Many people battle with high blood pressure. This increases their risk of heart attack, stroke, and more. Studies have shown that whole body vibration lowers blood pressure, especially in overweight and obese individuals. It also improves arterial function.
What are the health effects of whole-body vibration? Whole-body vibration can cause fatigue, stomach problems, headache, loss of balance and "shakiness" shortly after or during exposure. The symptoms are similar to those that many people experience after a long car or boat trip.
Fortunately, whole body vibration is a safe alternative to conventional workouts and can be practiced by the elderly for both fitness and therapeutic purposes.
In older adults, WBV exercise was found to improve bone mass, muscle strength, balance, reduce risk of falls and increase quality of life [3,4,5,6,7].
As you can see, there isn't an age limit for whole body vibration exercises. Still, to get the most of your physical activities, you should always try to vary your workouts and practice both strength and cardio exercises, regardless of the machines or equipment you choose to use.
Vibration is transmitted into your hands and arms when using hand held / operated tools and machinery. Excessive exposure can affect the nerves, blood vessels, muscles and joints of the hand, wrist and arm causing Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
After the vibration exposure, the percentage of damaged red blood cells was calculated. Then the red blood cells were studied microscopically. Results: Each vibration caused damage to red blood cells with all durations.
According to Dr. Edward R. Laskowski at the Mayo Clinic, whole-body vibration training can offer some fitness and health benefits, but there's not enough evidence to suggest that it's as good for your body as regular exercise.
Even just standing on a vibration plate with your knees slightly bent is an efficient way of toning the muscles in your legs and your core.
Experimental studies have shown that exposure to vibration leads to elevated blood pressure (bp), changes in heart-rate variability and changes in peripheral vascular contraction [12–16].
WHOLE BODY VIBRATION (WBV) caused by poorly designed or poorly maintained vehicles, platforms or machinery may cause or exacerbate other health effects such as: Lower back pain (damage to vertebrae and discs, ligaments loosened from shaking) Motion sickness. Bone damage.
The following precautions help to reduce whole-body vibration exposure: Limit the time spent by workers on a vibrating surface. Mechanically isolate the vibrating source or surface to reduce exposure. Ensure that equipment is well maintained to avoid excessive vibration.
Vibration plate exercises are a great way to eliminate belly fat and build muscle simultaneously. Vibration plates create rapid vibrations, which causes your muscles to contract and relax rapidly. This creates an intense workout that burns calories and strengthens your core muscles as no other exercise can.
In the nerves, tissue edema and vasospasm from vibration exposure may cause sensory loss based on nerve demyelination, axonal atrophy and degeneration of cell bodies as well as fibrosis and proliferation of Schwann cells [2].
Brain injury from vibration is a cumulative process starting with cerebral vasoconstriction, squeezing of the endothelial cells, increased free radicals, decreased nitric oxide, insufficient blood supply to the brain, and repeated reperfusion injury to brain neurons.
Potential Benefits of Vibration Therapy:
Increased blood and lymphatic circulation. Reduced pain and inflammation. A boosted immune response. Additional joint strength and flexibility.
Whole body vibration at work
Whole-body vibration (WBV) is transmitted through the seat or feet of employees who drive mobile machines, or other work vehicles, over rough and uneven surfaces as a main part of their job. Large shocks and jolts may cause health risks including back-pain.
Vibration syndrome has adverse circulatory and neural effects in the fingers. The signs and symptoms include numbness, pain, and blanching (turning pale and ashen). Of particular concern is evidence of advanced stages of vibration syndrome after exposures as short as one year.
While internal tremors are not harmful, they can be disconcerting and may interfere with daily activities. PD, MS, and ET are the most common causes of internal tremors. For many people, treatments for tremors will be similar to treatments for these neurological conditions.
Achieving your fitness goals with a vibration machine requires consistency but in moderation. The recommended length on how long you should stay on a vibration machine is 15 to 30 minutes at a time on 3 to 4 occasions each week.
On the other hand, overexposure to oscillations with higher frequencies ranging from 100 Hz and above, which is often the case with occupational vibration, can lead to serious health problems.
Whole-body vibration therapy (WBVT) may have many health benefits, including strengthening muscle and bone. This could potentially help people with osteoporosis to alleviate certain symptoms.