Exploring the Effects of Vibration Related
to Injury and RehabilitatIon
Please note:
The following are presented as objective
studies conducted by independent researchers. Good
Vibrations 4 Life Inc. has no affiliation with any of the
following researchers or the publications listed, nor are the
studies presented in any particular order.
This is not intended to be a complete list
of studies, but an additional resource to individuals,
physicians and therapists.
Although some studies may suggest the use
of higher frequencies, Good Vibrations 4 Life Inc. suggests the
use of its vibration therapy equipment at frequencies below 30
Hz. Long-term exposure to frequencies of 30 Hz or more,
for as little as 10 minutes per day, have been shown to lead to
possibly detrimental health effects.
Good Vibrations 4 Life Inc. presents its
oscillating (rotational) vibration therapy GVM TM as a
more pleasant, safe and comfortable alternative to
(simultaneous) vertical vibration therapy machines.
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research,
2004 Mar;19(3):360-9. Epub 2004 Jan 27.
Low magnitude mechanical loading is
osteogenic in children with disabling conditions.
From the article:
"...low-magnitude, high-frequency
mechanical stimuli are anabolic to trabecular bone in children,
possibly by providing a surrogate for suppressed muscular
activity in the disabled."
Maturitas, July 2012
The effect of whole body vibration on
balance, mobility and falls in older adults: A systematic
review and meta-analysis
From the article:
"WBV may be effective in improving
relatively basic balance ability and mobility among older
adults, particularly frailer ones."
Current Sports Medicine Reports,
May/June 2008
Whole Body Vibration Exercise: Training
and Benefits
From the article:
"sedentary and elderly individuals
have demonstrated significant gains in most measures of muscle
performance, similar with comparable traditional resistance
exercise training programs. WBV training also has demonstrated
gains in flexibility in younger athletic populations and gains
or maintenance in bone mineral density in postmenopausal
women."
"The improvement of postural stability
in the WBVT group was significantly greater than CT
(conventional training) group." "Whole body vibration
training improved proprioception and balance in ACL
reconstructed athletes."
American Journal of Physical Medicine
& Rehabilitation: December 2006
The Effects of a Whole-Body Vibration
Program on Muscle Performance and Flexibility in Female
Athletes
From the article:
"Whole-body vibration is a
suitable training method to improve knee extension maximal
strength, counter-movement jump, and flexibility in a young
female athlete if it is properly designed. Not only do the
optimal frequency, amplitude, and g-forces need to be
identified but also the level of muscle activation that would
benefit more from vibration stimulation. The improvement of
flexibility is important not only for performance but also for
the prevention of muscle-tendon injury."
Spine: March 2008
Resistive Simulated Weightbearing Exercise
With Whole Body Vibration Reduces Lumbar Spine Deconditioning
in Bed-Rest
From the article:
"The resistive vibration exercise
countermeasure reduced, but did not entirely prevent,
multifidus muscle atrophy and passive spinal tissue
deconditioning during bed-rest. Atrophy of the multifidus
muscles was persistent long-term in the inactive subjects.
Future work could consider closer attention to spinal posture
during exercise and optimizing exercise dose."
Journal of Orthopaedic Research,
April 2009
Low-magnitude high-frequency vibration
accelerates callus formation, mineralization, and fracture
healing in rats
From the article:
"Assessments with plain radiography,
micro-CT as well as histomorphometry showed that the amount of
callus was significantly larger (p?=?0.001 for callus area, 2
weeks posttreatment); the remodeling of the callus into mature
bone was significantly faster (p?=?0.039, 4 weeks
posttreatment) in the treatment group. The mechanical strength
of the healed fracture in the treatment group at 4 weeks was
significantly greater (p?<?0.001). The results showed the
acceleration of callus formation, mineralization, and fracture
healing in the treatment group. It is concluded that LMHFV
enhances healing in the closed femoral shaft fracture in rats.
The potential clinical advantages shall be confirmed in the
subsequent clinical trials."
Clinical Rehabilitation, September 2007
vol. 21no. 9 782-793
One session of whole body vibration
increases voluntary muscle strength transiently in patients
with stroke
From the article:
"…results suggest that one bout
of whole body vibration can transiently increase voluntary
force and muscle activation of the quadriceps muscle affected
by a stroke."
The Journal of Alternative and
Complementary Medicine, November 2008
Six Weeks of Whole-Body Vibration Exercise
Improves Pain and Fatigue in Women with Fibromyalgia
From the article:
"Results suggest that a 6-week
traditional exercise program with supplementary WBV safely
reduces pain and fatigue, whereas exercise alone fails to
induce improvements."
Spinal Cord November 2010
Effects of whole-body vibration on blood
flow and neuromuscular activity in spinal cord injury
From the article:
" WBV is an effective method to
increase leg blood flow and to activate muscle mass in SCI
patients, and could be considered to be incorporated in their
rehabilitation programs."
Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience,
December 30, 2009
Effect of whole-body vibration on
quadriceps spasticity in individuals with spastic hypertonia
due to spinal cord injury
From the article:
"There was a significant
reduction in quadriceps spasticity after participation in a WBV
intervention that persisted for at least eight days. Within a
WBV session, spasticity was reduced in the delayed post-WBV
test compared to the immediate post-WBV test. The WBV
intervention was associated with similar changes in quadriceps
spasticity in subjects who did and those who did not use
antispastic agents."
Gait & Posture, November 2009
Whole-body vibration improves walking
function in individuals with spinal cord injury: A pilot study
From the article:
“The WBV intervention was also
associated with statistically significant increases in cadence,
and both the stronger and weaker legs exhibited increased step
length and improved consistency of intralimb coordination.
Changes in cadence and step length of the stronger leg were
strongly correlated with improvements in walking speed. The
improvement in walking speed observed with the WBV intervention
was comparable to that reported in the literature in
association with locomotor training. This magnitude of change
has been identified as being clinically meaningful, even in
non-clinical populations. These findings suggest WBV may be
useful to improve walking function with effects that may
persist for some time following the intervention.”
Exercise & Sport Sciences Reviews:
January 2003
The Use of Vibration as an Exercise
Intervention
From the article:
" Current evidence suggests that
vibration is effective in enhancing strength and the power
capacity of humans, although the mechanisms mediating this
effect are unknown."
American Journal of Physical Medicine
& Rehabilitation:, November 2004
Short-Term Effects of Whole-Body Vibration
on Postural Control in Unilateral Chronic Stroke Patients:
Preliminary Evidence
From the article:
"The results indicated a stable
baseline performance from the first to the second assessment
for all tasks. After the whole-body vibration, the third
assessment demonstrated a reduction in the root mean square
(RMS) center-of-pressure velocity in the anteroposterior
direction when standing with the eyes closed (P < 0.01),
which persisted during the fourth assessment. Furthermore,
patients showed an increase in their weight-shifting speed at
the third balance assessment (P < 0.05) while their
precision remained constant. No adverse effects of whole-body
vibration were observed. It is concluded that whole-body
vibration may be a promising candidate to improve
proprioceptive control of posture in stroke patients."
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research,
March 2004
Effect of 6-Month Whole Body Vibration
Training on Hip Density, Muscle Strength, and Postural Control
in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
From the article:
"The training volume increased
systematically over the 6-month training period by increasing
the duration of one vibration session, the number of series of
one exercise, or the number of different exercises. The
training intensity was increased by shortening the rest periods
or by increasing the amplitude (low, 1.7 mm; high, 2.5 mm)
and/or the frequency (35-40 Hz) of the vibration. In addition,
training load was increased by changing the execution form of
the exercises from predominantly two-legged to one-legged
exercises. The duration of the WBV program was a maximum of 30
minutes, which included warming up and cooling down."
"No vibration-related side effects
were observed. Vibration training improved isometric and
dynamic muscle strength (+15% and + 16%, respectively; p <
0.01) and also significantly increased BMD of the hip (+0.93%,
p < 0.05). "
"…WBV training may be a feasible
and effective way to modify well-recognized risk factors for
falls and fractures in older women…"
Articles of Interest:
Vibration Therapy Stimulates Muscles
Weakened in Spinal Cord Injuries -
Detroit Medical Center
From the article:
"About 15 minutes of vibration
exercise produces similar results to those achieved through one
hour of conventional resistance training. It also produces less
stress on joints and ligaments and tendons."
