Whole Body Vibration“It’s like a deep massage!” “I’m going to the moon!” and “Is this legal?” are some of the comments people make when they first try Whole Body Vibration. This new therapy has been shown in extensive research to improve health in areas such as increased muscle strength and flexibility, increased bone density, increased circulation, joint therapy for numerous joint problems, improved balance, and an elevated mood.
Weight Loss
Weight Loss <back to top>
At Vibrant Health you will also receive nutritional counseling and have the opportunity to learn how to optimize you body’s ability to burn calories and metabolize nutrients efficiently. Most of Vibrant Health’s clients who want to lose weight are successful using a combination of working out on the Body Vibe, diet modifications and nutritional supplements. Average weight loss is 10 - 15 pounds, with 70 - 80% of clients losing at least 10 pounds, sometimes in the first month, and quite a few losing 30 pounds or more. And most importantly, in Vibrant Health’s four years of experience, at least 90% of those losing weight have not gained it back again (including those losing 30 pounds or more)!
Muscle Strength & Flexibility <back to top>Used as a training method, it has been shown to increase bone density, muscle strength and flexibility in a remarkably short amount of time: 10 minutes with this system is the equivalent of 30-60 minutes of weight lifting. Standing on a vibrating plate, every cell in your body vibrates at the same speed the plate is vibrating (20-50 times/sec). All muscle fibers involuntarily tense and relax at this speed, thus creating an intense workout without the person actually having to move at all! Sounds too good to be true! Research supports these claims, and as anyone who has used this system can tell you, it is hard work! Many different positions have been developed to target different muscle groups. All involve getting into a position on the plate and holding your body weight (or even adding additional weight) against the vibration. The vibration multiplies the work done by your muscles dramatically. Holding a sit-up position for one minute on this vibrating plate, for example, feels like you’ve done 40 sit-ups in one minute. Anti-Aging & Hormonal Effects
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Using the Body Vibe for 10 minutes is the equivalent of 30-60 minutes of conventional weight lifting in terms of getting in shape, including losing pounds, inches, fat, and cellulite, as well as for strengthening and toning your muscles and increasing bone density.“Since I started working with Becky at Vibrant Health two months ago, I am so much calmer and happier than I was—and sleeping more soundly. My kids say, ‘Mom, you’re definitely less uptight and angry.’” —Monica Calzolari "I am happier and have more energy now than I ever did when I was on Prozac." |
Mood and Energy Levels <back to top>
About 90% of Vibrant Health's clients originally complaining of poor mood and energy levels report improvements, usually within weeks of starting. Research with animals has shown an increase in serotonin levels after vibration. Serotonin, which is almost a household term these days due to the prevalence of depression and antidepressant drugs, is the neurotransmitter that makes you calm and happy. Antidepressant drugs generally increase effective serotonin levels, but they also have negative side effects. Many Vibrant Health clients are able to get off of their antidepressant medications and often report that they feel better than they did on the drugs.
“When I first went started working with Becky, about 3 months ago, I had constant pain in my right hip, my right thigh, and both knees. I frequently walked with a limp, and climbing stairs was excruciatingly painful. In the last three months I have made dramatic improvements. I was able to return to moderate exercising and I have no pain in my hips or thighs. If anyone had told me that I could be so much stronger or that my pain could be reduced so much in such a brief period of time, I never would have believed it.” —Ann MacGibbon “I went from only 61% of normal bone density, to 105% of normal bone density in two and a half years, using only Whole Body Vibration and natural supplements! I was originally diagnosed with “extremely severe osteoporosis” and now the bone density test came back saying I have “the bones of a healthy young woman!” Before I started the doctor said I could easily have a “spontaneous crushing fracture” coughing or going over a bump in the car. I used to put my older grandchild in the stroller and push him around. Now I pick up the younger one without a thought.” —Mary Oronato, 70 years old ex-Osteoporosis patient |
Physical Therapy & Medical Rehabilitation <back to top>
Physical therapists, medical doctors and chiropractors all report significant therapeutic effects from whole body vibration therapy. Regular use of these devices helps to restore strength, flexibilty and range of movement both before and after musculoskeletal injuries and / or traumas. Vibration training can also help to prevent injuries when used in conjunction with other conventional training methods.
The Body Vibe’s cutting edge vibration technology opens up new opportunity for people suffering with conditions such as, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, Parkinsons Disease, cerebral palsy and stroke victims. It allows them to gain the benefit of exercise while staying within their personal physical capacities. Scientific research is pouring in from around the world on the effects of Whole Body Vibration. Numerous studies are finding their way into prominent medical publications and leading fitness research journals.
Bone Density <back to top>
The potential for bone building made national headlines in August 2001 when the journal Nature published a study using sheep at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Adult sheep exposed to gentle vibrations for 20 minutes a day increased their bone density by 34% over one year. A recent study at Leuven University in Belgium, published by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in 2003, looked at the effect of vibration on post menopausal women (those most at risk of developing osteoporosis). Significant (approximately 1%) increases in hip bone density were seen over the 6 month study. While this number is small, this is still the first therapy to show any actual increase, or reverse, of bone loss in post menopausal women. An exciting area of research would be to combine Whole Body Vibration (WBV) with the latest in nutrition and supplemental therapies, and then look at the effects then on bone density after 6 months, especially as no attention was given to these factors in the Leuven study.
”My Type II severe diabetes was uncontrolled (blood sugar levels 200–250) even though I was on Insulin 3 times/day for the last 5 years. In one month working with Becky at Vibrant Health I was off Insulin and my blood sugar levels were down to 100–150.” —Maria Femia |
Wellness with the Body Vibe <back to top>
Dr. Keith DeOrio, an internationally known expert in integrative medicine with over 3000 patients at the DeOrio Wellness Medical Center, in Santa Monica, CA, has been a pioneer in the use of this technology for a wide range of health problems. Working successfully with many problems, from allergies and depression, to digestive problems, to multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue, and Dr. DeOrio has found Whole Body Vibration to be a powerful adjunctive therapy to the many alternative approaches he uses.
“Increased blood flow combined with mechanical cell vibration leads to improved distribution and bio-availability of vitamins, nutrients, herbs, minerals and even homeopathics...Total body vibration causes the muscles, lymph, and cells in the body to contract and relax in a rhythmical fashion. If the right antioxidants, herbs and other nutrients are present in the blood prior to (WBV), a powerful super perfusion of the organs, glands and tissues is the result. Increased circulation and better lymph system drainage combine to give more rapid toxin removal resulting in more rapid healing and less detoxification side effects.”
Additionally, Dr. DeOrio theorizes that the Body Vibe may raise a person’s vibrational energy (their “Chi” in Chinese medicine), and help to balance the energy meridians which Eastern medicine believes to be essential to life and health. Whatever the exact causes and mechanisms of its myriad effects, it seems clear that Whole Body Vibration is an exciting, potentially even revolutionary, system of health enhancement.
Background & History <back to top>
The Body Vibe is a sophisticated exercise and therapeutic wellness machine that uses vibrational technology based on decades of Russian research and development. During the first extended periods of time Russian cosmonauts spent in space, it was observed they experienced bone and muscle tissue loss due to a lack of gravity. In an effort to stop or reverse these degenerative conditions, researchers were led to the whole body vibration (WBV) technology. Since that first research decades ago, it has been well documented that vibrational technology does in fact repair the bone and muscle tissue loss experienced by the cosmonauts. Of course, this discovery inevitably led the way for the vibrational concept to be applied to the fields of athletics and fitness. The Body Vibe is the latest “state of the art” vibrational technology machine designed for all around physical performance enhancement. Whole Body Vibration is used widely through out Europe especially by Olympic and top sport athletes. Within the last year, its notoriety and popularity has spread in America as well. Athletic superstars such as Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neil, Lance Armstrong, The Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants have been amoung the first users in America to recognize the incredible advantages of Whole Body Vibration.
Corporate Applications <back to top>
Corporate fitness and wellness is gaining ground for the numerous benefits to employee performance such as, reduced sick days and more productive work enviornments. Body Vibe professional models are ideal for corporate fitness centers. In 10-20 minutes the employee can train all of his or her muscle groups, invigorate mental focus and alertness, while balancing posture and reducing ergonomic related injury.
Just standing on one of our units can yield a host of benefits including improved fexibility, reduced pain, increased blood circulation and renewed oxygen tissue levels.
The no sweat - no stain workout takes about 15 minutes per session and allows for lunch or coffee break workouts without the worry of needing a shower or a change of clothing.
Mood balancing hormones are immediately released like serotonin which counters mental fatigue while harmonizing emotional stress common in an enclosed work enviornment.
Considering its compact design and “ bang for the buck” cost, the Body Vibe is the perfect corporate fitness equipment. Every employer should offer this form of training and therapy if they want to see their bottom line, employee job satisfaction, increase!
Whole Body Vibration Users <back to top>
Professional Sport Teams Boston Red Sox |
Celebrities & Athletes Madonna (Musician) |
Universities Stanford University |
Comparison of Different Manufacturers & Machines
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There are now many different vibration machines available as this technology begins exploding in popularity. There are many different factors to consider when looking for the right machine and experience for you.
Body Vibe USA was started 5 years ago based on the wellness and Whole Body Vibration experience of Dr. Kieth DeOrio, MD. Dr. DeOrio is one of the world’s leading medical experts in Whole Body Vibration. Since the year 2002 he has used Whole Body Vibration with thousands of patients and has a deep understanding of its effects on the total body. Vibrant Health has worked closely with Dr. DeOrio since Vibrant Health’s inception in 2002.
Most manufactures (including Power Plate, Vibrogym, Vibroflex, Soloflex, and others) approach Whole Body Vibration primarily from the perspective of physical exercise. They do not understand the powerful effects of Whole Body Vibration on your entire body and nervous system, and hence their machines are not optimized and designed to deal with all the possible effects of regular usage.
Single Motor V.S. Dual Motor WBV Machines
A key difference between Body Vibe equipment and most other Whole Body Vibration devices is that all Body Vibe machines only use one motor for the vibration. This is a critical piece of information that most manufacturers are not aware of. Dr. De Orio, in his book VIBRANETICS, discovered this important distinction after treating more than 5000 patients with Whole Body Vibration. He found that using 2 motor machines can actually cause detrimental effects on brain and body synchronization. Two motors can never be properly synchronized between themselves, as a result, if you stand on a two motor system you and your brain will become desynchronized over time. This leads to a whole host of negative side effects, such as, fatigue, muscle weakness, sleep disturbances and even immune system imbalance , just to name a few. A one motor system is always 100% synchronized with the plate, as long as it is not a weighted single motor, which is sometimes used to gain greater amplitude. Weighted single motors are not as bad as two or dual motors but they still can throw the body out of balance as can tilting vibration machines. A single motor device therefore will synchronize the body and brain, helping to put your system into a whole brain functioning state.
High amplitudes are not typically achieved using a single motor system but the beneficial effect is still obtained. In other words, high amplitude is really not the most important mechanical objective when developing a WBV device. Even though most manufacturers proudly report how they can achieve 4-5 mm of amplitude with their systems. The benefit of whole body vibration only really lies in how effective the device is in getting you and your brain into a synchronized state. This is only possible using a 100% synchronized single motor system like the Body Vibe or other single motor units. Consequently, be aware of what you are purchasing. Make sure the WBV system you get only has one motor, since a 100 % synchronized system is the only thing you ever want to stand on if you value your health. Never stand on a 2 motor system, unless under direct physician supervision.
Manufacturers that use two motors in their machines include:
- PowerPlate™
- Vibrogym™
- Hypergravity™
Physiological Effects of Whole Body Vibration
All muscle fibers in the body tense and relax at the same rate as machine is vibrating: 20-50 times/second. This creates an intensive workout for the muscles; and much of this can be accomplished while simply standing on the plate.
Ten minutes on the plate equals 30-60 minutes of weight lifting.
Increase in hormones involved in strength, repair and regeneration; testosterone, Human Growth Hormone, and Intrinsic Growth Factor 1.
Increase in Serotonin and Norepinephrine - neurotransmitters that makes you calm and happy.
Decrease in cortisol - the major stress hormone.
Significant increase in blood flow throughout the body.
Strengthening and increase of bone tissue.
Cellulite reduction
Increased number of T cells: an important part of your immune system.
Increases fat burning
Improves flexibility, mobility and coordination
Improves training quality and effectiveness
Reduces stress on joints
Strengthens muscles - particularly the back/spine
Improves lymphatic drainage
Strengthens bone tissues
Restores hormonal balance
Stress reduction
Speeds up metabolism
Accelerates recovery after exercising or injuries
Improves skin quality
Revitalization
Body and mind balancing
Restless Leg Syndrome
"I have had a severe case of restless leg syndrome for the past 5-6 years. During a 12-week study at an area sleep clinic, my legs moved approx. 490 times per/hour. Although I have tried several medications, all made me tired during my waking hours and were not very effective. Since using your vibrating device, I find that I am sleeping more soundly and have discontinued taking my script for Provigil (a medication for shift workers and airline pilots) which helped me to focus and remain alert during the day. Thank-you for introducing this new technology to Cynthia and me." —Brian Cichella