Vibration is often considered a risk factor for occupational disorders, yet physiotherapists have used localized vibration in varying forms for many years.

At low frequencies masseurs have used forms of vibration to relax muscles and physiotherapists in the past have put children with spasticity onto washing machines to help break the child's muscle spasm. At high frequencies physiotherapists use vibration to wake a muscle up or stimulate a muscle, when it needs to be activated either better or faster.

Researched Benefits

Research has been undertaken on Galileo Whole Body Vibration in over 30 Universities and the European Space Agency. A great majority of the research to date that has shown a positive effect for Whole Body Vibration has been undertaken on the tilting platform of the Galileo machine. The researched benefits include:

Muscles

• Increased muscle strength and power.
• Increased flexibility through muscle lengthening.
• Increased tendon strength.

Bone

• Increased bone strength - ideal for osteoporosis and osteopenia.

Metabolic

• Up to a 460% increase in growth hormone production - essential in repairing and regenerating body tissues.
• Up to 7% increase in testosterone production - allowing fast twitch white muscle fibres to recover faster and assisting with muscle strength.
• Cortisol levels decreased by 30% - decreasing stress response.

Blood Vessels

• 100-150% increase in peripheral blood flow - ideal for peripheral vascular disease and diabetes.
• Decreased diastolic blood pressure.

Neurological

• Reduction in muscular tone due to spasticity.
• Reduced tremor in neurological conditions such as Parkinson's.

Function

• Decreased lower back pain.
• Increased balance control in elderly and post ACL repair.
• Improved 'get up and go' time in the elderly.
• Improved stress incontinence.

Whole Body Vibration training is very time efficient with proven physiological benefits after one minute and a full training routine lasting no more than ten minutes