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Vibration Machines

SaraMeeks
3 Recommendations

I read the recent posting on vibration machines and my concern is that these machines are going to sweep the fitness industry and that people with osteoporosis are going to use them unsupervised. One has to be very careful with vibration as there has been, in the past, bodies of research indicating certain dangers to the human body. However, vibration of high frequency and low amplitude has been shown in some research to be osteogenic and have a positive effect on bone. The primary researcher is Dr. Clinton Rubin if anyone would like to look it up.
One of the problems with a lot of machines on the market is that the G-force is apparently too high and could be damaging so some tissues of the body. One needs to know more about it and to get a good recommendation for safety. Not an easy thing to do in this field sometimes.

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74 replies

MotherGoose

Please, people, listen to Sara! She knows what she is talking about. She has done a lot of work with the type of appropriate machine she describes (high frequency/low amplitude).
Lucy Buckley PT

hofffazio

Do you have any brand names or could you give me a recommendation? This has been in the news alot here in Seattle recently - they are simply saying it is good for those with osteoporosis. I tried one at the Puyallup Fair but that particular one said it helped to build muscle but said nothing about bone.

http://www.powerstepuk.com/

Here is what another site said about a different machine

http://www.movinhealth.com/osteoporosis

This is a simplified description of Movin Health’s vertical vibration movement inside the body. Whole body vibration includes the involuntary rapid contraction and expansion of every muscle cell in your body. This cellular repetitive movement against resistance is proven to build new real bone. Whole body vibration motion maximizes our bones' natural regenerative processes.

SaraMeeks

The only one I know that has been shown to be SAFE according to research is the Juvent. I don't know about the ones you mention. What you want to look for is how much the G force is. Most of them have too high a G force.

sport

SaraMeeks, do you know anything about the Solflex WBV?

SaraMeeks

I'm sorry but I do not. The big issue with vibration machines is the resultant G force which is usually too high for safety. However I'm not familiar with many machines and the information is hard to get from the manufacturers.

SaraMeeks

Go to
www.bme.sunysb.edu/bme/people/faculty/c_rubin.html to find out more about Dr. Clinton Rubin and his research on WBV. He is someone I would ultimately trust on this subject.

MotherGoose

Thank-you, Sara, for your knowledge and expertise.
I hope the group reads what you have to say.
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother goose

sport

Someone (male) on the osteoporosis board of inspire.com tried the Soloflex and found it didn't help. He switched to the Juvent machine.

WBVuser

With all do respect to Sara Meeks, a very highly regarded specialist in osteoporosis, to specifically state in this blog and others that Dr. Rubin is the only researcher to demonstrate safety and efficacy is very incorrect. There are numerous peer reviewed studies that have been done on pts with a variety of WBV devices for a variety of reasons (sports enhancement, bone density, ect) including the Galileo and Power plate. These studies have been done on a wide range of individuals from young athletes to elderly institutionalized in nursing homes. All studies that I have read thus far (definitely not all encompassing but over 30) had concluded without any major downside and plenty to demonstrate "a potential" upside; some participants had poor tolerance to the WBV and bowed out. Granted this is a relatively new training modality and as such there are many that will over-market beyond what has been demonstrated by this technology to sell there product and the general mentality if a little is good a lot must be sooo much better- Be aware that most WBV studies are on the potential damaging effects of large dose short term and low dose long term NEGATIVE effects of vibration on the body. I feel that Dr. Rubin is a researcher with a very big financial conflict, although a good researcher. There is a direct conflict of interest in performing WBV research, simultaneously creating your own brand of WBV and then to release position statements condeming other WBV platform machines and any use of his studies to help support the general use of WBV (Contraindications and Potential Dangers of the Use of Vibration as a Treatment for Osteoporosis and other Musculoskeletal Diseases.) Sara Meeks just has not done her homework yet and is making statements ignorant of these other studies. There are a LOT of studies out there on other devices.
Below is a very brief list:
Gait Posture. 2007; 26(2):309-16 (ISSN: 0966-6362)
Results: Training on WBV 3x week for 1 year resulted in reduced falls frequency on a moving platform when vision was disturbed and improvements in the response at the ankle on a moving platform.

BMC musculoskeletal disorders 2006, 7:92 doi:10.1186/ 1471-2474- 7-92
Results: Exercise on WBV for 3x week at 6 bouts of 1min for 8 months ↑ hip density by 4.3% and improved balance.

J Bone Miner Res. 2006; 21(9):1464-74
Results: Exercise on WBV for 10min daily for 1 year increased bone in lumbar and femur by 2.1% and 3.4% respectively.

J. Strength Cond. Res. 2006; 20(1), 192-196
Results: Stretching hamstrings on WBV 3x week for 4 weeks increased flexibility greater than 100% of standard stretch.

Arch Phys Med Rehab. 2005; 86(2):303-7
Results: 6 weeks of WBV significantly improved gait, body balance and time-up and go scores compared to controls.

BMC Geriatr. 2005; 5:17 doi:10.1 186/1471-2318-5-17
Results: 6 weeks of WBV 3x week improved timed up-and-go and Tinnetti-test better in WBV group compared to control.

J Bone Miner Res. 2004; 19(3):352-9 (ISSN: 0884-0431)
Results: Exercise on WBV 3x week for 6months increased muscle strength and hip BMD by .93%.

SaraMeeks

Dear WBVuser:
Thanks for your posting and I look forward to looking up the studies you have posted and checking them out myself. It is very hard to keep up with all the current research and, as my overwhelming concern is safety for the bones with those for osteoporosis, I tend to be, according to some, very conservative in my approach. I'm more than willing to read more and expand my knowledge.
As for Dr. Rubin's financial interest in Juvent, to the best of my knowledge, he has none. The technology is based largely on his research findings and he has been commissioned by NASA to research vibration in space flight (to deal with the osteoporosis that occurs in astronauts) but he has no financial interest in Juvent itself. (I could be proven wrong in this at some point but that is what I understand at this time.)
I also understand that PowerPlate is recommended for only very short periods of time--30 seconds or so--at a time because of the effect on the body for longer periods of time. There are effects on other parts of the body such as the vestibular system, nervous system and the eyes that raise concerns about this technology.
In any case, thanks again for the posting, and I'll be looking more into it.

sdivas

WBV User, while constructive criticism may be helpful, please be careful with any derogatory statements towards the professionals on the community as well as other community members. Thank you. Sandi (Volunteer Moderator)

WBVuser

I, in no way feel I was being derogatory...I have read much of the works of Sara Meeks and am thoroughly impressed with what she has done for the osteoporosis community--As such she carries significant weight with her statements. I use the term "ignorant" in its strictest definition as being unaware and not a term of insult. I apologize if my statement were interpreted otherwise.
On a side note, check out the provided link of the international symposium on vibration therapy:
http://www.olc-cuhk.org/06v/eng/education/seminar/20061209-ISVT-Review.asp

NolaMarie

I appreciate the references supplied by WBVuser. I am in the process of investigating the Juvent technology myself and, in doing so, have written Dr. Rubin. Regarding his financial interest, here is what he said: "Please note that while I have a direct link to Juvent, as a founder, I hold no position in that company, nor have I ever received any funds from them to support my research...all of which is peer reviewed by federal agencies such as NIH and NASA." Of course, as a founder he may stand to gain from the success of the Juvent machine in the marketplace. However, I will say that I found his comments in the rest of his communication to be extremely cautious, and carefully focused on his own research and biomedical principles, no doubt due at least in part to avoid any legal exposure. He is careful to point out that that neither he nor Juvent makes any claims for the treatment of osteoporosis, since it has not been approved for that purpose in this country. (He mentions that it has been so approved in 30 other countries.) He refers interested people to Roger Talish, VP for Research & Development at Juvent for more information (email: ritalish@juvent.com).
NolaMarie

SaraMeeks

NolaMarie:
Thanks for your post. From my past communications with Dr. Rubin, I have ascertained that he is, first and foremost, a scientist and he appears to be a very honest man.
Regarding use of WBV, I would like it to be known that my first and foremost interest is safety when it comes to the use of vibration for osteoporosis. This is why I am very cautious when recommending any units. The Juvent is the only one I know of, after looking at data on the human body response to vibration, that can be deemed to be safe as its impulse is well within 1G. Other units may have positive results in certain research protocols but it is the potential negative effects of too much force that I'm concerned about--and these effects may not be noticable immediately.
Meanwhile I have downloaded some new material and, as time permits, will be reviewing it. My so-called "bottom lines" in my practice include:
"Err on the side of caution"
"When in doubt, don't" and
"At first, do no harm."

PikaB

I originally used a Soloflex WBV, and after about a year of use I developed meralgia paresthetica (MP) in my left thigh. I have no direct evidence that the WBV was the cause, but in a discussion group on MP it was stated that working with tools that cause the whole body to vibrate can result in that condition. When I switched from the Soloflex to a Juvent, my MP symptoms decreased to a much lower level (very minor discomfort instead of pain). I can understand Dr. Rubin's displeasure at the WBV manufacturers who herald his research to promote their own machines, when their machines are so different from his.

Sqwrds

Just read your expertise on WBV -- new to me. I'm interested in positive vibration treatment instead of the meds available and will check Dr. Rubin. Thank you so much!

bonnytiz

I am interested in getting a Juvent , its the only one I would trust. I have sent a letter with the details of it to my consultant so see what he thinks about it. He sent a reply saying that he would look into the scientific details of it and get back to me.
I will let you know when I receive this information.

millie123

I have posted this is one other thread. I spoke with the Juvent sales rep last week. Because NASA funding was cut back, the machines did not go up with the space shuttle this year. This put pressure on the company to sell out and "restructure." Another company has now purchased Juvent. They are continuing the research. Presently they are selling re-conditioned machines to customers. These machines are approved by the FDA as Class I exercise machines for muscular and skeletal conditioning. They are not yet approved as treatment for osteoporosis in the US and they cannot legally make claims that these machines should be used for that purpose. However, they ARE approved for that use in 30 other countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and various European countries. The other machines on the market have much more powerful g forces and can cause damage ....unless they can be operated at the same low frequencies as the Juvent. My doctor is now examining info on this. He had never heard of it before and found it absolutely fascinating. And his impression was that someone would probably buy the company and phase these things out so that they can't compete with the drug therapies. Now...I wonder who has bought Juvent?

SaraMeeks

Thank you for this information. I'll contact the company and find out what's happening--first I've heard of it.
I recently had a BMD test and my hip went from -3.1 to -1.6 since my last test nearly 4 years ago. I'm not sure of the percentage increase but that's going from osteoporosis to osteopenia. Along with the Juvent, I use diet and exercise as my management protocol--no meds. To say I'm excited is quite an understatement.

SantaFe

Sara,
Congratulations---your progress is wonderful and very inspiring to hear about. Could you share with us more of the specifics and details of your diet and exercise program, and how you accomplished this?
Did you also have osteo in the spine and did it improve as much?
These success stories are so encouraging and motivating! I think you made everyone's day a little brighter with this news.
So HAPPY for you....

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