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History
of
Whole
Body
Vibration
 Vibration
therapy
began
in
1857
by a
Swedish
doctor,
Gustav
Zander.
He
built
70
different
exercise
machines
some
of
which
were
a
type
of
vibration
exercise.
After
exhibiting
at
two
Worlds
fairs,
he
started
the
Zander
Institutes,
which
were
an
early
form
of
today’s
health
clubs
and
proved
to
be
very
popular
through
out
the
world.
The
Netherlands
had
9
centers
at
one
point.
A
little
later
in
1895
in
Battle
Creek,
Michigan,
the
developer
of
corn
flakes,
Dr.
John
Harvey
Kellogg,
invented
a
whole-body
vibration
machine.
This
was
a
unique
chair
design
that
shook
violently
and
claimed
to
cure
constipation,
headaches
and
back
pain.
To
stimulate
the
inner
organs,
he
also
developed
a
standing
platform.
In
1960
the
beginning
of
today’s
vibration
exercise
techniques
was
begun
in
East
Germany
with
a
technique
called
rhythmic
neuromuscular
stimulation.
Russian
scientists
began
the
real
studies
of
Whole
Body
Vibration
and
fine-tuned
this
technology
for
years.
They
used
this
technology
for
many
years
to
help
rehabilitate
their
cosmonauts
after
returning
from
space
to
help
repair
muscles
from
atrophy
and
bone
density
due
to
the
weightlessness
of
space.
Many
were
so
weak
that
they
needed
assistance
in
walking
after
emerging
from
the
aircraft.
The
scientists
reasoned
that
providing
a
form
of
therapy
that
focused
on
hyper
gravitational
force
it
could
yield
an
effective
treatment.
These
Russian
researchers
found
that
not
only
did
that
stop
the
loss,
but
amazingly
it
also
increased
bone
density
and
strengthened
muscle
tissue.
They
also
used
this
technology
then
to
prevent
injury
to
their
Olympic
athletes.
In
the
event
one
of
their
athletes
did
injure
themselves,
they
were
put
on a
WBV
plate
to
rehabilitate
the
injury.
After
the
fall
of
Communism
in
Russia,
Whole
Body
Vibration
technology
made
its
way
east
and
west.
This
technology
continued
to
be
studied
and
enhanced.
It
has
taken
both
the
Orient
and
Europe
by
storm.
Even
though
there
were
meager
beginnings
in
the
United
States,
vibration
exercise
really
has
not
been
in
the
United
States
for
very
long.
In
the
past
only
wealthy,
sports
teams,
or
doctor’s
offices
were
the
only
places
you
could
find
a
WBV
unit.
These
units
usually
cost
$10,000
or
more.
After
decades
of
research,
NASA,
many
professional
athletes,
sports
teams,
medical
centers,
spas
and
health
clubs
have
embraced
this
technology.
The
Whole
Body
Vibration
technology
centers
on a
recurrent
change
of
position
on a
vibrating
platform
with
the
specific
physical
factors
of
amplitude,
frequency
and
time.
The
muscles
are
stimulated
to
work
by
the
stretch
reflex.
You
are
probably
familiar
this
type
reflex
when
the
doctor
taps
the
patella
tendon
below
the
kneecap
and
the
lower
leg
moves
upwards
without
the
brain
being
able
to
prevent
the
movement.
When
the
muscles
are
activated
with
the
stretch
reflex
we
get
a
number
of
benefits
not
seen
during
regular
exercise.
Normally,
we
do
not
use
all
our
muscles
for
standing
or
moving.
With
the
Whole
Body
Vibration,
the
stretch
reflex
ensures
that
all
muscle
fibers
are
being
stimulated
at
one
time.
The
muscle
responds
to
vibration
by
contracting
to
offset
the
stress
it
imposes
and
is
ensured
to
produce
effective
results
for
your
physical
therapy
needs.
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