Do Vibration Plates Help With Swelling?
For the past decade or so, vibration plates have gained a lot of popularity. The innovative fitness machines have been proven to be a useful means for increasing bone density, strengthening muscle tissue, and decreasing body fat percentage. Indeed, many scientific studies have been conducted regarding the benefits of the body vibration plate and the results are truly impressive.
It has been established that the high-frequency vibrations that are produced by the vibration plate benefit the body in many different ways. The scientists have already agreed the machine does a great job at strengthening the bones, toning up the muscles, fighting obesity, improving blood circulation, and even reducing back pain. But what about swelling? Do vibration plates help with swelling? Can they fight inflammation or lymphoedema? And how about Lipedema? Well, let’s find out!
What causes swelling and inflammation?
Swelling in the body is a natural process that happens due to a physical injury or inflammation. Your tiny blood vessels release a fluid that builds up in the nearby tissues, thus causing the area to swell. Within the medical setting, swelling is known as edema. Normally, the condition targets small bodily regions, but in some cases, it can affect the whole body.
Some of the most common causes of swelling include:
- Infections
- Chronic stress
- Autoimmune responses
- Fluid retention
- Hormonal changes
Inflammation is a protective response of your body whose main purpose is to fight off infections, caused by viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens. In some cases, however, the condition may arise due to an autoimmune disease, where there is no tissue injury or an invader but the immune system reacts as if there is. The result is redness and swelling in the area or the whole body.
If left untreated, inflammation can cause some serious health conditions. Apart from the traditional drug therapies, scientists have discovered that some herbs, such as ginger and turmeric have anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, in the past few years, medical specialists have established promising outcomes from the use of the vibration plate for inflammation. The therapy is even more successful when combined with a diet based on anti-inflammatory foods, such as leafy greens, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.
What is the difference between Cellulite and Lipedema?
Cellulite is a common skin condition that affects the hips, thighs, and buttocks. It is much more prevalent among women but in many cases, it bothers the male part of the population too. The unpleasant condition is characterized by lumpy flesh that makes the surface of the skin uneven.
Lipedema, on the other hand, is a pathological condition that leads to the accumulation of excess fat tissue in the lower and upper parts of the body. The most affected areas are the thighs, calves, buttocks, and upper arms. Unlike cellulite that could affect a certain number of men, lipedema happens exclusively to women, with the main reasons being genetic predisposition or hormonal disbalance.
Some other common differences between cellulite and lipedema include the fact that the former is considered a cosmetic condition, whereas the latter is a medical condition, which if left untreated can cause serious health issues, such as the inability to move around.
Here are the most prominent differences between cellulite and lipedema:
- Cellulite is a cosmetic condition whereas lipedema is a serious medical condition;
- Cellulite can also affect men whereas lipedema affects exclusively women (with some very minor exceptions);
- Cellulite is much more prevalent and could affect up to 90% of women at various stages of their lives, whereas lipedema affects around 10% of women, worldwide;
Does vibration help with Lipedema
As we have already noted, lipedema is a pathological disorder that causes an irregular and abnormal fat accumulation throughout the body. The condition affects almost one in every ten women worldwide. It is highly recommended for people dealing with lipedema to explore multiple treatment options, including whole-body vibration therapy.
While the vibration plate has been proven to help strengthen the bones, improve muscle tone and accelerate physical recovery, some recent studies, such as this two-armed randomized controlled pragmatic trial, indicate that vibration can also be used to fight off lipedema. For instance, many people have used the vibration machine for swollen legs, experiencing an improvement within the first few months. Others have shared positive outcomes in the reduction of the overall body fat percentage.
It has been established that body vibration therapy relieves the symptoms of lipedema in several different ways:
- Firstly, the vibrations improve blood circulation throughout the entire body, and thus accelerate fat metabolism in the affected areas;
- Secondly, the vibration plate promotes lymphatic drainage which further enhances the effectiveness of treating lipedema;
- Thirdly, the regular use of the vibration machine leads to significant weight loss, including in the upper and lower limbs;
What’s the difference between lipedema and lymphoedema?
Due to the homophonic nature of the two terms, sometimes lipedema is confused with lymphedema. These, however, are two separate conditions. Nevertheless, on some occasions, lipedema can lead to lymphedema.
Lipedema is a medical condition that leads to the excessive accumulation of fat tissue in the buttocks, calves, thighs, and upper arms, whereas lymphedema occurs due to irregular lymphatic drainage, which is caused by a damaged lymphatic system. While both conditions are associated with swollen lower or upper body parts, in patients with lipedema this is caused by excessive fat accumulation, whereas in patients with lymphedema, the swelling is caused by lymphatic fluid that has built up in the soft tissues.
Is a vibration plate good for lymphedema?
When the lymphatic system becomes damaged either by some sort of injury, operation, or radiotherapy, the normal functionality of the lymph fluid and lymph nodes is impaired. In most cases, this leads to swelling in the affected area, causing a condition known as lymphedema.
There are various practices that are used in the treatment of lymphedema, including a special diet, a well-designed exercise regime, and even the implementation of breathing techniques among others. In the past several years, however, scientists have discovered another method, namely lymphedema vibration therapy. The therapy uses the body vibration machine as a tool and so far has shown a lot of promising results.
Some studies, such as this one, have indicated that the vibrations produced by the vibration plate improve muscle tone, promote weight regulation, and aid circulation of venous and lymph fluids. This is extremely important as the lymphatic system lacks its own drainage pump, hence the need for outside help. Furthermore, optimal lymph flow depends on adequate muscle and joint activity, which is another area that has been proven to be positively affected by vibration therapy.
Final thoughts
Unfortunately, nowadays conditions such as chronic inflammation, swelling, lipedema, and lymphedema, are on the rise. Some of the most common causes for these unpleasant pathological states include unhealthy eating, lack of physical activity, and the ever more stressful way of life. Luckily, scientists are working hard on finding new and better ways for tackling those diseases. One of the latest additions in that area is the vibration plate.
Thanks to the innovative technology behind the body vibration machine, thousands of people all over the world have managed to reduce their body weight, strengthen their bones, improve their muscle tone, and relieve the symptoms of illnesses such as lymphedema, chronic inflammation, and swelling.
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