Arthritis, Osteoarthritis and Whole Body Vibration
Health Condition
Arthritis or Osteoarthritis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis, causes inflammation and stiffness in one or more joints. This leads to painful tightening of connective tissues in the lower back, knees, hips, shoulders and other flexion points of the body. Many people struggle with this kind of pain which makes it difficult to exercise, walk, move, and bend the knees.
The pain is often concentrated in the hands and knees, and may flare up at different times in a variety of joints.
Whole Body Vibration and Arthritis or Osteoarthritis
Low impact exercises, such as whole body vibration, are very important as a non-invasive treatment for people with arthritis an osteoarthritis. When exercising with arthritis you should focus on certain movements and an overall balanced workout for your entire body. A common mistake is to focus on just the painful area. This can potentially overwork the problem area and perpetuate arthritis symptoms of inflammation or cartilage deterioration.
Arthritis in hands and fingers can be painful.
Exercise can reduce pain and disability by decreasing muscle inhibition and by improving local circulation. Unfortunately, most arthritis sufferers do not adhere to an exercise regimen due to the discomfort of movement.
Whole Body Vibration, or WBV, can improve range of motion and help Arthritis sufferers to decrease the discomfort and pain that occurs. LifetimeVibe vibration platform which allows muscles to contract and then relax up to 20 times per second. It’s a gentle, smooth movement, though, unlike many other vibration plates. This type of stimulation has great effect on circulation of both the cardiovascular system as well as the lymphatic system. Local circulation is improved, muscle inhibition is decreased and all of this is accomplished in a short period of time compared to other exercise and massage routines.
How Vibration Plates Help with Arthritis Pain Relief
Whole Body Vibration can reduce pain and disability by improving local circulation to the painful area, and even reverse the effects naturally. For example, using a modified push up on a vibration platform has shown to help with hand neural efficiency for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.(Lacerda et al., 2019) Routine whole body vibration therapy can provide stretching exercise of connective tissues for effective and sometimes immediate relief of arthritis and rheumatism.
Whole-body vibration delivers mechanical loading to the skeletal muscles, thereby increasing strength and improving circulation and flexibility (Salmon et al., 2012) and “muscle strength increased significantly.”(Trans et al., 2009) “New treatment methods like Whole Body Vibration training also seek to improve muscle coordination and thereby optimize affected joint loading.” (Stein et al., 2010)
Whole Body Vibration has been documented to provide relief from the pain and discomfort associated with Arthritis. Many health industry advocates recognize that most Arthritis sufferers are not likely to maintain high activity levels due to the associated pain. LifetimeVibe enables those who have Arthritis to achieve a level of activity and exercise which will help to reduce lethargy and encourage a healthy exercise regimen.
LifetimeVibe Exercises
LifetimeVibe’s patented design is especially helpful for people with arthritis because it isolates the vibration in the base, not the handles–reducing harsh and violent movement. Unlike competitor machines, LifetimeVibe also accelerates gradually to the chosen speed, making the experience much more comfortable for those with joint pain.
Suggested Positions
Stand on LifetimeVibe with your feet close together but not touching. Once you begin to feel relief, move your feet farther apart on the vibration plate. Then, begin to add exercises under Lower Back Pain.
Speeds and Programs
Above 25. You may also use Pre-set Programs 1, 2, 5, or 6.
References
- Lacerda, A. C.; Oliveira, A. C.; Mendonça, V.; Santos, L. M.; Fonseca, S. F.; Santos, J. M.; Ribeiro, V. G.; de Fatima Silva, A.; Leite, H. R.; Figueiredo, P. H.; Martins, F.; Bernardo-Filho, M. In Effect of Vibration Exercise in the Modified Push-Up Position on Hand Neural Efficiency in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Preliminary Results; Human Interaction and Emerging Technologies; Springer International Publishing: Cham, 2019; Vol. 1018, pp 650-652.
- Salmon, J. R.; Roper, J. A.; Tillman, M. D. Does Acute Whole-Body Vibration Training Improve the Physical Performance of People with Knee Osteoarthritis? Journal of strength and conditioning research 2012, 26, 2983-2989.
- Trans, T.; Aaboe, J.; Henriksen, M.; Christensen, R.; Bliddal, H.; Lund, H. Effect of whole body vibration exercise on muscle strength and proprioception in females with knee osteoarthritis. The knee 2009, 16, 256-261.
- Stein, G.; Knoell, P.; Faymonville, C.; Kaulhausen, T.; Siewe, J.; Otto, C.; Eysel, P.; Zarghooni, K. Whole body vibration compared to conventional physiotherapy in patients with gonarthrosis: a protocol for a randomized, controlled study. BMC musculoskeletal disorders 2010, 11, 128.
Watch The Real Stories:
Arthritis Relief with Whole Body Vibration
Medical Professionals
Summary Successes
“Stopped My Back Ache”
“Now I Can Walk”
“The pain is almost gone”
“I haven’t done that in 20 years!”
Read the Full Scientific Sources:
Research on Arthritis and Whole Body Vibration
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Handgrip Improves with WBV
Acute Whole-Body Vibration Exercise Promotes Favorable Handgrip Neuromuscular Modifications in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Over Randomized Clinical
Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes progressive changes in the musculoskeletal system compromising neuromuscular control especially in the hands. Whole-body vibration (WBV) could be an alternative for the rehabilitation in this population. This study investigated the immediate effect of WBV while in the modified push-up position on neural ratio (NR) in a single session during handgrip strength (HS) in women with stable RA.
Methods: Twenty-one women with RA (diagnosis of disease: ±8 years, erythrocyte sedimentation rate: ±24.8, age: 54± 11 years, BMI: 28 ± 4 kg·m-2) received three experimental interventions for five minutes in a randomized and balanced cross-over order: (1) control-seated with hands at rest, (2) sham-push-up position with hands on the vibration platform that remained disconnected, and (3) vibration-push-up position with hands on the vibration platform turned on (45 Hz, 2 mm, 159.73 m·s-2). At the baseline and immediately after the three experimental interventions, the HS, the electromyographic records (EMGrms), and range of motion (ROM) of the dominant hand were measured. The NR, i.e., the ratio between EMGrms of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscle and HS, was also determined. The lower NR represented the greater neuromuscular efficiency (NE).
Results: The NR was similar at baseline in the three experimental interventions. Despite the nonsignificance of within-interventions (p = 0.0611) and interaction effect (p = 0.1907), WBV exercise reduced the NR compared with the sham and control (p = 0.0003, F = 8.86, η 2 = 0.85, power = 1.00).
(In other words, Whole Body Vibration resulted in strengthened hands among people with rheumatoid arthritis.)
Conclusion: Acute WBV exercise under the hands promotes neuromuscular modifications during the handgrip of women with stable RA. Thus, acute WBV exercise may be used as a preparatory exercise for the rehabilitation of the hands in this population.
Knee Osteoarthrits Improves with WBV
Effect of adding whole-body vibration training to squat training on physical function and muscle strength in individuals with knee osteoarthritis
Objectives:This study aims to investigate the effects of adding whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise to squat training (ST) on the physical function and muscle strength of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
Methods:41 participants completed the intervention and measurements (ST group; n=21, age=65.00±4.39 years, BMI=23.01±2.95 kg/m2; WBV+ST group; n=20, age=64.10±4.95 years, BMI=24.79±3.12 kg/m2). The supervised eight-week intervention was performed three times per week with the intensity and duration increased gradually. Visual analog scale, Timed Up and Go test (TUG), 6-min Walk Distance test, and isokinetic measurements were performed at baseline and post-intervention.
(Notice the direct comparison between the two groups that isolated whole body vibration compared to regular exercise).
Results:The peak torque (PT) of the extensors at 180°/s increased significantly in the WBV+ST group compared with the ST group (p = 0.046). The peak work of the extensors and the PT of the flexors at 180°/s improved only in the WBV+ST group (p<0.0125). However, no significant changes in these variables were found between groups (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Adding 8 weeks of WBV training to ST can more effectively improve the muscular strength of knee extensors compared with ST in patients with KOA.
(Whole Body Vibration improved leg strength much better than just regular training without vibration)
Lai Z, Lee S, Hu X, Wang L. Effect of adding whole-body vibration training to squat training on physical function and muscle strength in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2019 Sep 1;19(3):333-341. PMID: 31475941; PMCID: PMC6737544.
Knee Osteoarthritis benefits from WBV at ideal frequencies
Effect of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Muscle Activation for Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis
Here’s an interesting and unusual study that shows explores vibration frequencies for people with osteoarthritis.
Abstract
Whole-body vibration (WBV) training may improve the strength of lower extremity muscles in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), but the inconsistency in vibration parameters leads to differences in findings. This cross-sectional study is aimed at observing the effects of different vibration frequencies and knee flexion angles on the activation of lower extremity muscles in patients with KOA. Enrolled participants received WBV training at 0, 30, and 60° knee flexion angles with vibration frequencies of 0, 5, 10, and 20 Hz. Activation rates for vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus in different combinations were collected through surface electromyography. The effects of frequency and angle on muscle activation rate were quantified by repeated measures ANOVA. Individual and synergistic effects of frequency and angle were also analysed. Twenty-six participants with KOA were included. Muscle activation increased with the vibration frequency in 0-20 Hz range and with knee flexion angle in 0-60° range. WBV training at 20 Hz was the most effective for knee muscle activation, and static squatting at 60° was the most suitable for WBV training. Therefore, WBV training can increase the activation rate of knee flexor and extensor muscles in patients with KOA, and the most efficient combination was 20 Hz vibration frequency and 60° knee flexion. When applying WBV to patients with KOA, individual differences and rehabilitation purposes should be considered in selecting vibration parameters and knee angle to effectively increase neuromuscular activity.
Note that many competitor machines, such as powerplate, do not allow the adjustments in vibration frequency that maximize results for knee osteoarthritis. Lifetimevibe frequency is just under 20hz. Clearly, though, whole body vibration treatment is better than regular exercise alone at providing relief from arthritis.
Zhang J, Wang R, Zheng Y, Xu J, Wu Y, Wang X. Effect of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Muscle Activation for Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis. Biomed Res Int. 2021 Mar 26;2021:6671390. doi: 10.1155/2021/6671390. PMID: 33855078; PMCID: PMC8019384.
Joint Pain Relief from WBV: Meta Analysis
Whole Body Vibration Exercise for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Abstract
Objective:This study systematically reviews previous work on the effects of whole body vibration exercise (WBVE) on pain associated with chronic musculoskeletal disorders.
Data sources:Seven electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane, Physiotherapy Evidence Database [PEDro], and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched for articles published between January 1980 and September 2018.
Study selection:Randomized controlled trials involving adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP), osteoarthritis (OA), or fibromyalgia were included. Participants in the WBVE intervention group were compared with those in the nontreatment and non-WBVE control groups.
This type of controlled trial is ideal for making sure researchers are measuring just the effects of whole body vibratoin , and not a placebo or perception of either the researcheers or the study participants.
Data extraction:Data were independently extracted using a standardized form. Methodological quality was assessed using PEDro.
Data synthesis:Suitable data from 16 studies were pooled for meta-analysis. A random effects model was used to calculate between-groups mean differences at 95% confidence interval (CI). The data were analyzed depending on the duration of the follow-up, common disorders, and different control interventions.
Results:Alleviation of pain was observed at medium term(standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.67; 95% CI, -1.14 to -0.21; I2, 80%) and long term (SMD, -0.31; 95% CI, -0.59 to -0.02; I2, 0%).Pain was alleviated in osteoarthritis (OA) (SMD, -0.37; 95% CI, -0.64 to -0.10; P<.05; I2, 22%) and CLBP (SMD, -0.44; 95% CI, -0.75 to -0.13; P<.05; I2, 12%). Long-term WBVE could relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions of OA (SMD, -0.46; 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.13; P<.05; I2, 0%). WBVE improved chronic musculoskeletal pain compared with the treatment “X” control (SMD, -0.37; 95% CI, -0.61 to -0.12; P<.05; I2, 26%), traditional treatment control (SMD, -1.02; 95% CI, -2.44 to 0.4; P>.05; I2, 94%) and no treatment control (SMD, -1; 95% CI, -1.76 to -0.24; P<.05; I2, 75%).
Conclusions:Evidence suggests positive effects of WBVE on chronic musculoskeletal pain, and long durations of WBVE could be especially beneficial. However, WBVE does not significantly relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain compared with the traditional treatment. Further work is required to identify which parameters of WBVE are ideal for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Participants found that whole body vibration reduced pain, not just during the exercise, but even at least several weeks after the treatment. Perhaps with several months more of exercise, these effects could be even more dramatic.
Dong Y, Wang W, Zheng J, Chen S, Qiao J, Wang X. Whole Body Vibration Exercise for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2019 Nov;100(11):2167-2178. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2019.03.011. Epub 2019 Apr 17. PMID: 31004565.
Elderly with Knee Osteoarthritis Increase Movement with WBV
Functional performance and inflammatory cytokines after squat exercises and whole-body vibration in elderly individuals with knee osteoarthritis
Objective:To investigate the effects of squat exercises combined with whole-body vibration on the plasma concentration of inflammatory markers and the functional performance of elderly individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Design:Clinical, prospective, randomized, single-blinded study.
The ideal type of study to ensure results are accurate!
Setting:Exercise physiology laboratory.
Participants:Elderly subjects with knee OA (N=32) were divided into 3 groups: (1) squat exercises on a vibratory platform (platform group, n=11); (2) squat exercises without vibration (squat group, n=10); and (3) the control group (n=11).
Interventions:The structured program of squat exercises in the platform and squat groups was conducted 3 times per week, on alternate days, for 12 weeks.
Main outcome measures:Plasma soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptors 1 (sTNFR1) and 2 (sTNFR2) were measured using immunoassays (the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method). The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire was used to evaluate self-reported physical function, pain, and stiffness. The 6-minute walk test, the Berg Balance Scale, and gait speed were used to evaluate physical function.
Results:In the platform group, there were significant reductions in the plasma concentrations of the inflammatory markers sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 (P<.001 and P<.05, respectively) and self-reported pain (P<.05) compared with the control group, and there was an increase in balance (P<.05) and speed and distance walked (P<.05 and P<.001, respectively). In addition, the platform group walked faster than the squat group (P<.01).
The Whole Body Vibration platform was better than exercise alone in reducing pain, and in improving balance and walking speed.
Conclusions:The results suggest that whole-body vibration training improves self-perception of pain, balance, gait quality, and inflammatory markers in elderly subjects with knee OA.
Simão AP, Avelar NC, Tossige-Gomes R, Neves CD, Mendonça VA, Miranda AS, Teixeira MM, Teixeira AL, Andrade AP, Coimbra CC, Lacerda AC. Functional performance and inflammatory cytokines after squat exercises and whole-body vibration in elderly individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012 Oct;93(10):1692-700. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.04.017. Epub 2012 Apr 27. PMID: 22546535.
Elderly Have Slowed Arthritis Disease Progression with WBV
Whole-body vibration decreases the proliferativeb response of TCD4(+) cells in elderly individuals with knee osteoarthritis
This one is a bit complicated to understand. But essentially–the body releases T-cells to attack arthritis. Measuring the volume of T-cells can be a helpful way to evaluate the progression of arthritis desease and the body’s reaction. When we find that the body’s immune reaction has reduced, that means the disease of arthritis is likely not progressing as fast.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding whole-body vibration (WBV; frequency = 35 to 40 Hz; amplitude = 4 mm) to squat training on the T-cell proliferative response of elderly patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. This study was a randomized controlled trial in which the selected variables were assessed before and after 12 weeks of training. Twenty-six subjects (72 ± 5 years of age) were divided into three groups: 1) squat training with WBV (WBV, N = 8); 2) squat training without WBV (N = 10), and 3) a control group (N = 8). Women who were ≥60 years of age and had been diagnosed with OA in at least one knee were eligible. The intervention consisted of 12 uninterrupted weeks of squatting exercise training performed 3 times/week. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from peripheral blood collected before and after training. The proliferation of TCD4+ and TCD8+ cells was evaluated by flow cytometry measuring the carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester fluorescence decay before and after the intervention (∆). The proliferative response of TCD4+ cells (P = 0.02, effect size = 1.0) showed a significant decrease (23%) in the WBV group compared to the control group, while there was no difference between groups regarding the proliferative response of TCD8+ cells (P = 0.12, effect size = 2.23). The data suggest that the addition of WBV to squat exercise training might modulate T-cell-mediated immunity, minimizing or slowing disease progression in elderly patients with OA of the knee.
Whole bod vibration helped improve the body’s response to arthritis, showing that this type of exercise enabled the body to actually heal itself and slow the progression of osteoarthritis.
Tossige-Gomes R, Avelar NC, Simão AP, Neves CD, Brito-Melo GE, Coimbra CC, Rocha-Vieira E, Lacerda AC. Whole-body vibration decreases the proliferativeb response of TCD4(+) cells in elderly individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2012 Dec;45(12):1262-8. doi: 10.1590/s0100-879×2012007500139. Epub 2012 Sep 6. PMID: 22948377; PMCID: PMC3854226.
Osteoarthritis Patients Have Improved Quality of Life with WBV
Effects of Whole Body Vibration Exercise associated with Quadriceps Resistance Exercise on functioning and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial
Objective:To determine effects of Whole Body Vibration Exercise (WBVE) associated with quadriceps resistance exercises (QRE) versus QRE only on pain, physical function, biomarkers in serum and urine, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthitis (OA).
Design:Randomized-controlled trial .
The ideal type of study to make sure researchers and participants are not biased and the results are due to the the therapy intervention.
Setting:Rehabilitation medicine outpatient department of West China Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China.
Subjects:Forty-nine patients were assigned to WBVE+QRE and 50 to QRE .
Main outcome measures:Primary outcomes included pain assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS), Timed up & go test (TUG), 6-min walk distance test (6MWD), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Secondary outcomes comprised range of motion, muscular strength, serum COMP and urinary CTX-II, Lequesne Index (LI), and SF-36. All outcomes were analyzed with mixed effects regression.
Results:Compared with QRE, WBVE+QRE showed significantly greater improvement in VAS at 4weeks ( p=0.03), in VAS ( p<0.01), 6MWD ( p=0.01), WOMAC pain ( p=0.01), and WOMAC physical function ( p=0.02) at 16 weeks, and in all primary outcomes at 24 weeks (all p<0.01).
Conclusion:Over a six months period, WBVE in combination with QRE was superior to QRE in most outcomes.
That’s a lot of acronyms! In other words, whole body vibration exercise combined with quadriceps resistance exercise (or doing squats on a vibration plate) was better than just doing squats without vibration. The WBV significantly reduced pain.
Keywords: COMP; CTX-II; Osteoarthritis; pain; physical function; resistance exercise; whole body vibration.
Wang P, Yang L, Liu C, Wei X, Yang X, Zhou Y, Jiang H, Lei Z, Reinhardt JD, He C. Effects of Whole Body Vibration Exercise associated with Quadriceps Resistance Exercise on functioning and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2016 Nov;30(11):1074-1087. doi: 10.1177/0269215515607970. Epub 2016 Jul 11. PMID: 26427960.