Increasingly, WBV studies are focusing on older adults. Although evidence is overwhelming that physical exercise positively affects muscle strength at all ages, compliance of older persons with traditional exercise programs has generally been low, and only a small percentage of older persons exercise regularly.
MUSCLE POWER, the capacity of muscles to produce work in the environment, declines significantly over the life span. In women, the rate of decline accelerates after menopause and leads to reduction in physical functioning. Improvement of muscle power and balance in the aging population reduces the risk of falls.
Osteoporosis is characterized by the loss of bone mass and strength and thus causes an increased fracture risk. Fracture prevention in the form of successful fall-prevention is therefore the key objective in the prevention of osteoporosis. Improvement of muscle strength and power enables the muscles to be coordinated and to react faster thus providing effective protection to prevent falls in daily life.
Side-alternating vibration exercises are an intervention for the prevention and the treatment of osteoporosis. Used at high frequency (28 Hz) and very-low-magnitude (0.3g) vibration exercise has recently been reported to increase bone mass in experimental animals and in humans.
The high-frequency postural displacements induced by the alternating movements of the platform produce reflex muscle contractions aimed at stabilizing posture. Thus, vibration can be viewed as a special form of muscle training that may particularly affect muscle power. The force applied to bone during muscle contraction has a pivotal role in the homeostatic and adaptive regulation of bone strength.
Condition effects:
- Improved Muscle Strength and Tone
- Improved Balance and Reduced Fall Risk
- Improved Blood Circulation and Lymphatic Mobility
- Increased Bone Density
- Hormone Balancing
- Improved Flexibility
- Reduced Low Back Pain
Studies – Osteoporosis
Study Summaries:
- 12-week intervention, the WBV group experienced a 2.2% increase in BMD at the lateral spine (p=0.013) while the control group decreased 1.7%. These preliminary results suggest that WBV with resistance exercise is a potential training method that can be used to increase BMD, and thereby lower future risk of osteoporosis. (ACSM Annual Meeting, 2011)
- Increased bone density, postural control, balance and mobility in the aging population. (The Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 2004, and Gait & Posture 2007)
- Vibration training is assumed to stimulate bone-tissue maintenance through the pull of the tensed muscles on the underlying bones. Bed Rest Study Berlin. ESA Human Spaceflight, European Space Agency, 2003.
- Acute Physiological Effects of Training with Galileo: Considering the comparatively mild cardiovascular and respiratory effects and the marked muscular fatigue, we conclude, that training with Galileo may be a promising issue in the therapy of bone mineral loss in the elderly. (J. Rittweger, et al; Osteoporosis Int.1998)