Do you suffer from back, neck, arm or leg pain? Do your joints ache? Do you have poor balance or difficulty walking? Do you have poor circulation in the legs and feet?
 
It’s been hypothesized that one third of baby boomers are in pain or discomfort at any given time. Fortunately, lifestyle changes including rest, a healthy diet, low impact exercise, and complementary therapies such as acupuncture, laser therapy, physiotherapy, and vibrational therapy can make a dramatic difference without drugs.
 
Vibrational therapy may be one of the simplest ways to provide relief. It dates back to the 1960’s when rhythmic neuromuscular stimulation (RNS) or “cyclical vibrations” was introduced and embraced by scientists.  ibrational therapy increases blood circulation and improves flexibility, mobility and muscle strength. You simply stand on a metal base while holding on to supportive arms on a machine which vibrates 30 to 50 times per second.  Muscles throughout the body are forced into action to maintain balance, the body’s natural response to vibration.
 
During vibration therapy the tissues are warmed up and oxygen in your blood increases. Due to increased oxygen, waste products are removed from the body more efficiently through increased lymphatic drainage, and substances that cause pain are also more easily removed. This therapy is said to raise growth hormone levels which are essential to repairing and regenerating tissue.
 
Sore muscles are often caused by poor posture and improper use of muscles:  some are too weak to do their job, particularly in the back, shoulders and neck, while other inappropriate ones are called upon to work overtime. This causes strain not only on muscles but on joints and ligaments.  In response to vibrational stimulation therapy the muscle contractions required strengthen and tone muscle over time. Bones respond by growing stronger and denser because the muscles around them grow. However, the vibration doesn’t cause fatigue or aggravate an injury like other exercise can, and actually repairs damaged tissue.
 
Research has shown that this therapy may also stimulate metabolism, improve joint function and stability, reduce body fat, lower cortisol levels which helps minimize the effects of stress, and offer rapid recovery after sports and exercise for better performance in addition to pain relief.
 
Vibration training is used by athletes, trainers and coaches for sports injury rehabilitation. It has been adopted by dozens of professional sports teams including the Toronto Blue Jays, Calgary Flames, and Toronto Maple Leafs and by Canadian olympic athletes.
 
Don’t accept pain, or anything but the highest standard of physical health, vitality and comfort as normal. Discover the cause instead of covering the symptoms with medication:  consider what lifestyle changes you can adopt; and try therapies that have been proven to work.
 
By Michelle Kwon. Reprinted with permission from VISTA Magazine 66 (2009): 72.