Whole Body Vibration Machine Review: How it Works

Whole body vibration (commonly abbreviated as WBV) has now become popular every where because of its numerous provenresults. Starting from a common man to any Hollywood personality, all are its now daily users. This happened as it saves your time and extra exercising efforts. Now if you are a new user to this machine, many questions will arise in your mind, so have a look at this article which will apparently clear your all future doubts.

• In WBV, your entire body is exposed to vibration where an isolated muscle or muscle group is stimulated by the use of a vibration device. The vibrations generated by the motors below the platform are transmitted to the person standing on the machine. Basically, WBV is implemented through the use of a vibrating platform on which exercises can be performed.

• Although some known brand names allow training positions such as sitting or lying on the machine, side effects cannot be neglected. The intensity and the direction of the incoming vibrations are essential for their useful effect. Different exercise equipment has different vibration features. Not all platforms perform in a same way, and that is why the results of using them are always different. However, like in any training methodology, knowing which training frequency is to be use will determine the training effect.

• In order to elicit a stretch reflex in your muscles, the major contributing factor to the training results that can be achieved with vibration platforms, the up-down movement is the major one. However, the training frequency (measured in Hertz,Hz) is one of the most important factors involved.

• The human bodies are designed to absorb vertical vibrations better due to the gravitational effect. However, many machines vibrate in three different directions:
  

1. Sideways (x) direction

2. Front and back (y) direction

3. Down (z) direction: The z-axis has the highest amplitude and is the most defining component in generating and inducing muscle contractions. Regarding the z-movements, two main types of system can be distinguished as side alternating systems, operating like a see-saw and hence mimicking the human gait where one foot is always moving upwards and the other one downwards, and systems where the whole platform is mainly doing the same motion, respectively: both feet are moved upwards or downwards at the same time.

• Systems with side alternation offer a larger amplitude of oscillation and a frequency range of about 5Hz to 35Hz the other systems offer lower amplitudes but higher frequencies in the range of 20Hz to 50Hz. Despite the highest amplitudes of side-alternating systems, the vibration (acceleration) transmitted to the head is significantly smaller than in non side-alternating systems.

• Mechanical stimulation produce acceleration forces acting on the body. These forces cause muscles to lengthen and this signal is received by the muscle spindle (a small organ in the muscle). This spindle transmits the signal through the central nervous system to the body muscles. Due to subconscious contraction, many more muscle fibers are used than in a conscious, voluntary movement.

Recent scientific studies have shown that what helps maintain bone and muscle health in space could potentially help us down here on earth.