Hey everyone!
Today’s blog is on vibration training. What is vibration training? Some of you may have been in a gym or rehabilitation facility and seen a large platform that people stood on and did exercises. These platforms vibrate at varying frequencies and amplitudes for varying goals and varied persons. They vibrated very fast and in multiple directions.
By vibrating very fast, when a person’s weight is on the platform, the muscles surrounding the joint with the most load (or tension) will experience the vibration. The cells within the muscle are rubbed together by the vibration stimulating all these cells.
So, what are they used for? What are the benefits? Vibration plates are excellent for low level non-impact exercises for a variety of reasons. Reasons one may use one of these are as follows: DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)/Recovery, neuromuscular stimulation, building/maintaining bone density, balance/stabilization, decreased spasticity in those with neuromuscular disorders.
Who should use them? Anyone recovering after an exercise bout, anyone trying to gain the benefits of low level weight training in less time and effort, anyone wanting to increase their balance, those wanting to increase/maintain bone density, those with neuromuscular disorders.
Who should not? Those with bone damage (breaks, compressions) before full healing or osteoporosis. In cases of osteopenia, caution should be used.
Here is some good research if you are interested in more detail on this:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=vibration+therapy
Have a great week!
Jason Root, CSCS