Ultimate List of Conditions That May Be Improved Through WBV

Exercising on a vibration machine can help in maintaining strong bones and muscles, in improving the flexibility of your joints, improving the function of your heart and respiratory system, as well as in enhancing the beauty of your skin and in maintaining a slim and attractive body.

But besides these positive effects, whole body vibration also provides a series of benefits for people affected by various conditions, and in today’s article we’ll list the ailments that may be managed or treated through WBV therapy.

1. Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy affects 34.000 Australians and 1 in 400 babies.  The non-progressive disorders of posture and movement are caused by damage of the developing brain and manifest through movement, coordination, and balance problems. Other symptoms include the stiffness and weakness of muscles, uncontrolled body movements, and communication problems, with or without auditory, visual or intellectual impairment.

The symptoms don’t progress over time, but are permanent, and affect the ability of CP to perform conventional physical activities. Still, physiotherapy remains one of the treatment solutions for this category of people, and studies suggest whole body vibration therapy may be a safe choice as well.

To learn more about the positive effects of vibrating machine exercises in cerebral palsy sufferers, read these articles:

New study finds WBV therapy beneficial in cerebral palsy

[Study] WBV exercises normalize muscle tone and function in kids with CP

2. Osteoarthritis (OA)

In OA sufferers, the joint cartilage gets damaged as a result of wear and tear and causes the bones to rub together. This leads to pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints, and reduces the range of motion, affecting one’s ability to perform daily tasks and decreasing the quality of life.

Osteoarthritis is more common in adults aged 50 and above, but the condition develops gradually and young adults may experience symptoms such as pain in the knees or hips after walking for several hours, joint stiffness especially in the morning, tenderness of the joints when bending, or minor bone spur growth.

Exercising with weights may be painful for OA sufferers, but doing the same movements on a vibration machine may be less demanding and safer, and may provide similar benefits.

Find out more about the effects of vibration training in osteoarthritis patients in these articles:

Is WBV training a good idea for osteoarthritis patients?

How whole body vibration can improve the health of arthritis sufferers

Should you train on a vibration machine if you have knee OA?

3. Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis affects about 23,000 Australians, being more common in women than in men. The condition doesn’t have a cure and is usually diagnosed in young adults aged between 20 and 40 years.

Whole body vibration exercises may be a valid solution for improving mobility in MS sufferers, as you will learn in the article below:

Long-term vibration training may be helpful to multiple sclerosis patients

4. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD is caused by a combination of factors among which tobacco smoke, exposure to air pollutants, respiratory infections, and genetic factors. This condition refers to a group of diseases that manifest through breathing-related problems caused by airflow blockage.

COPD affects mostly people aged 65 and above, being more prevalent in women and more likely to occur in smokers. Rehabilitation programs for these patients include physical exercises, and whole body vibration is safe and effective in improving the quality of life in COPD sufferers.

To learn more about the positive of exercising on a vibration machine for COPD patients, read these articles:

New study on the effects of WBV in COPD

WBV leads to better exercise capacity in people with COPD

5. Diabetes

Exercising can help diabetics keep their blood sugar levels under control, but long and intense workouts may not be the best idea, as they may lead to sudden hypoglycemia episodes. Vibration workouts are shorter and can provide the same benefits as conventional workouts, so they may be a good solution for resistance training in diabetics.

To learn more about the benefits of vibration training in diabetes, read these articles:

Is Whole Body Vibration Training Safe in Diabetes Sufferers?

WBV proves beneficial in diabetic neuropathy

6. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis manifests through the thinning of bones, which can result in painful fractures. Being a female, having a low body weight or being overweight, having imbalanced sex hormone levels, smoking, being at menopause, and being older are all risk factors for this condition.

Fractures and bone deformities are common in osteoporosis sufferers and are caused by the weakening of bones, people suffering from this condition being more prone to falls and balance and posture problems. Vibration machine exercises can keep the bones strong and improve balance, increasing the quality of life in osteoporosis patients.

Read more about the beneficial effects of vibration training in osteoporosis in these articles:

Can WBV improve bone density in osteoporosis patients?

Postmenopausal women can improve bone density with WBV exercises

7. Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that progresses with age and starts manifesting around the age of 50-60 years. The symptoms develop gradually, the tremor of hands, stiffness, and slowness of movements being typical for the initial stages of the ailment.

In some patients, the facial expression is also affected and the limbs shake when sitting or standing still. The evolution of Parkinson’s signs is slow, but the disease becomes debilitating in the more advanced stages, especially if the tremor spreads to both sides. Besides these manifestations, PD may also cause joint pain, fatigue, poor posture, stiff muscles, and general weakness.

Although physical therapy is among the best treatments for this condition, some patients may not be able to perform conventional exercises. In such cases, whole body vibration may be a safe and reliable alternative.

To learn more about the benefits of vibration therapy in Parkinson’s disease, read this article:

Whole body vibration in Parkinson’s disease

8. Metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is caused by inactivity and obesity, being linked to insulin resistance. When the body no longer responds properly to insulin and sugar can’t be transported to cells for energy production, it remains in the bloodstream, resulting in increased blood glucose levels.

This can trigger both metabolic syndrome and diabetes if the body becomes unable to produce enough insulin for keeping glucose levels within the normal range. To learn about the benefits of vibration training in people affected by this condition, read this article:

Vibration therapy benefits people with metabolic syndrome

9. Cellulite

Cellulite appears when fat accumulates in the adipose tissue underneath the skin and starts pushing up against the skin. The decrease in skin elasticity and a poor flow of lymph favor the dimpled aspect of the skin, and even if cellulite is not a threatening medical condition, it can be very disturbing and can affect one’s self-esteem and social relationships.

Strength exercises can be very efficient in fighting against cellulite and restoring the skin’s beautiful appearance, and cardio workouts can stimulate the circulation of blood, speeding up the destruction of excess fat cells.

As you already know, vibration workouts can replace conventional strength exercises, and the article below will show you how WBV can help reduce cellulite:

Reduce cellulite with whole body vibration workouts

10. Obesity

In obese people, the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks associated with certain forms of physical activity, so one shouldn’t abandon workouts, but conventional training programs that include aerobic movements and weight lifting may increase the risk of injury and do more harm than good.

High-impact physical activities like running or lifting heavy weights may not be the best choice if one doesn’t have the opportunity to work with a personal trainer. Whole body vibration on the other hand can be a safe alternative, as it’s a low-impact activity that can contribute to greater energy expenditure without increasing the risk of injury.

To learn more about the benefits of WBV exercise in obese individuals, read this article:

Obese individuals can safely practice vibration machine exercises

11. Thalassemia

Thalassemia is a blood disorder in which the body produces less hemoglobin and fewer red blood cells than needed for a healthy organism. This inherited condition manifests through weakness and fatigue, low bone density, abdominal swelling and slow growth.

People affected by this condition have more fragile bones and are more prone to fractures, so they may not be able to engage in conventional strength workouts. The good news is that whole body vibration may be a safe replacement for classical exercises, and may help in strengthening the bones and muscles in this population.

To learn more about the benefits of vibration machine exercises in thalassemia patients, read this article:

[Study] Effects of WBV therapy on bone density in patients with thalassemia

12. Hypertension

Hypertension occurs when the pressure of blood against the walls of arteries is higher than normal and remains elevated for the long term. In many people, high blood pressure is asymptomatic for years, but even without symptoms, the damage caused by the increased pressure to the blood vessels is still present. In time, this condition can cause serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

Although lots of people affected by hypertension have active lifestyles and practice strength exercises, lifting weights isn’t always a good idea, as it may increase the blood pressure even more. Vibration training on the other hand maybe a safe alternative, studies suggest.

To learn about the positive effects of vibration training in hypertension patients, read this article:

Vibration exercises may be useful for people with hypertension

13. Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia defines the loss of muscle mass and the weakening of muscles as a result of aging. It affects adults aged 50 and above, but the decline in bone density starts earlier, around the age of 30. The mineral density of bones peaks in young adults, and starts to decrease by about 1-2% per decade until the age of 50. In sedentary individuals though, this rate is higher and may vary between 3% and 5%.

This means that sarcopenia can have an earlier onset, and the lack of physical activity may accelerate the loss of muscle mass. On the other hand, practicing strength exercises such as those performed on a vibrating machine can keep the muscles healthy and strong.

To learn more about the benefits of vibration training in sarcopenia, read this article:

WBV training can replace resistance exercises in seniors with sarcopenia

14. Stroke

Stroke may affect the body in different ways, some people experiencing minor health effects, while others are left with serious health problems or permanent disabilities. Some of the most common physical problems occurring after a stroke include movement and balance problems caused by muscle weakness or paralysis, pain, discomfort and fatigue.

Since conventional rehabilitation exercises may be difficult to practice for stroke survivors, it’s a good idea to consider alternative therapies like whole body vibration for speeding up the physical recovery and relieving some of the symptoms.

To learn about the benefits of whole body vibration in stroke patients, read this article:

Vibration platform exercises may be helpful in post-stroke rehabilitation

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