3. Spinal cord: they pass the information on to the spinal
cord
4. Brains: The response to this sensory stimulus via the
spinal column is a direct contraction of the stretched
muscle. The brain is not directly involved in this process.
Immediate and short term effects of WBV
Because more muscle fibers (also known as motor units)
are activated under the influence of vibration than in
normal, conscious muscle contractions the muscles are
incited more efficiently. The immediate effect of WBV is
therefore that the muscles can be used quickly and
efficiently, allowing them to produce more force.
Another immediate effect of WBV is an improvement of
blood circulation. The rapid contraction and relaxation of
the muscles at 20 to 50 times per second basically works
as a pump on the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels,
increasing the speed of the blood flow through the body.
Subjects often experience this as a tingling, prickling,
warm sensation in the skin.
Long term effects of WBV
In order to have any effect on the body in the long term it is
vital that the body systems experience fatigue or some sort
of light stress. As in other kinds of training, when the body
is overloaded repeatedly and regularly, the principle of
super compensation will occur. This principle is the
cause of the body adapting to loading. In other words:
performance will increase.
This effect has been proven several times in scientific
research for both young and elderly subjects. Studies have
shown that using WBV leads to a significant increase in
strength. This is a clear indication that the vibrations
actually do have added value when performing static
exercises. Better results may even be achieved with WBV
in the area of explosive power.
This graph shows the gain in maximal strength attained by
professional and casual athletes after training 2/3 times a
week for a period of 6 weeks on a Whole body vibration
platform. Strength is considerably improved after the
vibration training for the 6 exercises tested & the results
are even higher for the professional.
Another important difference between conventional training
methods and WBV is that there is only a minimum of
loading. No additional weights are necessary, which
ensures that there is very little loading to the passive
structures such as bones, ligaments and joints. That is
why WBV is extremely suited to people that are difficult to
train due to old age, disease, disorders, weight or injury.
On the other hand, it is also very suitable for professional
athletes who want to stimulate and strengthen their
muscles without overloading joints and the rest of the
physical system.
Other than its influence on the muscles, WBV can also
have a positive effect on bone mineral density. The
vibrations cause compression and remodeling of the bone
tissue Mechanostat, activating the osteoblasts (bone
building cells), while reducing the activity of the osteoclasts
(cells that break bone down). Repeated stimulation of this
system, combined with the increased pull on the bones by
the muscles, will increase bone mineral density over
time. It is also likely that the improved circulation and the
related bone perfusion due to a better supply of nutrients,
which are also more able to penetrate the bone tissue, are
contributing factors.
Hip Bone Mass Dens
1.00%
0.80%
0.60%
0.40%
0.20%
0.00%
-0.20%
-0.40%
-0.60%
-0.80%
In preventing falls and the bone fractures that they often
result in, enhancing bone mineral density is not the only
important issue. Increased muscle power, postural
control and balance are also considerable factors.
Studies involving elderly subjects have shown that all of
these issues can be improved using whole body vibration.
Plasma concentration after 10 minutes of WBV
30
25
25
24.5
20
24
23.5
15
23
10
22.5
5
22
0
before
21.5
Growth Hormone
after
Testosterone and Growth Hormone (HGH) are secreted
to a greater extent. Those hormones stimulate protein
synthesis and help build up muscle tissue. They also play
a part in elevating the blood's oxygen transportation
capacity. People will be able to train longer in a comfort
zone!! The growth hormone has a direct effect on virtually
all the cells in the body.
The major effects include: controlling the length to which
bones grow and growth of softer tissues like muscles,
stimulation of lipolysis in fat cells, causing a reduction
in body fat levels. The high production of HGH also leads
to more rapid healing of fatigued or injured cells and
allows faster recovery.
The stress hormone, cortisol, is also lowered significantly,
resulting in the user feeling good and relaxed after a
session on the DKN platform.
Fitness, Health, Wellness & Beauty, Anti-aging
WBV: A wide range of benefits including:
100% of the muscle fibers are trained as opposed to
only 40% in conventional training
Increases Bone density
Increases blood flow and oxygenation in all skeletal
tissues
Increased blood flow in muscles (95% of capillaries
open up to 40-60%)
Increased production of Testosterone and growth
hormone (HGH)
Increases production of endorphin
A study carried on
70 women (aged 58-
74) has
demonstrated that
training 3 times a
WBV
week on the WBV
Classic Trainin
Control Group
platform for 24
weeks significantly
improved bone
density, meaning
rejuvenating bones!
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Testosterone
Cortisol
Both
26