length. In this case, we utilize vibration and the overwhelming sensory feedback that it provides to “hush” the muscle spindle so that a rapid increase in length of the muscle is achieved. This must be done slowly and carefully to avoid harming the tissue.
• Improving Lymphatic Mobility – Although this is not specific to BJHS, the rapid amount of muscle contractions created by the vibration platform assists lymphatic system mobility. By stimulating the millions of one-way valves in this system, Vibration Therapy further improves the diffusion and movement of fluid between the cells. Better fluid movement means better cell health and improved tissue repair rate.
• Restoring Normal Communication – Finally, through stimulation of the proprioceptive system and its reporting stations that have been discussed in length already, we are able to improve body communication; this includes the speed, accuracy, and appropriateness of the information that is transferred between the body and the Central Nervous System. This restoration process, deserving of its own 100 page article, is the final step in maximizing the therapeutic applications of Vibration Therapy for BJHS.

Written by Gabriel Ettenson, MSPT

Gabriel is a Physical Therapist in NY, NY

You may contact him at equilibriumpt.com

As part of our on going quest to help you, the consumer make wise decisions concerning the purchase of a Vibration Training platform, we wanted to disclose some information about the Crazy Fit Massage, which is a machine that we receive many inquiries about.

The Crazy Fit Wholesale Price from China

Retail Price on Auction Sites

As you can see, these machines are easily bought by anyone in bulk from china then sold by people with next to no knowledge of the technology or  the industry with at least 100% mark up and  50% profit.

These machines are classified as low speed pivotal and will do little in helping you to achieve the benefits that Whole Body Vibration has to offer.

I first posted on this forum on June 13th.. Only 10 days later I wrote the following:

“ Sorry to hog the blog a bit here! Having started to look at getting a Vibration Plate for personal use I have got so excited about what they seem able to do that am seriously thinking about starting up a small studio here in the UK”

Set up a studio I did, opening at the end of August 2008. So 11 months down the line, I thought I’d share some of what I’ve learned for those thinking of doing the same!

The 3 Biggies

1. Research your machines and check they are capable of being hammered day in day out.
2. Ensure you have back up – IVTRB membership if possible
3. Get good training in the Safety Program and stick to it.

Some other points to consider.

1. Find a good electrician who that will come out eve/ weekends and squeeze you in. Use any means to win them over! Our electrician was at times a lifesaver – I owe him my mental health. Thank you Dick!
2. If importing machines you will have to pay duties. In the UK you will need to pay 15% VAT and customs duties (value of machines and freight charge) and this includes lease machines. You will need to get a Pseudo turn number in advance so your machines can clear customs. (We were not aware of all this and got some horrid shocks!)
3. Be aware if you buy/lease a good steel machine just how heavy they are. Our Vibra-trains took 5 men to lift and probably could have done with one or two more, so make sure you have organized man-power.
4. Get a small back up machine if you can.
5. Set your rules out and stick to them – e.g. customers can’t bring children with them, cancellations policy etc.
6. Follow the Safety Program and be vigilant about making sure people don’t deviate from it.
7. Beware of too many bells and whistles on machines – there is more to go wrong and more to confuse the customers!
8. Delay timers will bring you serenity and calm.
9. Look for machines with variable time setting – 1-3 minutes (ideally with 15 second increments). Lots of machines only run for a minute which is a real pain in a studio setting.

Following these guidelines will ensure  a successful start in bringing Vibration Training to your community.

Written by Philippa Church: Owner, resonancevt.co.uk

In the average Physiotherapy clinic, knee pain ranks second among the never ending list of diagnoses requiring intervention.

Whether it is osteoarthritis, torn cartilage (often referred to as a meniscus tear), patellofemoral pain (pain under the knee cap), a ligament sprain, or tendonitis, these conditions can all lead to severe functional limitation and a reduction in one’s quality of life.

In the past, most of these conditions were treated with injections, medication, and ultimately, surgery. Over time however, we have come to realize that through appropriate, individualized, conservative management; part of which should, without doubt, include vibration therapy, there is potential to fully recover “without the need to cut”.

Anatomy of the Knee

The knee joint itself, a pivotal hinge joint, is capable of bending and straightening (flexing and extending) as well as rotating inward and outward (internally and externally rotating).  It is comprised of two articulations; one between the femur and the tibia (tibiofemoral joint) and one between the femur/tibia complex and the kneecap (the patellofemoral joint).  Supporting the inside and outside of the joint, and primarily responsible for its strength and stability, are multiple ligaments and several groups of muscles; among which are the quadriceps, hamstrings, hip adductors, hip abductors, and the muscles of the calf.

Over time, the relatively simple design of the knee joint coupled with its “undesirable” anatomical location make it highly susceptible to harmful shearing forces, deleterious compressive forces, abnormal patellar tracking created by muscular imbalances, and biomechanical movement dysfunctions leading to overuse injuries and painful trauma to the surrounding connective tissue (tendons, ligaments, muscles and fascia).

The Influence of Vibration on Knee Pathology

We have already established that vibration therapy / training can successfully improve circulation, lymphatic mobility, muscle tone and strength, muscle flexibility, joint proprioception, and most importantly, efficiency of the neuromuscular system. When treating an individual with knee pathology, it is by carefully and selectively harnessing these systemic effects that successful treatment can be accomplished and the long term benefits maintained.

Osteoarthritis (OA): A common degenerative condition, knee OA generally refers to the progressive, degenerative changes to the articular cartilage that lines the surfaces of the bones that comprise the knee joint.  It may or may not include wearing of the under surface of the patella (knee cap) as well.

In either case, once the cartilage has deteriorated, the bony surfaces are exposed and with repeated exposure to normal, unavoidable, compressive forces (i.e. walking, standing, stairclimbing, exercise etc.), pain and inflammation will ensue. The end result of these painful changes is a gradual reduction in joint mobility, reduced viscosity of the joint, decreased local muscular activity and support, local connective tissue tightness (including muscle tissue), gait dysfunction, and a reduced overall functional level.

For the individual that suffers from OA, “traditional” therapy interventions, although successful at times, have limitations. Chief amongst these limitations is the inability to consistently tolerate weight bearing exercises (squats, lunges, step activities etc.); an integral part of the recovery process and essential for restoring the support and shock absorbing capabilities of the muscles around the joint.

With vibration therapy, when first considering the squat position, a cornerstone exercise for lower body strength, the design of the platform allows the patient to utilize the upper body to control the amount of weight through the lower body. This helps them maintain their weight comfortably through their heels while successfully holding the appropriate joint angle. Successfully holding this position through a 30-60 second interval will not only “jumpstart” the neuromuscular system, but immediately improve circulation to the joint as well as local muscular activity and tone. This will allow the patient to tolerate further weight bearing exercises; exercises that may include the wide squat, superman squat, lunge, bridge, or unsupported heel raise.

We have only now just begun….outside of the benefits listed above, it is important to understand that, during the squat (as well as most other exercise performed on the platform), there are other systems at work as well. Most important among these systems is the proprioceptive system (please refer to my previous article for more detailed information on this system). When motion is lost in an arthritic joint, as is the case with OA, the proprioceptive system struggles to maintain clear and concise communication with the brain. The resulting issues lead to gait dysfunction, poor balance responses, and poor muscle fiber recruitment. Through vibration therapy, an extremely high amount of activity is placed upon the joint proprioceptors and the system as a whole. As a result there is an over-correction of sorts and this serves to improve the proprioceptive system’s efficiency overall.

Shall I keep going? How about the lymphatic system? One of this system’s responsibilities, as it applies to OA, is to help remove the excess swelling that is typically seen in an arthritic joint (acute and chronic). Often responsible for interfering with local muscle activity, this swelling also occupies space within the joint and creates further limitation in movement. Like no other form of treatment, vibration therapy, through the extremely high number of muscle contractions it creates, significantly enhances lymphatic system mobility and can lead to the quick and efficient removal of excess fluid in the joint.

At this point you are probably quite tired of reading, but I could never live with myself if I didn’t address the final, critical dysfunction seen in the individual with knee OA….reduced muscle flexibility and myofascial restriction. It has been touched upon many times in previous articles on this site, but if there is ever a jaw-dropping benefit of vibration therapy, it’s the way in which it can be utilized safely to override the normal resistance to stretch provided by the muscle spindle and its inhibitory communication with the central nervous system. By utilizing the vibration platform with proper body positioning, muscle length and myofascial mobility can be improved faster than any other flexibility based intervention available (medieval torture devices excluded of course).

I could go on for days, but for those that already participate in a vibration therapy program, it would only be further review. For those who are just beginning to explore this breakthrough technology, I am sure you have enough to push you forward. The rest of the many, many benefits you will gain will only further serve to amaze you!

Written By Gabriel Ettenson, MS, PT

www.equilibriumpt.com- NY Physical Therapy

Just over two years ago Power Plate began to call their new machines “Acceleration Trainers”.

Now they have trademarked the term “Acceleration Training” for exclusive use in their marketing around the world and especially in North America.

So What does Acceleration Training Mean?

Don’t be fooled by the semantics, Acceleration Training is just yet another term for Vibration Training. Since the market began to saturate with all kinds of VT models and Power Plate knock offs, the marketers at Power Plate knew they had to come up with at term that would separate them from  the rest of the pack.

That’s all it is, just a word, and the technology isn’t any different. If you read Power Plate’s press releases, they themselves, when using The Term “Acceleration Training” use parentheses with a.k.a Vibration Training inside them.

Although the overall industry accepted term is “Vibration Training”, marketers of other machines  have coined many other terms as well.

• Whole Body Vibration
• Whole Body Vibration Training
• Vibrating Exercise Machine
• Vibrating Platform
• Vibration Fitness Training
• Vibration Plate Training
• Bio-Oscillation Training

These are just a few of the many terms out there. So don’t be confused or fooled. Look at the machines specs and track record instead of getting allured by it’s fancy name.

The good and bad of positive research.

This new study is going to be used by every single company that sells something that vibrates up, down, sideways or tilts fast enough to be called a vibration and even though some companies would be justified in using it to support the effectiveness of their product, about 99% of the industry have NO claim to the positive outcomes shown in that report.

Here are the Power Plate facts

The study was done on a newer Power Plate machine designed to take heavier loads. It was a fiberglass Lineal machine and would be considered to be at the upper end of the “Medium Energy Lineal ” as per our review categories.

No one except Power Plate and other companies on that same/similar level and above can rightfully use this study in any kind of advertising. I think this is logical to most, but we will soon see how many people in our industry come up with justifications for twisting it for their own marketing purposes. I am quite sure I will be slamming a few companies in the very near future for exactly that, but for now we get to Power Plate’s problem.

Now of course we can not ask Power Plate to name their equals and above because that would be paramount to “sales” suicide. However, Power Plate at the same time must differentiate themselves or lose sales to much lesser and probably cheaper units. A catch 22 if there ever was one. So what are you going to do as a consumer to get around this? Everyone’s either going to lie or not say anything at all. So here is the ONLY answer…..

The old fashioned try before you buy

Yes it might seem simple, but so many people forget this common piece of advice. Trust that your body knows the “difference” in quality when it feels it, you do not need a PHD to feel something, after all, your body is very in tune with its surrounding and gives feedback you instinctively understand. No big word or fancy sales speech to worry about. Go where you can try a Power Plate (a larger model like used in the study, not a home unit), then find somewhere you can try other machines. As always the more the merrier.

A 1 minute basic squat ( as per the safety program here) is the perfect position to do these tests and don’t let the salesperson talk to you or distract you during this. Tell them to put it on a good workout setting and vibrate off. Even after only 3 units you will get the idea.

Important note: No one in the study we are aware of had any injuries or physical limitations that would stop them from doing a basic squat, so if you do have one it is not advised you try this test (“its too hard” is not a physical limitation, that’s a mental one).

Having tested the machines and made an informed decision, buy the product and use it with a calorie restricted diet if you want the kind of results seen in the research, please note that buying a lighter home model for economic reasons will also vary the outcome. The whole point of this is to understand machines are NOT all the same, even if built by the same company. I am sure a number of companies that sell larger machines like those used in the research will attach it to their cheaper home models, this is also unethical without clearly disclosing it and would put them in the same bracket as the marketers who would attach it to anything that moves.

We just received a press release concerning a six month study presented on Friday at the European Congress on Obesity that showed participants who used Vibration Training as well as a low Calorie diet had more weight loss then those using conventional exercise with the same low Calorie diet.

Here is and outline of the study

The study was conducted over a six month period, after which subjects returned to their daily lives and reported back for retesting at 12 months. In terms of weight loss:

• The “Power Plate®” group lost 11 percent of their body weight and maintained a 10.5 percent loss
• The diet and conventional fitness group lost 7 percent and maintained a 6.9 percent loss
• The diet only group lost 6 percent, and maintained less than 5 percent loss

Even more promising was the reduction of visceral fat:

• The “Power Plate®” group lost 47.8 sq. cm. (18.8 in.), and maintained a loss of 47.7 sq. cm (18.7 in.)
• The diet and conventional fitness group lost only 17.6 sq. cm. (6.93 in.), and maintained only a 1.6 sq. cm (.63 in) loss
• The diet only group lost 24.3 sq. cm. (9.57 in.) and maintained only 7.5 sq. cm. (2.95 in.) loss

“We are extremely encouraged by the results of this study, especially in terms of the reduction of visceral fat,” said Guss Van Der Meer, Founder of Power Plate®. “Obesity is a major concern both in the United States and worldwide and we are excited that Power Plate® exercise may provide a low-impact way for people to lose weight and belly fat.”

This study was funded by the Artesis University College of Antwerp and has not been peer reviewed as of yet. It does show promising results for the industry, in general, even though this study was conducted using Power Plate machines.

In my previous article, I discussed the first two of four phases of a Vibration Therapy treatment protocol.

The final stages of this protocol include the flexibility and strengthening phases; usually occurring simultaneously.

In an effort to avoid redundancy on subject matter covered so thoroughly in previous articles written for this site, I would rather “move on” and turn my attention to the central nervous system while pondering the question, “what is all this vibration doing to our brains?”

Vibration and Stress

Many studies over the years have suggested that vibration, imposed on the human body through an external device, is an example of a harmful mechanical stress on the body, and can therefore have a significantly negative impact. In this case, as many individuals might think, the word stress is used to describe, as defined by Merriam -Webster, “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.”

However, this word has many definitions and for the vibration training and vibration therapy devotees out there, those who have experienced the euphoric feeling of 2400 involuntary muscle contractions in 60 seconds, stress is better defined as “a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part.” It is through the POSITIVE impact on the central nervous system that this type of mechanical stress keeps my training clients and physical therapy patients hungering for more.

The Effects of Vibration on the Central Nervous System

So…How is this form of stress responsible for the happiness some people experience as they laugh their way out the door from a WBV session; the “freedom of movement” that they speak about so often; the sudden burst of energy described by my clients in e-mails the day after using the Hypergravity platform; the ability my stiff arthritic patients have to “bounce” up the spiral staircase leading out of my building? On more than one occasion, I have even heard of enhanced psychic abilities …no lie!

If their brains and spinal cords had a voice, I believe they would answer these questions with three words: Neurogenesis, Serotonin, and Endorphins. These three things, time and time again, have all been positively linked to exercise. Even better, they have all been linked through legitimate scientific research (and to think, here in NY, everyone wants rats to be exterminated!).

Neurogenesis refers to the creation of new nerves, and occurs in an area of the brain known as the hippocampus, the same region where learning and memory occur. The process of neurogenesis, according to researchers, has to do with exercise stress-induced formation of a brain protein (known as BDNF) whose job it is to not only create new neurons, but to protect the existing neurons and enhance communication between them (otherwise referred to as synaptic plasticity). It is through synaptic plasticity that all learning and memory can occur in the brain. This includes muscle memory and motor learning, two important concepts that are clearly enhanced through WBV.

Now, as BDNF levels rise in the brain, so do the levels of another brain protein referred to as SERT. I can happily say that this protein is responsible for increasing serotonin levels in the brain. For those who are unfamiliar with serotonin, it is a type of chemical, called a neurotransmitter, that is responsible for mood elevation, feelings of ecstasy, increased sexual desire and function, and improved sleep. What more can you ask for in life, I ask?–How about a “runner’s high?”

“Runner’s high” is a term used to describe what is otherwise known as an endorphin rush. Endorphins are chemicals released by the pituitary gland in response to stress (there’s that word again) or pain. In general, it takes up to 30 minutes to release endorphins through traditional exercise, but with more intense “hyper”stimulation of the central nervous system, such as that with vibration training, this release occurs much more quickly. Once released, endorphins do everything from blocking pain to creating a sense of euphoria or exhilaration. Interestingly enough, endorphins bind to the same receptors in the brain as heroin and morphine (anyone ever heard the term “addicted” from their clients?) and by blocking pain, it is theorized that this is what allows for the continued presence of serotonin in the brain. See the connections here everyone?

Although more research is still required, there is a clear potential connection between whole body vibration, increased central nervous system stress, relief from pain, mood elevation and exhilaration, and, most importantly, neurological brilliance. These are just a few more bullets on the growing list of benefits of vibration training and vibration therapy. They are also just a few more reasons that we need to keep fighting to establish its legitimacy, and hopefully open everyone’s eyes, and brains, to its incomparable value.

Written by Gabriel Ettenson, MS, PT. He is the owner of Equilibrium Physical Therapy in New York City. He can be reached through equilibriumpt.com.