Effects of Whole Body Vibration on Autoimmune Diseases
Body vibration machines have been around for quite some time, but recently they have been gaining a lot of popularity. So far, whole-body vibration WBV therapy (the activity that is performed on the vibration plate) has been proven to help increase bone density, strengthen muscles, decrease body fat percentage and even promote lymphatic drainage. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.
More recent studies, such as this one, have shown another interesting finding, namely the beneficial effect of the vibration plate for autoimmune diseases. The scientific evidence indicates that the high-frequency vibrations that are produced during WBV therapy, go through the whole body, benefiting more or less every tissue, organ, and system, and relieving symptoms of various immune-mediated disorders. Multiple Sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia are just some of them.
In this article, we are going to explore the autoimmune disease in a greater depth, will find out what causes autoimmune disease and why the immune system attacks the body, will examine some common symptoms of autoimmune disease, and will discuss how vibration plates can help with autoimmune disorders. So, let’s get started!
What is an autoimmune disease?
According to this study, auto-immune diseases have risen substantially for the past 70 years or so. Some of the main reasons for that are the increased production of industrial and agricultural chemicals, as well as the easier transfer of pathogens, due to globalization and open borders. Other causes include genetic predisposition and gut dysbiosis. But what is an autoimmune disease?
An autoimmune disease is a type of pathological condition during which the body’s immune system targets, attacks and destroys the healthy cells and bodily tissues by mistake. Currently, there are over 80 types of auto-immune disorders known to science, with the most common ones being:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Crohn’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Diabetes type 1
- Celiac disease
- Hashimoto thyroiditis
- Dermatomyositis
- Pernicious anemia
The good news is that scientists are working hard on finding new and more efficient ways of fighting autoimmune disorders. So far, the results have been quite promising, including the ones from the latest addition to their arsenal – the WBV therapy.
Why is my immune system attacking my own body?
The immune system creates antibodies that protect the organism against harmful substances, such as viruses and bacteria. If you have an immune-mediated disease, your immune system does not make a difference between the healthy cells and the potentially harmful ones. As a result, your body sets off an autoimmune reaction that destroys the healthy tissues.
The exact causes that trigger the immune system to attack the tissues and organs of its own host are not clear. There are various theories on the matter but unfortunately, scientists have not come to a mutual agreement yet. While further studies and examination are needed, so far several reasons for developing an autoimmune disease have been established.
Among the most common reasons that stimulate the immune system to attack the cells of the body it is supposed to protect are:
- Damaged genetics
- Unhealthy diet
- Various infections
- Overweight and obesity
- Overexposure to chemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides, and drugs
Furthermore, some studies indicate that a diet high in fat, sugar, and highly processed foods might lead to the development of chronic inflammation, which is considered a precursor for an auto-immune response.
Another interesting theory on why the immune system is attacking the body it resides in is related to the lack of enough exposure to germs by children during their childhood, which is the case in most developed countries. Some scientists argue that the lack of such exposure can make the immune system more likely to overreact to otherwise harmless substances, which in the long run can lead to an autoimmune disorder.
What are the common symptoms of autoimmune disease?
Among the most common symptoms of autoimmune disease are chronic fatigue, muscle pain, swelling throughout the body, redness, skin rashes, and hair loss. It is worth mentioning that the different auto-immune disorders have their unique symptoms and also that some of the symptoms may occur during various stages of the condition and are not necessarily present at the same time.
You may need to see a doctor if you have suspicions about the presence of an autoimmune disorder. Normally, this might be the case if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Chronic fatigue and lack of energy
- Pain in the muscles, joints, and abdomen
- Issues related to the digestive system
- Swelling and redness throughout the body
- Recurring mild fever
- Difficulty concentrating and confusion
- Frequent numbness in the feet and hands
- More than usual hair loss and skin rashes
Bear in mind that immune-mediated diseases can be difficult to diagnose and often require the use of several different tests and even a body tissue biopsy. Another factor that makes the diagnosis difficult is the fact that most autoimmune disorders share symptoms with other common pathological conditions.
How vibration plates can help with autoimmune disorders?
So far whole-body vibration WBV therapy has shown plenty of promising results in treating conditions, such as back pain, obesity, osteoporosis, and impaired lymphatic drainage. The vibrations that are produced by the vibration plate have helped many people worldwide to improve the health of their cardiovascular system, speed up physical recovery, and strengthen bones. Lately, it has been established that the body vibration machine can be a useful means for relieving the symptoms of some autoimmune disorders.
WBV therapy benefits people suffering from an auto-immune disease in several different ways. The high-frequency oscillations that pass through the body improve blood circulation, aid lymphatic drainage, reduce the overall body fat percentage, increase muscle tone and promote osteogenesis (new bone formation). In terms of the use of the vibration plate for autoimmune disease, the following findings have been observed:
- WBV therapy increases the overall physical fitness and improves the functions of many organs and systems throughout the body, including the immune and lymphatic systems;
- Body vibration machines offer a great activity option for autoimmune disease sufferers who experience difficulty doing regular exercise (normally due to bone or muscle pain);
- Whole-body vibration WBV therapy leads to an increased level of macrophages – a type of immune cells that have been proven to suppress inflammation, as well as to a higher production of interleukin-10 – an anti-inflammatory cytokine. The final result is reduced body inflammation, which otherwise has been linked to a higher risk of developing an immune-mediated disorder;
Final thoughts
Unfortunately, autoimmune diseases have been on the rise for the past several decades. Currently, scientists have discovered over 80 different types of such disorders, many of which share common symptoms, making them difficult to diagnose. While the causes are not yet fully clear, it has been established that some of the reasons for developing an auto-immune disease are genetic predisposition, obesity, unhealthy eating, and overexposure to drugs and other chemicals.
Luckily, medical specialists are working hard on finding new and better methods for tackling these conditions and the results so far have been pretty promising. One of the latest additions in that aspect is WBV therapy, which is gaining fast momentum in relieving the symptoms of some of the most common autoimmune disorders. As it is a relatively new topic, further studies are needed, but the outcomes from the ones made up to date are truly impressive.
References (in order of appearance)
Campbell, A., W. (2014). Autoimmunity and the Gut. Autoimmune Diseases.
