Gravity Fx Fitness

Does whole body vibration (WBV) offer any solutions for those suffering with fibromyalgia?  I think so.

A recent study worked with 3 groups to see what different types of exercise would do for fibro patients.  This included a control group, another that did aerobic activities, stretching, and relaxation techniques….

and the third group did the same exercises, but also included exercise on a vibration platform.  This third group saw a significant reduction in pain and fatigue, while the exercise group alone did not see any improvements.

I was talking with a client recently who came to see me because I have a vibration platform in my studio.  He said that he talked with a woman who had access to a platform at the facility where she worked.

She told him that when she uses the vibration platform that she doesn’t need to take her pain medication.  Pretty powerful stuff – that’s just one person, but I think you might see some potential, when combined with the previously mentioned study.

So how might these machines help?

WBV creates reflex muscle contractions of between 25-35 times per second, depending on the hertz setting.  For example, when you stand on a platform in a partial squat position, you stimulate muscle and joint receptors throughout your lower body, 25-35 times a second, exactly.

This is a LOT of stimulation to your nervous system, that has to process all this information.  One of the ideas is that this competes with pain signals, probably blocking some of these signals from getting through.

So this may desensitize your body to the chronic pain of fibromyalgia.

Another recent study showed that there is a miscommunication between the sensory and motor systems – basically, this communication issue can lead to inefficient movement or pain when the body is moving.

This lack of awareness is common after many injuries or having been sedentary for a long time.  This awareness is associated with balance and usually requires specific training, in the rehab process.

Because whole body vibration platforms help with balance and coordination, this is also where you would see positive results.  The multiple muscle contractions increases circulation, which might play a role in removing toxins in the body.

For every contraction you also have relaxation, before the next contraction occurs.  All this contract and relax should help with muscle stiffness, which is probably why so many pro golfers use them in their warmup process.

Stay tuned for part two of this article.

Get moving!

Brian Morgan

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After a long Monday I am left with little time to exercise – a perfect time for a little Power Plate workout.  I had a fairly intense workout two days ago, so something lighter will do the trick.

If you have heard that a 10-15 minute workout on a vibration platform is the equivalent of a normal workout, it depends on what you are used to.

If you haven’t been exercising for quite some time then you can get some results from 3 of these sessions a week, but if that is all you do, you won’t look anything like your favorite athlete or be mistaken for a fitness model.

Your best results will come from combining it with other forms of resistance training – or you can do a session in between longer workouts, as a maintenance workout.

Like most people, I need a time efficient workout now and then to keep my metabolism elevated.  It also serves as a nice break from more intense workouts – it can help you recover faster.

Tonight I combined the vibration platform with some joint mobility movements.  Besides being a very joint friendly workout, all the reflex muscle contractions helped increase my circulation and flush out some waste products.

Movement based workouts are good for relieving stress and keeping the mind fresh, something we all could use.  I spoke once of “fire and ice training”.  This would definitely be a good example of the two extremes – high and low intensity.

Get moving!

Brian

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