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Medical questions My doctor/specialist has never heard of the Vibrogym, what should I do?Can vibrations be harmful? If I have arthritis how should I train on the Vibrogym? Can varicose veins be prevented or treated using the Vibrogym? I have diabetes. Can I train on the Vibrogym? Are the contra-indications absolute? I have heard that regeneration hormones are produced with vibration training. Can these be harmful? My doctor/specialist has never heard of the Vibrogym, what should I do? Vibration training is getting more widely known internationally at a very rapid pace and with this the knowledge of how to apply vibration training is also growing. This is not only in the health and beauty world but also in the medical sector. If your doctor, physiotherapist or specialist wants to know more about vibration training and the Vibrogym, please refer them to our website (www.bettervibrations.com) where they will find many scientific studies on the area and will be able to access testimonials from other health specialists. Can vibrations be harmful? The human body is perfectly built to absorb the vibrations that we may encounter in everyday life. However, in the increasingly mechanical world we live in, certain occupations (helicopter pilots, truck drivers, pneumatic drilling) cause workers to absorb high levels of vibrations on a daily basis. This has been shown to elicit many physical complaints, mainly in the spine and joints. The Vibrogym however has many fundamental differences to these cases. While exercising on the machine the muscles are actively absorbing the vibrations, not the joints and where as the population above are exposed to the vibrations for many hours every day, the training time on the Vibrogym is far shorter. It is important to note that the Vibrogym complies with the I.S.O standards for industrial use, so long as training does not exceed 2 hours a day (it is actually appears pointless to train any longer than 20 minutes a day anyway). If the Vibrogym is used under qualified supervision and according to our instructions, vibration training is actually much safer than any other sporting activity. If I have arthritis how should I train on the Vibrogym? Arthritis is an affection of the cartilage in the joints, which is very common among the elderly. Of people over 65 at least 25 % are suffering from some form of arthritis. It causes the quality and the amount of cartilage to slowly diminish, so that outside forces will ultimately have to be absorbed by the joint itself. In the early stages, arthritis can go unnoticed. But over time it will cause pain, swelling, stiffness and restricted movement of the joint. As a result, muscle strength will decrease as well as co-ordination and endurance. Especially if the ankle, knee or hip joints are affected, arthritis can be a severe impediment to everyday life. So far, no effective drugs have been developed to treat arthritis. It is a progressive disease, meaning that the quality of the cartilage gradually decreases. Exercise is an important part of the treatment, as it slows down the deterioration. By using the Vibrogym regularly it is possible to increase flexibility, muscle strength and co-ordination. Some doctors prescribe their patients anti-inflammatory drugs and sedatives. In conjunction with vibration training this may have some negative effects. The natural warning signals of over-taxation the body gives off might be overlooked when suppressed by medication. Establishing limits to the capacity for training should be done with extreme caution for the group of patients with serious arthritic complaints. Training on the Vibrogym can lead to the reduction of complaints, as well as to a decrease in the amount of painkillers that patients need. By exercising and training on the Vibrogym, the cartilage is "woken up", as it were, to maintain its function. Cartilage is a like a sponge squeezed dry under pressure, and like a double action pump then fills itself with synovial fluid. In this way the cartilage is provided with necessary nutrients. Muscles, ligature and tendons have an important function in absorbing shocks and in providing stability in the joint, and they are trained by exercising on the Vibrogym as well. The vitalising effect of the Vibrogym will ensure more self-confidence in these patients. They will be more independent and less apt to end up in social isolation. This will lead to more exercise and more endurance in the long run. Our advice to people suffering from arthritis: Any form of exercise that avoids excessive strain on the afflicted joints is recommendable. However, you should pay attention to certain aspects, such as not overextending the joints, and preventing sudden, unexpected shocks and strain. Because of the nature of the exercises performed on the Vibrogym, this has proved to be an extremely suitable form of training Exercises that are too intense will aggravate the arthritic complaints. The pain will worsen, the joints swell and feel warm to the touch and gradually become less flexible, in effect causing a lowered capacity for movement. This can be prevented if the supervisor carefully monitors the intensity of the training, and assesses the capacity of the patient accurately during the intake. The schedule will have to be built up very gradually, and the proper frequency and position during training will have to be monitored constantly. If pain and stiffness increase during and after a training session, the schedule will have to be (temporarily) altered. Some very important tips for the coaching and training of patients with arthritis are: Avoid draft, dampness and cold; bear in mind that many people with arthritis cannot stand for extended periods of time; avoid putting strain on the joint in extreme positions and do not stimulate the joint in the full extent of its movement during the dynamic exercises. You should also allow the patient a longer rest period in between the exercises and try to convince patients to train more than once a week, obviously only if this does not cause any excessive complaints. Can varicose veins be prevented or treated using the Vibrogym? Blood from the lower limbs is pumped back to the heart using valves in the blood vessels, which stop the blood returning to the lower extremities. Varicose veins are caused when these valves leak. As the Vibrogym causes a huge increase in circulation it can improve the return of blood from the lower limbs if used on a regular basis, especially when performing exercises dynamically. It should be noted that we advise you to massage around varicose veins manually before using the Vibrogym for massage exercises. I have diabetes. Can I train on the Vibrogym? As training on the Vibrogym causes a rapid decline in blood glucose levels, it is not recommended that diabetics train on the Vibrogym. However, the nature of the machine means it is ideal to improve the physical condition of diabetics. Therefore we suggest you talk to you specialist about the use of the Vibrogym and after a check up, an entire training schedule can be possible. Are the contra-indications absolute? The contra-indications given for the Vibrogym are all conditions that we would advise against using the machine. However, if you are suffering from any of those listed it does not mean you can never use the Vibrogym. Vibration training has been shown to be beneficial when integrated into a treatment plan in some cases. Obviously you would have to agree this with your medical specialist prior to use and always train under strict supervision from a trained Vibrogym instructor. There is currently a wealth of research being conducted into the effects of vibration training on different medical conditions so the contra-indications may change in the future. Check the bettervibrations.com website to keep up to date with any developments. I have heard that regeneration hormones are produced with vibration training. Can these be harmful? There is no harmful effect of the regeneration hormones produced at all. Regeneration hormones are produced by the body to help recovery after exercise. They are increased after any type of exertion but not high enough to negatively effect the natural production. In fact, there is a huge benefit to be had from the higher levels of the hormone as they allow our body to repair more easily and more quickly. That means that the Vibrogym can cause a large training effect without causing the need for a large recovery time. close window
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