VIBRAFLEX.COM : Quotes from the Literature

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"The observed total exercise time, the changes in blood lactate and the RPE values suggest that a comparable degree of exhaustion and muscular fatigue was reached more rapidly with vibration than without. This becomes plausible when considering that whole-body vibration increases the oxygen consumption when applied in addition to the squatting exercise (Rittweger et al., 2001). A substantial correlation was observed between the individual exercise times with or without vibration, indicating a contribution of the individual resistance to fatigue for both types of exercise."
Acute Changes in Neuromuscular Excitability After Exhaustive Whole Body Vibration Exercise as Compared to Exhaustion by Squatting Exercise. J. Rittweger, M. Mutschelknauss, D. Felsenberg, Clinical Physiology & Functional Imaging (2003) 23, pp 81-86.
"It elicits neuromuscular training reflectorily, without much effort and in short periods. The mean lactate values after vibration exercise were significantly lower than during bicycle ergometry."
Acute Physiological Effects of Exhaustive Whole-Body Vibration Exercise in Man. J. Rittweger, et al, Clinical Physiology 20, 2, 134-142, 2000.
"At the termination of exercise, i.e. after about 5 min, the subjects appeared to be quite as exerted by vibration exercise as after 12 min bicycle ergometry."
Acute Physiological Effects of Exhaustive Whole-Body Vibration Exercise in Man. J. Rittweger, et al, Clinical Physiology 20, 2, 134-142, 2000.
"... heart rate increased significantly less in vibration exercise than in bicycle ergometry. Similar to heart rate, the O2 uptake was significantly lower during vibration exercise than during bicycle ergometry."
Acute Physiological Effects of Exhaustive Whole-Body Vibration Exercise in Man. J. Rittweger, et al, Clinical Physiology 20, 2, 134-142, 2000.
"Considering the comparatively mild cardiovascular and respiratory effects and the marked muscular fatigue, we conclude, that training with Galileo 2000 may be a promising issue in the therapy of bone mineral loss in the elderly."
Acute Physiological Effects of Training with Galileo2000: First Results. J. Rittweger, et al; Osteoporosis Int. 8 suppl.3 (1998); 121.
"In the present experiment, even if the total length of the vibration training application period was only 10 minutes, the perturbation of the gravitation field was rather consistent (2.7g). An equivalent length and intensity of training stimulus can be reached only by performing 150 leg presses or half squats with extra loads of 3 times body weight, twice a week for 5 weeks."
Adaptive Responses of Human Skeletal Muscle to Vibration Exposure. C. Bosco, et al; Clin. Physiol. 19 (1999) 2; 183-187.
"We apply the "reflex muscle stimulation" in order to improve balance and muscle power. Thirty three of 34 participants improved their chair rising time in the intervention period up to 36%. We interpret the finding as improvements in muscle power resulting from the reflex muscle stimulation with the Galileo 2000."
Balance Training and Exercise in Geriatric Patients. M. Runge, J. Musculoskeletal Interactions 2000 (1): 54-58.
"The vibrations are assumed to stimulate bone-tissue maintenance through the pull of the tensed muscles on the underlying bones."
Bed Rest Study Started in Berlin. ESA Human Spaceflight, European Space Agency, March 4, 2003.
"Fast and easy exercises, 3 times a week during 6 weeks, using a controlled whole body vibrations apparatus, could improve the quality of life, the walk, the balance and the motor capacity in elderly patients."
Controlled Whole Body Vibration to Decrease Fall Risk and Improve Health Related Quality of Life in Elderly Patients. O. Buyere, MA. Wuidart, E. Palma, M. Gourlay, O. Ethgen, F. Richy, J-Y., Poster Board #114, Presentation #1271 at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, FL.
"The vibration-loading, based on a tilting platform, induced a transient (significant at the 2-min test) 2.5% net benefit in the jump height (P = 0.019), 3.2% benefit in the isometric extension strength of lower extremities (P=0.020) and 15.7% improvement in the body balance (P = 0.049). In the other 2-min or in the 60-min tests, there were no statistically significant differences between the vibration- and sham-interventions. Decreased mean power frequency in EMG of all muscles during the vibration indicated evolving muscle fatigue, while the root mean square voltage of EMG signal increased in calf muscles. We have shown in this study that a single bout of whole body vibration transiently improves muscle performance of lower extremities and body balance in young healthy adults."
Effect of a Vibration Exposure on Muscular Performance and Body Balance. Randomized Cross-Over Study. S. Torvinen, P. Kannus, H. Sievanen, T. Jarvinen, M. Pasanen, S. Kontulainen, T. Jarvinen, P. Oja, I. Vuori, Clin. Physiol. & Func. Im. (2002) 22, pp145-152.
"The H/M ratio was significantly increased after vibration compared to before vibration. This suggests an increase in the excitability of the alpha motoneuron pool. In this study, it may be considered that the H/M ratio increased as a result of the integration of influences from both whole body vibration and voluntary contraction."
Effect of Whole Body Vibration Stimulus and Voluntary Contraction on Motoneuron Pool. Y. Nishihira, T. Iwasaki, A. Hatta, T. Wasaka, T. Kaneda, K. Kuroiwa, S. Akiyama, T. Kida, K. Ryol, Japan Society of Exercise and Sports Physiology, ISSN 1340-3141 pg 83-86.
"Muscle stimulation by vibration training improves the subjective and objective parameters of stress urinary incontinence. The combination of vibration training and physical therapy turned out to be highly effective and thus represents a genuine therapeutic option for patients with stress urinary incontinence."
Effect on Muscle of Mechanical Vibrations Produced by the Galileo 2000 in Combination with Physical Therapy in Treating Female Stress Urinary Incontinence. Von der Heide S, Emons G, Hilgers R, Viereck V, International Continence Society, Poster Presentation 285 (2003).
"Reflex muscular contractions induced by vibration training improve muscle power in postmenopausal women."
High-Frequency Vibration Training Increases Muscle Power in Postmenopausal Women. CR. Russo, F. Lauretani, S. Bandinelli, B. Bartali, C. Cavazzini, JM. Guralnik, L. Ferrucci, Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003 Dec; 84(12):1854-7.
"...we have shown that acute exposure to whole-body vibration causes increased plasma concentration of testosterone and growth hormone, and a decreased plasma concentration of cortisol. The increases in neuromuscular effectiveness and testosterone concentration were simultaneous but independent responses, however the two phenomena may have a common mechanism."
Hormonal Responses to Whole Body Vibration in Man. C.Bosco, et al; Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 81 (2000); 449-454.
"This would indicate that this type of treatment (whole body vibration) is able to stimulate the neuromuscular system more than other treatments used to improve neuromuscular properties."
Influence of Vibration on Mechanical Power and Electromyogram Activity in Human Arm Flexor Muscles. C. Bosco, et al; Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 79 (1999); 306-311.
"Results indicate that strength training with the Galileo leads to a slight decrease of bone strength after 3 month followed by a strong increase of bone strength after 6 months."
Long Term Effects of Galileo 2000 - a New Training Device (Post-Menopausal Women). S. Haring, M.Hartard, M.Schlitter, et al (Technical University of Munchen, unpublished data).
"The training was also able to amplify each test person's 1RM. The strength-training group had an increase of 19.4% and the Galileo group of 27.0%."
Long Term Effects of Galileo 2000 - a New Training Device (Post-Menopausal Women). S. Haring, M.Hartard, M.Schlitter, et al (Technical University of Munchen, unpublished data).
"Together these results suggest that our whole body vibration protocol elicited only minimal metabolic and cardiovascular strain, but quite variable effort perception among healthy non-athletic college-age females."
Metabolic and Cardiovascular Responses During Whole Body Vibration (WBV) Exercise: a Pilot Study. A. Mark, M. MacDonald, M. Rakobowchuck, C. Gordon*, C. Blimkie, Department of Kinesiology and *Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton ON, L8S 4K1.
"Whole body vibration represents a promising modality for use in the rehabilitation of persons with motor dysfunction of spinal origin. In our sample, whole body vibration successfully induced reflex standing in all 3 patients and standing was followed by ambulation in 2 cases."
Motor Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Disfunction by Means of Whole Body Vibration. J. Gianutsos, et al, Research Poster 222 from the New York School of Medicine presented at the AAPMR.
"The study clearly shows a highly linear dependence of muscle mass and bone mass as surrogates for muscle force and bone strength. Further it shows that the response of puberty one required for bone to muscle force can be influenced by hormonal action. In girls at puberty one could infer the estrogen can make the skeleton store more bone that is mechanical needs alone, possibly to meet the demands of lactation after pregnancy [6]. If so, when estrogen secretion declines at menopause that bone should be removed, and then further losses of bone should tend to plateau to age-normal levels. To repeat, that menopausal related bone loss and its eventual plateau is well known. In support of that analysis , De Scheper at al. [7] independently found a high correlation between bone and muscle mass. Still, since bone and muscle mass are only surrogates for bone strength and muscle strength further as well as direct studies of those strengths would seem desirable."
New Insight about Relationship Between Bone Strength and Muscle Strength. H. SchieBl, J. Willnecker Ph.D., Stratec Medizintechnik GmbH, Durlacher Str. 35, D-751 72 Pforzheim, Germany.
"The use of vibrations in an athletic setting offers new possibilities to coaching science. Resistance training effectiveness has been demonstrated due to the possibility of enhancing neuromuscular performance, power output, strength and hormonal profile. However, the time needed for these adaptations to occur is relatively long as compared to the possibilities offered by vibration treatments. It should be recognized however, that vibrations need to be viewed not as a substitute tool of resistance exercise, but as a valid additional means to be implemented in a training routine in association with all the other traditional methodologies nowadays utilized. New studies need to be conducted to analyze chronic responses, different treatment protocols and the effects of the association of vibrations with conventional training means for improving the knowledge in the interesting and exciting tool of sports science."
New Trends in Training Science: The Use of Vibrations for Enhancing Performance. Bosco, C; Cardinale, M; Tsarpela, O; Locatelli, E; New Studies in Athletics, Vol.14, No.4, 1999, pg.55-62.
"It is concluded that the increased metabolic power observed in association with vibration exercise (VbX) is due to muscular activity. It is likely that this muscular activity is easier to control between individuals than is simple squatting."
Oxygen Uptake During Whole-Body Vibration Exercise: Comparison with Squatting as a Slow Voluntary Movement. J. Rittweger, et al; Eur J Appl Physiol (2001) 86: 169-173.
"These results further substantiate the view that whole body vibration exercise enhances muscular metabolic power, and thus muscular activity."
Oxygen Uptake During Whole-Body Vibration Exercise: Influence of Vibration Frequency, Amplitude, and External Load. J. Rittweger, J. Ehrig2; K. Just, M. Mutschelknauss; K. A. Kirsch1, D. Felsenberg; International Journal of Sports Medicine 2002; 23: 428-432.
"The results indicate that superimposed VS (Vibratory Stimulation - with Galileo) applied for short periods in recovery breaks allows to keep the Maximal Voluntary Contraction of flexion in the elbow and extension in the knee on a significantly higher level than without VS during the recovery breaks."
Recovery Effects of Galileo 2000 Ð A New Device of Training-Interventions. M.Hartard, C.Kleinmond, C.Lammel, et al (Technical University Munchen, unpublished data).
"It should be pointed out, that the effect induced by the seven whole body vibration whole treatment bouts on neuromuscular behavior, are similar to those found after a single session of heavy resistance training. In fact, either strength training session or seven bouts of vibration treatment induced a strong perturbation of the mechanical behavior of the leg extensor muscles."
The Effects of Vibration on Human Performance and Hormonal Profile. M. Cardinale, Semmelweis University Doctoral School Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Budapest 2002.
"We employ whole body vibration to determine the extent to which reflex standing can be induced in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) who are otherwise unable to stand without the use of locked long-leg braces. ...Results obtained from at least four other persons with SCI in whom we have successfully induced the effect will be presented. ...WBV represents an alternative to fitness effects gained through functional electrical stimulation (FES) and/or treadmill-induced waling with partial-weight support."
The Effects of Whole Body Vibration On Reflex-Induced Standing In Persons With Chronic And Acute Spinal Cord Injury. JG Gianutsos, PhD; JH Ahn, MD; LC Oakes, BA; EF Richter III, MD; BB Grynbaum, MD; HG Thistle, MD, Poster Presentation To: The 3rd Mediterranean Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Athens, Greece, September 4-7, 2000.
"Leading scientists at the New York University's School of Medicine and its renowned Rusk Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine are currently conducting clinical studies on the Galileo900, the device that generates a dynamic Whole Body stimulation, to gauge and determine the scope of its therapeutic applications ... a series of anecdotal reports suggest that it has potential therapeutic benefits for a growing number of medical conditions. Several spinal cord injury patients are currently receiving experimental treatment with the Galileo system at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. These patients with demonstrated muscle potentials by EMG are experiencing increased muscle strength and improvement in residual functions. The device shows great promises in the treatment of stroke victims and trauma patients with neurological damages."
The Galileo System. Andre-Jacques Neusy, M.D., Professor of Clinial Medicine, New York University School of Medicine.
"It was suggested that the effect of whole body vibration elicited a fast biological adaptation associated with neural potentiation."
The Influence of Whole Body Vibration on Jumping Performance. C. Bosco, M. Cardinale, O. Tsarpela, R. Colli, J. Tihanyi, S.P. von Duvillard, A. Viru, Biology of Sport, 1998 Vol. 15, No. 3, 157-164.
"In the present experiment, the total length of the whole body vibration application period was not very long (only 100 minutes), the perturbation of the gravitational field was rather consistent (2.7g). An equivalent length and intensity of training stimulus can be reached only by performing 200 drop jumps from 60cm, twice a week for 12 months. In fact, the time spent for each drop jump is less than 200 ms, and the acceleration developed can hardly reach 2.7g [8]. This means to stimulate the muscles for 2 min/week for the total amount in one year of 108 minutes, which is almost the total time of vibration applied to the E subjects."
The Influence of Whole Body Vibration on the Mechanical Behavior of Skeletal Muscle C. Bosco, M. Cardinale, R. Colli, J. Tihanyi, S.P. Duvillard, A. Viru.
"A significant and comparable reduction in pain sensation and pain-related disability was observed in both groups (lumbar extension exercise and whole-body vibration exercise for chronic lower back pain ). ...The current data indicate that poor lumbar muscle force probably is not the exclusive cause of chronic lower back pain. Different types of exercise therapy tend to yield comparable results. Interestingly, well-controlled vibration may be the cure rather than the cause of lower back pain."
Treatment of Chronic Lower Back Pain with Lumbar Extension and Whole-Body Vibration Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J. Rittweger, K. Just, K. Kautzsch, P. Reeg, D. Felsenberg, SPINE (2002); 2 (1); 1829-1834.
"A 73-year-old male diagnosed six years earlier was advanced Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), an atypical form of Parkinsonism, had deteriorated over several months despite attemps to adjust medication. He was non-ambulatory, wheelchair-bound and dependent in activites of daily living (ADL). He presented with generalized rigidity and bradykinesia, severe speech impediment, stooped posture, gait freexing and postural instability. His most disabling symptoms were unresponsive to levodopa. Computerized-testing over months of treatment documented change resulting from his participation in our therapeutic ranging/exercise program. During each week one-hour session, his legs were mechanically ranged on a linear displacement device for 15 minutes to increase joint range of motion. Then, he was supervised through an exercise reginmen. Improvement in facial expression, speech volume, and tone were evident by month fout. At 7 months his knees remained flexed, and excessive festination and inadequate stride length continued to render his gait untestable. At 9 months, he could jump, walk on a treadmill, and ambulated with a walker. By eleven months he stood unaided, walked 400 feet with assistance, and stepped adequately to permit computerized gait testing. Over the next 7 months his gait scores improved steadily from an original 40 range to a consistent 80 range."
Use of a Therapeutic Ranging/Exercise Program in the Rehabilitation of a Person with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. JG Gianutsos, PhD; LC Oakes, BA; N Prufer, BA; V Kramskii, BA; EF Richter III, MD; M. Hutchinson, MD, PhD, Poster Presentation To: The 3rd Mediterranean Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Athens, Greece, September 4-7, 2000.
"In the new study, 42 volunteers in a nursing home were randomized to a vibration group or a nontreatment group for 6 weeks. ...After 6 weeks of therapy, patients in the vibrating group showed: 143% improved ment in physical function, 41% improvement in pain, 60% increase in vitality, 23% improvement in general health, 57% improvement in quality of walking as assessed by the Tinetti test (compared with a 2% improvement in control subjects), 77% improvement in equilibrium (compared with 1% worsening in controls), 39% decrease in time required to get up and go (compared with an increase of 14% among controls)."
Vibration Therapy Improves Walk, Balance in Elderly. Denise Mann, Rheumawire, November 3, 2003.
"Most of femoral neck fractures in the elderly are caused by fall. Although exercise is considered to prevent fall by maintaining muscle power and balance and functional fitness, many old subjects are unable to exercise effectively. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) in the elderly people. ...Calcaneal bone mineral density did not differ between 1st and 2nd measurement, but balance-function improved significantly after 6 months exercise in Ex. These results suggest that WBV possibly prevents fall and femoral neck fracture by improving standing balance in elderly subjects."
Whole-Body Vibration Exercise in the Elderly People. K. Miyamoto, S. Mori, S. Tanaka, M. Kawamoto, T. Mashiba, S. Komatsubara, T. Akiyama, J. Kawanishi, H. Norimatsu, Shirotori Hospital, Kagawa, Japan, Kagawa Med. University, Kagawa, Japan, IBMS-JSBMR 2003 Abstract Poster 506.
"Power Doppler indices indicative of muscle blood circulation in the calf and thigh significantly increased after exercise. The mean blood flow velocity in the popliteal artery increased from 6.5 to 13 cm/s and its resistive index was significantly reduced. The results indicate that low-frequency vibration does not have the negative effects on peripheral circulation know from occupational high-frequency vibration."
Whole-Body Vibration Exercise Leads to Alterations in Muscle Blood Volume. Kerschan-Schindl K, Grampp S, Henk C, Resch H, Preisinger E, Fialka-Moser V, Imhof H.: Clin Physiol 2001 May;21(3):377-82.
"A randomized study showed that, in athletes, 3 weeks of strength training (sitting bench-press) with superimposed vibratory stimulation led to an almost 50% increase in the one-repetition maximum compared with an average gain for the control group."
Whole-Body Vibration Exercise Leads to Alterations in Muscle Blood Volume. Kerschan-Schindl K, Grampp S, Henk C, Resch H, Preisinger E, Fialka-Moser V, Imhof H.: Clin Physiol 2001 May;21(3):377-82.
"Even if performed to exhaustion, cardiovascular effects of vibration exercise are mild."
Whole-Body Vibration Exercise Leads to Alterations in Muscle Blood Volume. Kerschan-Schindl K, Grampp S, Henk C, Resch H, Preisinger E, Fialka-Moser V, Imhof H.: Clin Physiol 2001 May;21(3):377-82.
Many additional studies are currently in progress...