Good Vibes or Bad?
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Vibration training seems to be a good thing on the surface of it. I know women who have dumped cellulite where nothing else has ever worked, and swear by it for overall fitness training.
But is it doing you harm long term?
Well the answer is - maybe…
Studies done since World War 2 show that chronic exposure to vibration increases stress hormones like cortisol (a known precursor for type 2 diabetes), adds to anxiety, can increase coronary artery disease and impair skin circulation. It is also linked to spinal disc injury and arthritis.
And vibration transmitted to the head via the spinal column has caused hearing loss, balance problems, visual impairment and bleeding on the brain.
Researchers at NASA and Houston University have concluded that whole body vibration training has the potential to do harm. But remember, 30 minutes of vibration training is not the same as a full day working a jackhammer, or operating machinery or truck driving for long shifts.
My take is a lot more research needs to be done. Before committing to a wholesale vibration training program, I would want a couple more years to go by and a few more studies before  did it.
The old standbys we use here are conservative, but proven safe and that is what I want for my clients at Fitness by Phone - results you can trust long term.
Have a great day.
Rick Rakauskas
October 1st, 2008 at 6:02 am
Some points:
1. A vibration training session should not last longer than 15-20 minutes (includes 10-15 minutes of actual vibration time)
2. Uncontrolled occupational vibration (less than 20 Hz.) and controlled WBV training (generally 30-50 Hz.)are like comparing apples and oranges
3. If you do the math, 3 sessions of WBV training per week will take years to equal 6-8 hours per day for several months of occupational exposure before symptoms appear!
4. Keep an eye on PubMed for new research on WBV for training and rehabilitation (especially for the frail elderly). there are certain populations which cannot train conventionally and require an alternative.