Thursday, May 13, 2010

New Oregon State study shows that whole body vibration slows the acquisition of fat

The publication can be found in the latest issue of the International Journal of Obesity. August 25, 2009

Researcher Gianni Maddalozzo with OSU’s Department of Nutrition and Exercise Science looked at the effects of whole body vibration on 7-month-old rats that were placed on vibration platforms at OSU’s Bone Research Laboratory. Both groups were fed the same diet and kept in a sedentary environment. One group was put on the vibration platform for 30 minutes a day, five days a week for 12 weeks. The other group was not put on the platform.

“After 12 weeks, the whole-body vibration exercise group weighed less, showed no changes in lean muscle mass, and had a lower overall percentage of body fat than the age-matched non-vibration group,” Maddalozzo said. “Over the course of the study the vibrated rats were healthy, tolerated the vibration well and exhibited no obvious signs of distress following adaptation to vibration.”

Maddalozzo said prevention is often the key to preventing obesity in society. More than 50 percent of adults in the United States do not get enough physical activity. Recent studies suggest that whole-body vibration has been proposed as a potential alternative, or adjuvant, to exercise. Whole-body vibration has been reported to increase energy metabolism through an increased oxygen uptake to values comparable to moderate walking.
“Vibration increases energy expenditure,” Maddalozzo said. “It’s equivalent to walking at moderate intensity.”

While not a magic bullet solution to weight gain, Maddalozzo said that whole body vibration has promise as another tool that can be used to help keep weight off. And past studies at research institutions such as the Societa Stampa Sportiva in Rome and at Stony Brook University in New York have already shown that vibration platform regimes have a significant effect on bone formation and muscle strength. Building on that research, Maddalozzo is involved in a human study with older adults who have had hip replacement surgery. He plans to publish his results in 2009.

Vibration Training has been shown to improve strength and balance in older women,” he said. “Vibration Exercise Training can give you the same results as a moderate-intensity workout.”

Provided by OSU

New Whole-body Vibration Exercise Craze hits Hollywood

Whole-body Vibration Craze has hit North America and is shaking things up. Vibration training which originated in Europe has been gaining momentum and being integrated into daily routines by top universities, NFL teams, medical centers, gyms and celebrities alike. A gaggle of celebrities and models - such as Madonna, Jessica Alba, Claudia Schiffer, Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Heidi Klum have been known to be users. Ever since Madonna admitted to using it sales have skyrocketed around the globe.

Vibration exercise training is looking to be the next big thing in fitness. With the average price for a Vibration Machine between $5500 - $13,000, it is a little pricey for the average consumer. But one company has developed a new product that might break the US market. VibraSlim has produced a machine and made it available for $1699, thousands cheaper than their competitors.

Vibration exercise technology allows you to burn fat and cellulite, increases Human Growth Hormone, increases muscle strength, increase metabolism, builds bone density, and improves flexibility. With the USA facing record obesity rates this company may have what consumers are looking for.

History of Whole Body Vibration

Vibration Exercise technology is supported by decades of scientific research, originating with the Soviet Space Program, which pioneered the technology now applied in the fields of health and fitness. Russian scientists discovered that cosmonauts that spent extended amounts of time in space experienced significant loss in bone density and muscle tissue due to the lack of gravity. Russian researchers were led to experiment with Vibration Exercise technology, finding that by using this equipment they could not only stopped the loss, but amazingly increase bone density and strengthen muscle tissue.

Using Vibration Exercise technology the Russians were able to set a record of more than 420 days in outer space. Our American astronauts, training on conventional fitness equipment, were forced to return after just 120 days due to bone and muscle degeneration. It wasn’t until after the fall of the Iron Curtain, that Vibration Exercise technology found its way to other countries. Today NASA fully embraces Vibration Exercise technology with much success.

More Studies Prove Benefits of Whole Body Vibration Plates

Ever since Madonna started using a Whole Body Vibration plate as part of her regular workout to get her into fine-cut form, people have been raving about the benefits of these amazing platforms. Among these many benefits are their ability to burn fat, tone muscle, and help users lose weight. Even though the results of Whole Body Vibration have been clear to users after just a couple of weeks of using the machines, some were still skeptical. Though the results certainly seemed to show the vibration plates worked, there was still no hard evidence to prove that these machines, and not just a low-fat diet, were responsible for the drastic results. But all of that has now changed, thanks to the 17th European Congress on Obesity in Amsterdam. This group has recently conducted a study to show that proof is just what we’ve been seeing and talking about!

The study included a group of 61 people who were obese or grossly overweight, of whom the majority was women. These people were then divided into 4 separate groups. One group used diet alone to try and lose weight. Another group used a diet as well as a workout on a vibration plate. Another group used diet along with some exercise such as sports or aerobics but they did not use a vibration plate. The remaining group did not use diet or exercise but continued on with their normal routines.

The two groups who did not use any exercise, whether through exercise or a vibration plate, did not lose any weight throughout the study. In fact, the group that did not use anything actually gained 1.5% of their body weight back while they were participating in the study. At the end of the study, the two groups who lost weight were then followed to see if they would maintain the weight loss, following the same diet and exercise. At the end of this time, the group who was exercising regularly without using a vibration plate lost 7% of their weight and were able to keep the weight off. The group that was involving the use of a Whole Body Vibration plate along with their diet lost 11% of their weight. What was even more impressive that by the end of the year, this group had also managed to lose another 10.5% of their weight!

Finally, there is more proof that shows using Whole Body Vibration plates are most effective when combined with a low-fat and low-calorie diet!

Does Vibration Exercise Machine Fitness Really Have Proven Benefits?

There’s been a lot of talk lately, with the explosion of using a vibration exercise machine plate fitness, about how these platforms can increase a person’s fitness level by strengthening and toning muscle, burning fat, improving coordination and flexibility in users, as well as demonstrate remarkable rehabilitative capabilities. But with all the hype, vibration exercise machine fitness has its critics too. Some say that while it all sounds good, there are no actual studies to prove that vibration exercise machine fitness is actually beneficial to the user.

For those critics, we did some research and found not one, but several studies that all pointed to the benefits vibration exercise machine has for those that are looking to get a very effective workout, with very little of the disadvantages that come with hard impact workouts. The study we’ll look at in this post comes from Italy, where a team of eight researchers worked with two groups of athletic women. One group consisted of eleven female athletes and was simply a control group that exercised as they normally did or did not, in some cases. The other group consisted of thirteen female athletes who were asked to exercise with the vibration exercise machine three times a week for eight weeks. At the end of the study, the two groups were compared.

The researchers tested the two groups on many different factors including: countermovement jump; leg extension strength; horizontal leg press; and flexibility. It was found that the group of women that exercised with the vibration plate showed a large increase in their level of fitness, especially when compared with the group that did not include the vibration exercise machine as part of their fitness regime. The only point that the vibration plate did not perform better on than the control group was the manipulation of the controls. In this case, the level of fitness remained the same in both groups.

This study definitely showed the many benefits of vibration exercise machine fitness. However, the study also concluded that in order for the optimum benefits to be realized with vibration plate fitness, the correct frequency of vibration must be analyzed and used on an individual basis.

How Does Vibration Plate Training Actually Work?

Lots of people have heard about vibration training. This is the exercise you get by standing on a vibration plate and doing various moves and positions to help you tone muscle and help you lose weight. But while many people have heard about it, many are skeptical that it will work. This is because it really does seem too good to be true.

Vibration training is a low-impact form of exercise and all you really have to do is stand on a platform that vibrates. There’s little sweating that’s involved, and you also probably won’t find yourself huffing and puffing either. Because of this, vibration plate training gets a lot of criticism. But, it’s true! Vibration plate training really does work! And here’s how.

When standing on a vibration plate, the platform will vibrate and move in many different ways. The speed at which the vibration plate moves is totally up to you but of course, the faster you go, the more benefits you’ll get out of your vibration plate training. But as the plate moves, your muscles are also forced to move. As the platform drops, your muscles are forced to elongate and tighten. Then, in less than a half of a second, the platform moves back up only to repeat the cycle and have it move down again. This cycle forces your body and your muscles to move, thereby forcing it to work and get in shape!

This type of vibration workout has actually been compared to doing about 3,000 leg bends, which of course would be impossible with a traditional workout. This means that not only does whole body vibration plate training work, but it’s the best kind of workout that you can get! Not only can you exercise your muscles even more with a vibration plate, but it’s low-impact which is ideal for people who suffer from arthritis or have problems with their joints. And many people who are excessively overweight have also said that it’s a great start to getting in shape because you don’t need to be extremely fit already to do it effectively!

What are the Benefits of Vibration Fitness?

Benefits of Vibration Exercising

For Muscles

With WBV you can expect similar strength gains to conventional resistance gym training in a fraction of the time. Scientific studies have proven these rapid strength gains. A 10 minute Vibration Exercise workout will give similar benefits to a 1 hour gym session!

For Accelerated Weight Loss

The way we look, feel, and function all relies on strong muscles. Even at rest our muscles burn calories at a rate based on our metabolism. The more lean muscle mass we have - the more calories we burn! Vibration Training can give a sluggish metabolism just the boost it needs …up to an 18% increase from 10 minute sessions, just 3 times a week over 6 weeks. (Bonner Physical Therapy, 2003). So even when relaxing you’ll be burning considerably more calories with Vibration Training! Combined with a cardio workout, you have the complete package – firming and toning and optimum weight loss! (also refer to “Firming and Toning” to follow)

vibrating For Firming & Toning

Lost a lot of weight? Then you’ll know how difficult it is to maintain muscle tone. The fact is… weight loss does not discriminate between fat and muscle. So if you lose 10 lbs/kgs of fat you may lose 1 lb/kg of muscle - and lean muscle is very hard to replace. The only way to preserve muscle is through resistance exercise. And with vibrating plates this can be accomplished far more efficiently than conventional weight training in the gym.

For Beauty

What woman wouldn’t appreciate a beauty treatment 3-5 times a week! Using the machine you will improve circulation, carry vital oxygen to your cells and tissues, assist in flushing toxins, while increasing your production of collagen. This will result in firmer, smoother skin, with a significant reduction in cellulite! Research shows that with just 3 sessions a week (11 hours total over 24 weeks) it’s possible to reduce cellulite on your thighs and buttocks by a massive 25.7%! (Sanaderm. Anti Cellulite Untersuchung, 2003) and when you combine Vibration Training with cardio exercise it’s been shown that a cellulite reduction of 32% can be achieved. Just see these results!

For Bones

Strong bones are what keep us young! Extensive studies show that after 39 years of age, women have a rate of bone loss double the rate of men! Post-menopausal women are most affected, so this is serious stuff. Resistance training, i.e. what we’re told to do at the gym or at home with resistance bands and weights, shows no benefit to improving bone density. But the exciting news is that Vibrating Fitness can provide excellent results and with little effort. This is according to the ground breaking study reported in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research in 2006.

For Anti-Ageing

Gentle Vibration Exercise can prevent age-related muscle loss, increase flexibility and range of motion. It also stimulates the production of collagen, creating tighter, more beautiful skin. It’s all possible! The fact that scientific research has shown Vibration Exercise can help fight Osteoporosis is exciting (refer to “For Bones” above). So for older generations this could well be the most important discovery in decades.

Vibration Fitness For Circulation

Increased blood circulation is a notable benefit of Vibration, even at low speeds. As a result, your cells receive more oxygen and nourishment. The body also develops better lymphatic drainage to improve our overall health and immunity. It does this by taking away waste products and moving white blood cells to where they are needed. White blood cells are like the 'cavalry' of the body – removing debris from broken down cells and attacking invading agents, such as poisons and bacteria

For Massage

More than just an exercise and rehabilitation machine, the VT-7 offers the luxury of whole body massage and relaxation. Massage also benefits overall health and has been shown to improve physical performance, prevent and eliminate injuries, reduce stress, improve circulation and assist in flushing toxins!

Vibrating Training For Rehabilitation

Whole body vibration
can prevent injuries, but just as important, it can help in the rehabilitation process.– having an ability to strengthen muscles without the usual strain on joints and ligaments. The process of rehabilitation involves an increase in blood flow causing a dramatic spike in Human Growth Hormone (HGH) - the key to the repair and regeneration of soft tissue. While improved circulation also helps to drain fluid build-up from injured tissue, Vibration stimulates a combined release of hormones and natural chemicals to suppress pain. Used for rehab, this really is a “wonder therapy".

New Vibration Exercise Fitness Research on Obesity

A new scientific study presented at the European Congress on Obesity, found that overweight or obese people who regularly used whole body vibration equipment with a calorie restricted diet were much more successful at long term weight-loss and losing the fat around their abdomen compared to those who combined dieting with a more conventional fitness routine.

"These machines are increasingly found in gyms across the industrialized world and have gathered a devoted following in many places, but there has not been any studies proving that they help people lose weight. Our study, the first to investigate the effects of vibration in obese people, indicates it's a very promising approach. It looks like these machines could be a useful addition to a weight control package," said the study's leader, Dirk Vissers, a physiotherapist at the Artesis University College and the University of Antwerp in Belgium.

The researchers divided the study group into four groups.

DIET GROUP: One group was prescribed an individually calculated calorie restricted diet. Dietician visits were scheduled every 2 weeks for the first 90 days and every 30 days for the second 90 days. The dieters were instructed not to undertake any exercise for the duration of the 6 month........

New research study backs up the vibration fitness experts and finds Vibration Exercise machines help to shed weight and even reduce harmful belly fat