Whole Body Vibration Platforms stimulate the

body’s natural response to vibration.

The vibration of the platforms creates instability in

the human body, and with each vibration the body

is forced to perform reflexive muscle actions,

multiple times per second.

The net result is that all exercise on a vibration

platform has more muscle activation resulting in

improved results in less time for all strength, power,

and flexibility training.

There are also a whole host of powerful

physiological enhancements including increased

circulation and lymphatic flow; increased strength

and power; increased stability and balance;

increased range of motion; improved recovery and

relaxation.

What is Whole Body Vibration Training?

Direction of the vibration:displacement up and down, forward

and backward, side to side

Vertical Vibration

In alignment with gravity

and gravity receptor

Multi – dimensional

Multi – dimensional function

Characteristics of vibration

Values smaller than 1 = microgravity (i.e. 0 g in space)

1 g = 9.81 m/s² (normal earth gravity)

Values greater than 1 = macro-gravity (i.e. roller coaster→ max. 6 g!)

Classification of acceleration forces (g-forces)

Amplitude (mm) Frequency (Hz) Gravity Force (g) Acceleration (m/s²)

Low 30 1.83 18.00 m/s2

35 2.32 22.80 m/s2

40 2.76 27.10 m/s2

50 3.48 34.10 m/s2

High 30 3.17 31.10 m/s2

35 3.99 39.10 m/s2

40 5.11 50.09 m/s2

50 6.36 62.40 m/s2

Acceleration measured by the University of Leuven (Belgium)

Gravity… nature’s resistance

Relationship between mass and acceleration on force factor

F = m x a

F = m x a

F = m x a

Body mass + load mass = decreased acceleration

Body mass + Power Plate = increased acceleration

Body mass + load mass + Power-Plate = increased mass &

acceleration

Formula of Force

Traditional resistance training:

F (z/vertical) = [70kg + 58kg extra weight] x 9.81 m/s2 (1 g) = 1255 Newton

Normal:

F (z/vertical) = 70kg (bodyweight) x 9.81 m/s2 (1 g) = 686 Newton

Power Plate (Acceleration) training (30 Hz Low):

F (z/vertical) = 70kg (bodyweight) x 18.3 m/s2 (1.8 g) = 1260 Newton

Formula of Force

Receptor

Neuromuscular

spindle

Spinal cord

Effector

Muscle-contraction

Afferent side

sensory

Efferent side

motorNeuromuscular spindle = measures change in length and rate of change in length

Classical reflex arc

reflex = unconscious and

fast

Basics of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology

Muscle is stretched

Neuromuscular spindle is stimulated

Information gets to the spinal cord

Motor neuron fires quick impulses

Muscle contraction of the stretched muscle

Reflex muscle contraction Knee Jerk Reflex

Basics of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology

Fast Twitch & Slow Twitch

Stability, Strength & Power

Pre-tensed muscles + Vibration

Improvement of inter-muscular coordination

Improvement of intra-muscular coordination

Recruitment, synchronization and rate coding

Pre-tension affects transmissibility

Tonic Vibration Reflex

Tonic Vibration Reflex

GTO detects change in tension and rate

change in tension

Autogenic Inhibition

(GTO creates inhibition within same

muscle being stimulated)

Reciprocal Inhibition

(GTO creates inhibition within

functional opposing muscle)

Polysynaptic pathway

(Enabling functional improvements in

ROM and Force production)

Golgi Tendon Organ: The Tension Receptor

Positive adaption in strength

Dominance of the muscle spindle activity

Vibrations initiated by high

muscle pre-tension

Positive adaption in flexibility

Dominance of the GTO activity

Vibrations initiated by low

muscle pre-tension

Strength vs. Flexibility

STRETCH (Warm-up) – primes neuromuscular system as well as increasing circulation,

temperature, AND increasing dynamic flexibility in less than 5 minutes!

BALANCE (Coordination) – ultimate in stability and balance training and results in greatly

increased recruitment of muscles.

CORE (Pillar) – more muscle activation means improved results in less time!

STRENGTH (Power) - through increased muscle activation all exercises are more productive on

a vibration platform!

MASSAGE (Recovery & Regeneration) – massage and myofascial release is easy to do, and

FEELS GREAT while greatly improving recovery!

Areas of Conditioning

Vibrations stimulates the muscle-pump-effect and

causes an increase in blood-flow with an improvement

of transport capacity for:

Oxygen / carbon dioxide

Vitality components (micro nutrients)

Energy components (macro nutrients)

Derivates and wastes (i.e. acids)

Influence on blood flow

Tensile and compressive loading on the bones as a reaction of muscle activity

Velocity of deformation

Re-vascularization of intra-osseous matrix

Hormones

Po

we

r Pla

te

effe

cts

The following factors determine bone density:

Influence on bone density

Release of:

Human growth hormone (muscle

building)

Serotonin (neuro-transmitter)

Testosterone (muscle building)

Reduction of:

Cortisol (long-time-stress marker)

Influence on hormones

Study compared four groups: control group with no lifestyle changes; diet only

group; diet and traditional exercise group (3 X 60 minute sessions per week); and diet

and Whole Body Vibration group (3 X 30 minutes per week).

After 6 months the whole body vibration group had lost almost 30% of their Visceral

Adipose Tissue (Abdominal fat) which is the type of fat most strongly linked to

cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome!

After 6 months the diet with traditional exercise group lost about half as much fat as

the vibration group, and the diet only group lost even less!

After stopping all diet and exercise interventions for 6 months and re-

assessing all groups the diet and diet and traditional exercise groups gained

back all or even more fat than they had to begin with BUT the vibration group

actually lost a little bit more fat!

Effect of Long-Term Whole Body Vibration Training on

Visceral Adipose Tissue: A Preliminary Report

Health Club Benefits:

Generate new programming revenue – provide individual or group training option for members.

Easy to combine with other modalities such as TRX or Gravity EFI.

Program & product variety provides member retention.

Can be used by any member or potential member from senior de-conditioned person to high end athlete.

Health Benefits:

Increases bone mineral density

Increases muscle strength and endurance

Increases circulation

Recovery and regeneration of damaged tissue

Whole Body Vibration Advantages