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Vestibular Rehabilitation References
Posted by: Susan L. Whitney, PhD, PT, ATC and Mary Kay Walsh, MS, PT, NCS; University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh; CORE Network, Eye and Ear Institute CORE Network, Eye and Ear Institute
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Kantner RM, Rubin AM, Gombash L: Vestibular rehabilitation. Insights in Otolaryngology 4(3) 1989
Katsarkas, A and Segal, B.N.: Unilateral loss of peripheral vestibular function in patients: Degree of compensation and factors causing decompensation. Otolaryngol Head and Neck Surgery 98:45, 1988.
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Keshner EA, Cohen H; Current concepts of vestibular system reviewed: 1. The role of the vestibulo-spinal system in postural control. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 43(5):320-330, 1989.
Krebs DE, Gill-Body KM, Riley PO, Parker SW: Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of rehabilitation for bilateral vestibular hypofunction: Preliminary report. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993; 109:735.
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Powell LE, Myers AM. The activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale. J of Gerontol 50A(1):M28-M34, 1995.
Rubin W. Biochemical evaluation of the patient with dizziness. Semin Hearing 10:151-158, 1989.
Segal, BN and Katsarkas, A: Long-term deficits of goal-directed vestibulo-ocular function following total unilateral loss of peripheral vestibular function. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 106:102, 1988.
Shelhamer M, Tiliket C, Roberts D, Kramer PD, Zee DS: Short-term vestibulo-ocular reflex adaptation I humans. II. Error signals. Exp Brain Res. 1994; 100:328.
Shepard NT, Telian SA, Smith-Wheelock M, Raj A: Vestibular and balance rehabilitation therapy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1993; 102:198.
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Shepard, NT, Telian, SA and Smith-Wheelock, M: Habituation and balance retraining therapy: A retrospective review. Neurologic Clinics 8(2):459, 1990.
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Wennmo K, Wennmo C: Drug-related dizziness. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh), 455:11-13, 1988.
Whitney SL , The Older Person with Dizziness in Rehabilitation of the Geriatric Patient by Tim Kaufman to be published by Churchill Livingstone, 1998.
Whitney SL, Borello-France D. Bilateral vestibular disease: An overview.
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Whitney SL, Blatchly CA; Evaluation and treatment of patients with dizziness and balance disorders. Clinical Management in Physical Therapy, 1990.
Whitney SL, Poole JL, Cass SO. “A review of balance assessments for older adults” J of Occupational Therapy, (in press)
Whitney, SL, Walsh MK. “The Home Exercise Routine for Vestibular Physical Therapy” in Aronberg, I (Ed), Dizziness and Balance Disorders, New York: Kugler Publications, p.721-735, 1993.
Wood-Dauphinee S, Berg K, Bravo G, Williams J. The balance scale: responsiveness to clinically meaningful changes. Canadian J of Rehab 10(1):35-50, 1997.
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Http://www.teleport.com/~veda/
Susan L. Whitney, PhD, PT, ATC and Mary Kay Walsh, MS, PT, NCS
University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh
CORE Network, Eye and Ear Institute CORE Network, Eye and Ear Institute
Parkinson’s Research
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Mar;89(3):399-403.
Whole body vibration versus conventional physiotherapy to improve balance and gait in Parkinson’s disease.
Ebersbach G, Edler D, Kaufhold O, Wissel J.
Movement Disorders Clinic, Beelitz-Heilstätten, Germany. ebersbach@parkinson-beelitz.de
Mov Disord. 2009 Apr 30;24(6):891-8.
Effect of whole body vibration in Parkinson’s disease: a controlled study.
Arias P, Chouza M, Vivas J, Cudeiro J.
Neuroscience and Motor Control Group (NEUROcom), Department of Medicine-INEF, University of A Coruña, Spain.
NeuroRehabilitation. 2009;25(4):297-306.
Short-term effects of vibration therapy on motor impairments in Parkinson’s disease.
King LK, Almeida QJ, Ahonen H.
Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. laurieking22@yahoo.ca
Nippon Rinsho. 1997 Jan;55(1):173-8.
Central motor conduction time using magnetic and vibratory stimulation in Parkinson’s disease, especially in patients with rigidity
[Article in Japanese]
Mochio S, Oka H, Katayama K, Sato H.
Department of Neurology, Jikei University School of Medicine.
Nippon Rinsho. 2000 Oct;58(10):1994-9.
[Pathophysiology of abnormal movements in Parkinson's disease]
[Article in Japanese]
Hashimoto T.
Third Department of Medicine(Neurology), Shinshu University School of Medicine.
www.biodensity.com may have additional articles posted for review.
bioDensity™ Related Research
The Surgeon General states that increases in bone mineral density, to prevent or reverse the effects of osteoporosis, are stimulated by maximum loading on the musculoskeletal system. Regular, proper use of the bioDensity™ System enables the user to safely achieve such maximum loading, and therefore helps combat the effects of osteoporosis.
Bone Density & Bone Health
Kemmler,W., Lauber, D., Weineck, J., Hensen, J., Kalender, W., Engelke, K.
Benefits of 2 Years of Intense Exercise on Bone Density, Physical Fitness, and Blood Lipids in Early Postmenopausal Osteopenic Women
Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:1084-109
This study shows that early postmenopausal women can reduce bone mass loss by maximum strength type exercise.
Mayoux-Benhamou, M A., Leyge, J., Roux, C., Revel, M
Cross-Sectional Study of Weight-Bearing Activity on Proximal Femur Bone Mineral Density
Calcified Tissue International February, 1999; Volume 64, Number 2
The results of this study demonstrate the maximal loading effects over 5 years showing that those individuals that participated in this kind of activity had significantly higher BMD.
Kemmler, W., Engelke, K., von Stengel, S.
Long-Term Four-Year Exercise Has a Positive Effect on Menopausal Risk Factors: The Erlangen Fitness Osteoporosis Prevention Study
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 2007; p. 232-239
This study demonstrated that exercise stimulus using high loads has positive affect relevant to menopausal risk factors and, therefore, may be individually considered as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
Camacho, P. MD, Reyan, K
Exercise and Osteoporosis
Endocrineweb 2009
This article correlates the adaptive responses of bone and muscular tissues as they respond to loading. Load bearing exercise builds and maintains healthy bones that are less prone to osteoporosis related fracture.
Kontulainen, S., Heinonen, A., Kannus, P., Passanen, M., Sievanen, H., Vuori, I.
Former Exercisers of an 18-month Intervention Display Residual aBMD Benefits Compared with Control Women 3.5 years Post-Intervention: A Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled High-Impact Trial
Osteoporosis International 2004, Mar; p 248-251
The findings of this study suggest that high-impact exercise has a long-term benefits in BMD for premenopausal women.
Heinonen, A., Kannus, P., Sievanen, H., Oja, P., Pasanen, M., Rinne, M., Uusi-Rasi, K.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Effect of High-Impact Exercise on Selected Risk Factors for Osteoporotic Fractures
The Lancet 1996, Nov; p 1343-1347
The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to evaluate, in premenopausal women, the effects of high-impact loading on several determinants of osteoporotic fractures.
Wang, Q., Alen, M., Nicholson, P., Suominem, H., Koistinen, A., Kroger, H., Cheng, S.
Weight-Bearing, Muscle Loading and Bone Mineral Accrual in Pubertal Girls-A 2-Year Longitudinal Study
Journal of the International Bone and Mineral Society 2007, May; 1196-1202
This study shows BMD gain as a result of impact training (maximal voluntary contraction) in pubertal female subjects.
BioDensity A Growing Need for a Wellness Alternative
“bioDensity™ is a very effective modality for improving endurance, strength and bone mass. It’s a fast and efficient way of improving muscle and bone strength. It also provides a predictable and measured change in muscle and bone mass. Functional and daily activities improve with bioDensity™ training.”
- Dr. Raj M. Singh, Double Board Certified, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medical Director Neurospine and Rehabilitation, Barrow Neurological Associates
“bioDensity™ technology is so advanced, that it will create a paradigm shift in the exercise world. All around us, technology continues to change at a rapid pace, yet when it comes to exercise, we are stuck in the mindset that ‘no pain no gain,’ and it takes hours a week to see change. The ’20 second Advantage’ of bioDensity will change your life.”
- Dr. Perry A. Cammisa,
DC Certified Biomechanics Specialist
USE OF VIBRATION-ASSISTED EXERCISE IN FIBROMYALGIA PATIENTS
Ohio State University
Published in:
American Journal of Physical medicine & rehabilitation: Danko, M, Le,
Vu, Todd, Carol, Waylonis, GW: (abs) A J PMR (85) March p 251.
Objective: Vibratory-assisted exercise is a relatively new concept in the US; however, there is supportive research in Europe indicating its effectiveness on athletes and the general population through providing the benefits that include improved muscle strength, increased flexibility and range of motion, enhanced blood flow, increased bone density, enhanced pain reduction, and reduced stress. The purpose of this project was to determine the effects of such an exercise program on a group of patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS).
Design: Twenty patients, all of whom satisfied the specific criteria of the American College of Rheumatology for the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and have never used vibratory-assisted exercise, were initially invited to participate in a vibratory-assisted exercise program that involved performing sixteen exercises while standing on a vibrating machine twice a week, for a total of eight weeks.
The exercises performed by the patients were all designed by a certified personal trainer with over 25 years of experience in the field. Each exercise was designed to work on specific upper and lower body muscle groups, such that the program had a whole body approach with an emphasis on addressing the tender point areas associated with Fibromyalgia. In addition, the upper body exercises were isometric strength exercises performed against resistance.
At the beginning of the program, all exercises were performed for 30 seconds per exercise on the vibration machine with a vibrating frequency of 30 Hertz. Over the course of the study, the frequency and intensity of the vibration was increased for those patients who felt comfortable doing so. Furthermore, the patient group had two different vibration machines to choose from, each provided by a separate company. Upper body exercises on the Galileo machine were performed with the aid of a medical student providing resistance. On the Power Plate machine, two straps attached to the base of the machine provided the resistance for the patient during the upper body exercises.
After at least one session on each machine, patients were allowed to choose which machine they preferred to work on for the remainder of the program. During each week, each patient was also asked to fill out a 22-item Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) form, indicating his/her level of pain, fatigue, etc. on a numeric scale.
The FIQ consisted of two sections, the Pain/Affect Visual Analog Scale comprising of questions pertaining to pain, fatigue, stiffness, anxiety, and depression, and the Physical Functioning Scale composing of questions relating to physical activities such as shopping, driving, walking, cooking, etc. Each weekly item score was then compared to its respective pre-program score to track the progress of the patient.
The quantitative results of the study were derived from the evaluation of the patient responses on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire over the length of the program. At the conclusion of the eight weeks, our certified personal trainer provided the group of patients with a series of exercises that the patients could perform individually without the use of a vibration machine to help maintain the progress that had been made during the study.
Results: Two patients dropped out of the program after their first introductory sessions due to time conflict. Of the remaining 18 patients, six could not complete the program and averaged 6.33 sessions completed. Under this group of six, three patients discontinued due to time conflict, whereas each of the other three described exacerbation of his/her symptoms from either increased fatigue, increased generalized bone pain, or increased neck pain from a pre-existing bulging disc. Twelve patients completed the program and averaged 16 sessions completed. Ten of the twelve preferred the Power Plate Machine to the Gallielo.
Although both groups showed improvements on both the Pain Visual Analog and the Physical Functioning Scales, the patients who completed the program improved in 16 total items, while those who did not complete the program, showed an improvement in 8 total items. Of the 8-item difference between the two groups, the most noticeable improvements made by the completed group–and not by the uncompleted group–included decreased pain in the last 48 hours (particularly after the training sessions), decreased number of workdays missed in the last seven days, increased days felt good in the last seven days, and decreased anxiousness and depression. Moreover, the completed group also showed higher levels of physical activities by showing improvements in 7 items on the Physical Functioning Scale, while the incompleted group showed improvements in only 2 items.
Conclusion: Patients who completed the program showed more improvements than those who did not. In a post-program survey, ten of the twelve patients who completed the program showed interest in continuing in such a program, even if it means paying for the machine usage. Additionally, a follow-up study is being conducted to see the effects of the same exercises without vibratory assistance.
POWER PLATE® TRAINING GIVES HOPE TO THOSE LIVING WITH MS
For those living with Multiple Sclerosis, being able to carry out day to day activities independently is a major goal of therapy. Achieving these goals offers a significant increase in their quality of life, and greatly reduces the need for professional help and support. MS sufferer Anne Hodder (51) has seen firsthand the benefits of exploring additional therapies to improve her condition.
Like many others living with MS, Anne was keen to find a way to enhance her quality of life with minimal medical intervention or reliance on drugs, and she researched a wide variety of alternative and conventional treatments to help alleviate her debilitating symptoms. Her research led her to try Power Plate exercise and after just ten sessions, Anne noticed a huge difference: “There is no doubt that it is making my legs stronger,” she commented. “Since I was diagnosed
with MS my balance has been greatly affected but I have not fallen over at all since I began using my Power Plate® machine. I feel so much steadier on my feet and confident in myself. The endorphin release is incredible and I feel great. I have tried many different ways, methods, alternatives, and therapies to help myself, but until last year nothing seemed to make any significant difference. I was simply amazed by the fantastic physical and positive effect the Power Plate machine had on my body and mental state.”
A pilot study performed in Sweden in February 2007 by the Power Plate International Research Development Education and Training (RDET) team backs up Anne’s experience, and indicates that Acceleration Training™ exercise can improve postural control, balance, mobility, muscle strength and endurance among Multiple Sclerosis sufferers. Ten outpatients from a physical therapy clinic performed squats, lunges, upper body and stretching exercises during a 12-week training programme. When the pre and post-test results were compared, the majority of the patients maintained or even improved both their functioning and performance levels, indicating the positive benefits that could be gained with an accelerated exercise programme.
Ten MS patients with moderate to severe disability took part in the study. They performed 10 sets of squats, lunges, upper body and stretching exercises each lasting 30 seconds on a Power Plate machine, twice a week for 12 weeks. The effects of the training were measured using a variety of tests, performed one week before the training programme, and again one week after the programme. Results showed significant group improvements in “short” activities that use “explosive” strength and co-ordination: a timed “get up and go” test, a nine hole peg test and the “rise and sit down” test. However, longer walking tests (10m, 20m and 6 minute walks) didn’t show a significant increase for the group, although most individual patients increased a little in performance or stayed at a similar level.
The results of this pilot study indicate that Acceleration Training exercise may positively influence postural control, balance, mobility, strength, and endurance in Multiple Sclerosis patients, and concur with results from other studies. Anne continues to go from strength to strength. After working out in the Power Plate® studio for some time, Anne purchased her own machine in April 2007 and is enjoying her new workout regime at home.
“I think using the Power Plate machine regularly will keep me strong and keep me out of a wheelchair. If my muscles are stronger when I do have an attack I hope my strength will support me.”
NOTE: The Power Plate® machine works by transferring vibrations to muscles, which naturally activates reflexive muscle contractions. Different poses such as a squat, bicep curl or stomach crunch are held on the machine’s vibrating platform for up to 60 seconds at a time, activating multiple muscle groups simultaneously to stretch tone or strengthen, and enabling you to target particular areas of the body. Acceleration Training™ exercise is low impact, enabling anyone, regardless of their age or fitness level, to benefit from a fast and effective workout without putting strain on joints or other parts of the body.
Acceleration Training exercise on the Power Plate® machine offers a wide range of benefits, and you can notice the difference in as little as three short sessions per week. Regular training can help improve muscle strength and tone, flexibility, range of motion and circulation, and enhance metabolism to aid weight loss. Exercising on the Power Plate® my3 model can also help to reduce sports injuries, speed up rehabilitation and shorten healing time; it is also used by many sports professionals from a range of disciplines for stretching, warming up, massage and relaxation purposes.
About Power Plate® Equipment and Acceleration Training™ exercise
Acceleration Training exercise is based on Rhythmic Neuromuscular Stimulation (RNS) dating back to the 1960s when Professor W. Biermann, from the former East German Republic, described ‘cyclical vibrations’ capable of improving the condition of the joints relatively quickly.
Russian scientist, Vladimir Nazarov, became the first person to utilize Acceleration Training exercise in its most modern application – Biomechanical Stimulation (BMS). With this technology, he was able to investigate involuntary muscle contractions and involuntary movement.
As the theories of Acceleration Training exercise developed, Russian ballet dancers with minor muscle injuries such as Achilles Tendonitis discovered that vibration aided the healing process. They also found that their muscular strength and jump height increased with only a quarter of the effort or time required by traditional training methods. Since then many athletes have discovered the benefits of Acceleration Training exercise.
Power Plate® machines are now used by a wide range of people from athletes looking to improve their performance, to individuals attempting to improve their fitness and wellbeing, and those who have a disability or illness that can be relieved or alleviated by Acceleration Training exercise.
Power Plate® Machine Training Schedules
A diverse range of exercises can be performed on the Power Plate® machine, with straps attached to the platform at various lengths offering additional resistance training options. The simple, user-friendly control panel ensures ease of use with time and frequency set automatically. Training intensity can be adjusted using three different mats that dampen the vibrations to varying degrees.
There are four main groups of exercises:
Strengthening – squats, lunges, push-ups and tricep dips, shoulder press, front and lateral raises,
bicep curls and four different abdominal exercises.
Stretching – hamstring, calf, adductor, shoulders, pectoral and quadriceps.
Massage – calves, upper arm, quadriceps, adductor, abductor and hamstring.
Relaxation – shoulder and neck, lower back, upper body, back, first step and sitting pull.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Mar;89(3):399-403.
Whole body vibration versus conventional physiotherapy to improve balance and gait in Parkinson’s disease.
Ebersbach G, Edler D, Kaufhold O, Wissel J.
Movement Disorders Clinic, Beelitz-Heilstätten, Germany. ebersbach@parkinson-beelitz.de
Mov Disord. 2009 Apr 30;24(6):891-8.
Effect of whole body vibration in Parkinson’s disease: a controlled study.
Arias P, Chouza M, Vivas J, Cudeiro J.
Neuroscience and Motor Control Group (NEUROcom), Department of Medicine-INEF, University of A Coruña, Spain.
NeuroRehabilitation. 2009;25(4):297-306.
Short-term effects of vibration therapy on motor impairments in Parkinson’s disease.
King LK, Almeida QJ, Ahonen H.
Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. laurieking22@yahoo.ca
Nippon Rinsho. 1997 Jan;55(1):173-8.
Central motor conduction time using magnetic and vibratory stimulation in Parkinson’s disease, especially in patients with rigidity
[Article in Japanese]
Mochio S, Oka H, Katayama K, Sato H.
Department of Neurology, Jikei University School of Medicine.
Nippon Rinsho. 2000 Oct;58(10):1994-9.
[Pathophysiology of abnormal movements in Parkinson's disease]
[Article in Japanese]
Hashimoto T.
Third Department of Medicine(Neurology), Shinshu University School of Medicine.
Ageing
1. He,W., Sengupta, M.,Velkoff,V. A., & DeBarros, K.A. (2005). US Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, P23-209, 65+ in the United States: 2005. US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
2. US Census Bureau. (2006, January 3). Facts for Features: Oldest Baby Boomers Turn 60!
3. 2006 Census: Age and sex. Statistics Canada. The Daily, July 17, 2007.
4. US Census Bureau. Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2009.
5. Brod, K. Insights Into Independent Living Residents Today. Ziegler Capital Markets. Z-News, May 1, 2009.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Healthy Aging, Improving and Extending Quality of Life Among Older Americans.
7. Martinson, B. Exercise more, pay less. Minnesota Healthcare News (May 2004).
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). CDC, Healthy Aging, Preserving Function and Improving Quality of Life Among Older Americans.
9. Buchman, A. S., Wilson, R. S., Boyle, P. A., et al. (2007). Physical Activity and Leg Strength Predict Decline in Mobility Performance in Older Persons. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, online (August 14).
10. The National Academies. (2008, April). Health Care Work Force Too Small, Unprepared For Aging Baby Boomers; Higher Pay, More Training, and Changes In Care Delivery Needed To Avert Crisis.
11. US Department of Health and Human Services. (2003, September). Prevention Makes Common “Cents.”
12. WHO/CDC Collaborating Center on Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Atlanta, 2000.
13. AARP. (2004, May). Baby Boomers Envision Retirement II – Key Findings. Prepared for AARP by Roper ASW.
14. Leigh, J. P., Hubert, H. B., & Romano, P. S. (2005). Lifestyle risk factors predict healthcare costs in an aging cohort. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 29(5), 379–387 (December).
15. Stessman, J., et al. (2009). Archives of Internal Medicine, 169 (16), 1476–1483 (September 15).
16. Buchman, A. S., et al. (2009). Association Between Late-Life Social Activity and Motor Decline in Older Adults. Archives of Internal Medicine, 169(12), 1139–1146 (June 22).
17. Peel, N. M., et al. (2007). Psychosocial factors associated with fall-related hip fractures. Age and Ageing, 36(2), 145 (March).
18. Iwamoto, J., et al. (2008). Preventative effect of exercise against falls in the elderly: a randomized controlled trial.
Bone Density, Osteoporosis, Osteopenia
Bone Density and Bone Health
According to, Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General, it is estimated that in 2020 one in two Americans over age of 50 will have, or be at high risk of developing, osteoporosis. The report emphasizes that bone health is critically important to the overall health and quality of life of Americans.
Healthy bones provide a frame that allows mobility and protection against injury. Bones also serve as a storehouse for minerals that are vital to the functioning of many other life-sustaining systems in the body. Unhealthy bones lead to fractures, which can result in disability, diminished function, loss of independence, and premature death.”
The good news is that this report also suggests “… that great improvements in the bone health status of Americans can be made by applying what is already known about early prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.”
Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
Osteopenia and osteoporosis are related and by far the most common bone diseases. Osteopenia is simply bone thinning which is a risk factor for Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is defined based on loss of bone mineral density below a specific measure so Osteopenia/Osteoporosis are both part of the same process. Once bone mineral density declines to the point of Osteoporosis a person is at greatly increased risk for bone fracture.
What causes Osteopenia and Osteoporosis?
Healthy bones are constantly in the process of remodeling based on the stresses encountered by the body, and this process is very complex with many influencing factors including but not limited to: proper level and balance of hormones; genetic factors; nutritional factors; side effects of certain drugs; and loss of muscle strength.
What can you do to keep your bones healthy?
See your doctor regularly (particularly if you are over 50) and have your bone mineral density and other factors related to bone health monitored. Follow your doctor’s advice and treatment suggestions.
Insure that you are receiving adequate high quality calcium and vitamin D along with other important co-nutrients such as Vitamin K. For most people this means taking a high quality multi-vitamin and mineral formula with additional calcium (a minimum of 1,000mg of calcium per day and 400mg of Vitamin D are required with certain populations requiring higher levels).
Decrease or eliminate your intake of caffeine, sodas, smoking, and alcohol as all of these can negatively impact bone health particularly over the long haul.
Regular weight bearing exercise
Lack of exercise is one of the most significant factors for bone loss. Pulling on the bones by using your muscles and impact from weight bearing activities creates forces and load on the bones which stimulates bones to maintain or increase their strength. So stronger muscles and higher levels of load lead to stronger bones which is why healthy activities like swimming and biking are less effective than running or jogging for maintaining or increasing bone mass.
What type of exercise is best?
Bones respond specifically to mechanical stress and loading so there are certain types of exercises that provide the biggest bang for your buck. Not all exercises are created equal for bone health.
Bones require stress and in fact gravity is a great example of this. On earth you body is constantly being loaded by gravity which is a stimulus which requires muscles to be active and stimulates some level of bone strength.
However we know that astronauts in space (where there is no gravity) rapidly loss bone mass, muscle mass, and circulatory health because of the lack of any load on their bodies. So the more force and load we can put on our bones – without becoming injured – the stronger are bones will tend to be. This is why swimming, while a great exercise for heart health is not very effective for bone health.
For example, a recent study performed in Osaka Japan, showed that bone mass density generation was proven possible with high intensity/high load resistance training, but not effective with low intensity/low load resistance training. This being the case the ideal forms of exercise for bone health allow for maximum load/force to be applied to the bone.
Agility, Sports Conditioning, Rehabilitation, Reaction Time, Acceleration, Deceleration, Stability and Control of Body Movement
The TRAQ 3D Team
TRAQ 3D’s founders are the world leaders in the use of 3D computer simulation for the enhancement of health, physical performance, physical and brain fitness. There are currently ten U.S. patents protecting the innovative science and technology behind the TRAZER® computer-based simulator that is the core of our Athlete Development Program. All of this science and technology is committed to helping you and your clients achieve their goals!
A Word from Barry J. French, TRAZER® Inventor & TRAQ 3D Co-Founder
“When developing TRAZER®, we asked if instead of being limited to conventional strength and endurance programs, training drills and coaching observations, athletes could be trained and tested like astronauts and fighter pilots. What if we had a ‘sports simulator’ much like the flight simulators used by NASA and the military?
Using the sports simulator would be like putting the athlete inside a giant computer to compete against virtual opponents and graphic simulations specially designed to demand the same visual skills, reaction decisions and movements, agility and quickness of actual game situations. Visual perception, reaction time, acceleration, deceleration, agility, jumping; lateral, diagonal, forward and backward movement speed, anaerobic power… all would be challenged and measured.
The computer would break down every movement into its component parts in essentially real time. The athlete’s efforts would be rewarded with real-time feedback and game-like scoring. We’d provide a detailed movement skills analysis comparing performance in all directions. Previously undetectable weaknesses and imbalances would be immediately identified. Specially designed simulator-based training programs would correct and optimize performance. It could be the tool to develop the ultimate athlete.
TRAZER® is that sport simulator; it is the only technology that accurately ‘simulates’ the demands of actual competition. But more than great technology is required to develop the athlete of the future. With TRAQ 3D, we’ve created the specially-tuned environment, patented software protocols and programs, service, support and educational programs to fully exploit the power of simulation.”3
TRAZER Summary
Movement defines functional capability – from sports to the most basic requirements for independent living
Job or sports injuries, arthritis, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other neurological disorders and diseases, and simple inactivity whether in children or seniors – all affect movement. And in each case, movement is essential to the full restoration of health. Measurement and enhancement of movement form the core of virtually every rehabilitation or training program.
TRAZER allows the clinician, trainer or coach to view disability and capability as a continuum of the capacity for movement. TRAZER is equally applicable to a patient using braces or crutches, or to an elite athlete.
Measurement and control of movement and physiological response are the foundation of TRAZER-based programs
TRAZER’s patented technology merges real-time, 3-dimensional tracking of body position with simulation technology to deliver game-like, interactive simulations controlled by actual body movement. Progressive movement challenges designed to motivate and improve performance can be as gentle as raising a hand or as demanding as a series of reaction-timed vertical jumps. TRAZER allows unconstrained, free space movement that can be easily controlled within individual limitations – even by telemetered heart rate. And every movement is precisely measured.
This combination of engaging visual motivation, real-time visual feedback, computer-controlled progression and precise measurement has proved uniquely effective for rehabilitation and training of functional strength and power, range of motion, balance, coordination, reaction time, movement speed, and cardiopulmonary condition.
Reaction time, acceleration, deceleration, stability and control of body movement are key capacity measurements
TRAZER’s optical sensing system tracks in real time positional changes of the user’s body core (the pelvic area) in response to interactive, computer generated simulations. Control of one’s core is an important factor in determining skilled, purposeful movement. By measuring this single variable, a real measure of functional performance can be made – that of the user’s ability to successfully navigate his or her environment. Control of the core during domain specific activities in the healthy user with smooth, bell shaped acceleration curves and minimal variability will be indicative of skilled movement. By contrast, injured and poorly trained individuals will exhibit inconsistent velocity profiles and high variability during movement. TRAZER also provides protocols for the user’s upper limbs.
TRAZER planned and unplanned stimuli (cues) prompt the user for the desired response, while high-speed positional tracking enables real time quantification of such performance parameters as reaction time, power (the product of velocity and acceleration) and moment to moment core position (body Center of Gravity), jump height, etc. TRAZER gives the clinician, coach or trainer the user-friendly tools to precisely control the direction, distance and rate the user travels in response to both unplanned and planned movement TRAZER is the tool to break down complex movement into divisible components
Each divisible component of movement is trained and refined using the power of computer simulation, with real time feedback and realistic stimuli that greatly accelerate the learning process. TRAZER exploits the Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands (SAID) principle. Beginning with simple, easily performed reactive movement tasks, TRAZER varies the intensity and complexity of the reactive movement activities. The user’s compliance with the exercise prescription determines the rate at which he or she can be progressed. TRAZER protocols range as follows:
Low Amplitude Protocols are characterized by low stress displacements of the subject’s body core – these activities do not require the subject to change his or her postural base of support. Emphasis is on balance activities and effective weight shifting. The goal of these protocols is to improve the subject’s ability to maintain equilibrium and control of the center of gravity/mass (body core) within a given stance (feet fixed), and to improve fundamental postural control, with incorporation of cognitive demands with simple movement tasks.
Intermediate Amplitude Protocols are provided with the goal of improving symmetry in basic movements by minimizing variability in the movement rate, as well as protocols designed to enhance dynamic balance, agility and proprioception and cardiovascular conditioning.
High Amplitude Protocols develop movement skills and strategy. Emphasis is on training reaction and anticipation skills while enhancing the ability to confidently perform complex movements. This phase is characterized by sports and activity specific drills designed to achieve maximal function. The movement skills used in this phase demand maximal accelerations and decelerations with smooth application of power.
By tracking and controlling key performance and physiological parameters, TRAZER improves safety and provides the feedback that will enhance motivation and compliance.
TRAZER’s unique capability to monitor heart rate via telemetry and measure and report caloric energy expenditure during free movement activities provides real-time exercise control and motivation. TRAZER can provide individualized motivational targets while automatically limiting the demands of each activity to match the current fitness level of any participant.
By offering an exercise environment that is safer and more controlled than the typical fitness environment, and by providing engaging, game-like activities that automatically adapt to individual abilities and conditioning, TRAQ 3D creates effective new programs for weight management and wellness, and functional training for demanding sports and work environments as well as safe, enjoyable activities of daily living.
Summary of Key Points
• With TRAZER, reaction time, acceleration, deceleration, velocity, power and moment-to-moment stance analysis provide key measurements of sport-specific movement.
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Trazer2: The Difference Between Expresso Technology andTRAZER2 Technology
TRAZER tracks core movement in a one-to-one relationship between the virtual world and the real world. Expresso doesn’t track movement; it quantifies distance, calories, and time while confined to a machine.
As far as kinesthetic learning, TRAZER learning games are powered by the body of the user. In other words, your body movement satisfies a problem that your mind has solved. Your movement is directly integral to the learning process. Expresso’s cognitive activities are incidental to the exercise. You’re just exercising and solving problems side-by-side—not integrated with one another.
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The Sunday Times – Scotland
May 21, 2006
A virtual guide to shaping up
An Edinburgh gym is now the proud owner of Britain’s first Trazer machine, a virtual-reality computer system guaranteed to revolutionize run-of-the-treadmill exercise and give your brain a workout at the same time, writes Claire Sawers
There are 10 seconds left on the clock. It’s just me against the goalie, and I’m determined to squeeze another past him before the time is up. I bounce from one tiptoe to the other, staring into his black eyes before making my move. He fakes to the left, I second-guess him, swerve a couple of inches around him using some ballerina-style footwork and blast the ball into the back of the net. That’s my 15th goal in a minute: not bad considering I’ve not actually played football for the past 15 years.
As smug as I feel, my victory was only a virtual one. This is the Trazer machine, and I have been taking part in an exercise workout that promises both “virtual sport” and “real sweat”. Developed in Cleveland, Ohio, the Trazer is a computer-based system that sets out to combine the sometimes dubious allure of arcade games with — are you ready for this? — flight-simulator technology. American sports enthusiasts have already taken up the Trazer in large numbers, and now an Edinburgh gym has acquired the machine, the only one so far in Britain.
I’ve just finished my winning round of Goalie Wars in a mirrored studio. Minutes earlier I was catching basketballs as they dropped from holes in the ceiling. Before that I was following a moving dot around a glowing chessboard-cum-dance floor while dodging trap doors that opened up in the ground.
Ben Wilde, the personal trainer from Trazer who is showing me the ropes today, says I have shown excellent progress during my half-hour session, and done some great work on lowering my centre of gravity and improving my reaction times.
That may be so, but personally I am proud of the simple fact that I have remained inside a gym for 30 minutes without slinking off to the sauna. I don’t like the places and find the idea of clock-watching and calorie counting on a treadmill something of a turn-off.
Wilde assures me the Trazer is the perfect machine. “You can flip between games and try out lots of different activities. The beauty is that we tailor each workout to the individual. Some people want to home in on a particular muscle group and work it until they see progress, others just want to have fun and play lots of games.”
I definitely fall into the latter category. A Trazer workout begins by feeding some basic information into the computer. Weight, age, height and heart rate help the machine assess an individual’s progress and estimate the calories used up during a session. Next, a wireless belt is fitted, connecting the player to the computer.
Although Wilde admits the elasticated black belt looks a little “inelegant”, this small piece of kit transforms somebody into a human joystick, picking up on the slightest movement and allowing their on-screen character to dart around the games. From then on, any opponents, obstacles or flying basketballs are purely virtual, and the player becomes a moving mouse negotiating their way around the action.
According to its advocates, this virtual reality workout can improve cardiovascular fitness, aid weight loss, and enhance sports performance and core stability, as well as improving visual and spatial awareness. Though these claims seem plausible enough, the Trazer’s biggest selling point is probably its novelty value: such a tempting-looking gadget is bound to motivate even the laziest of lumps into having a go.
“Like a computer game, you can pick how difficult or easy you want the game to be,” says Wilde, who has already given demonstrations of the machine to school children and grandparents, as well as the more regular breed of gym-goers. “It’s just as relevant to a serious athlete as it is to someone in rehab after an injury,” he says. “For some, it’s an introduction to gentle exercise, and for others it’s a welcome and fun addition to a busy training schedule.”
Richard Collins considers himself a “gym junkie” and was keen to have a go on the Trazer as soon as it arrived earlier this month. Taking turns to try out the gadget with three friends, Collins, a 31-year-old IT consultant from Edinburgh, found the competitive side of the Trazer a good incentive to work up a sweat.
“After five minutes of watching me play the goalie game, my mates all wanted to have a shot and try and score more points than me,” he says. Wilde adds the “leader board” facility — where players can watch how they rank compared to other gym members — tends to grab the attention of those with a competitive nature.
Collins also reckons the quick-fire games would be an excellent aid for anybody hoping to improve their reaction times for sports such as tennis or basketball. “You feel like you’re just jumping around and having a laugh, but it definitely made me put a sweat on, and I’m sure if you used it a lot you’d see a big improvement in performance.”
Amanda Murray fancied having a shot when she spied the Trazer’s large glowing screen peeping out from one of the gym’s workout rooms. When she isn’t training for marathons or attending gym classes five times a week, Murray, a 33-year-old associate director at a bank, likes to relax at home with her PlayStation2.
She felt comfortable with the Trazer’s interactive facility in which a camera on top of the computer screen allows players to feel in the centre of the on-screen action. Having perfected her combat skills at punching and kicking games on her PS2, Murray was keen to try out new gym-based games such as Jump Explosion and Trap Attack.
“It was knackering,” she says, after enjoying a 30-minute session. “But you’re so busy concentrating on the screen, you don’t realize you’re working so many muscles.” Murray says she may even incorporate the machine into her routine, because it is simply more interesting than other conventional alternatives. “When you’re on a rowing machine or a treadmill, you can’t help but keep an eye on the clock,” says Murray.
“But when my game finished I couldn’t believe it was time-up — I wanted to keep on playing.”
Cyber fitness
What is Trazer? A new system that combines the challenge of video games with the training effectiveness of a flight simulator in a fitness routine.
Who can do it? Anybody “from kindergarten and college kids to seniors”, according to its enthusiastic American backers.
Upsides: Sounds like fun, even for the circumferentially challenged.
Downsides: Don’t expect this latest expensive piece of computer technology (think £3,500, screen not included) to turn up in your local PC World any time soon. There’s only one gym in Britain with a Trazer, and it’s in Edinburgh.
Escape at the Scotsman hotel, Edinburgh, will be offering 30-minute sessions of the Trazer, costing £15. For information on club membership and the Trazer, contact Escape at the Scotsman hotel on 0131 622 3800 or visit www.escapehealthclubs.co.uk
Trazer 2: Machine puts balance back in step
Virtual reality as therapy
Summa’s new machine helps victims of strokes, knee injuries regain solid footing through exercise
By Katherine Spitz
Beacon Journal medical writer
A year ago, Al Given never dreamed he would be standing in front of a giant computer monitor, shifting his feet rapidly to “extinguish” a virtual target.
But the 70-year-old retired Barberton welder had a major stroke in February and has spent many months in outpatient therapy at Summa Health System’s White Pond Center. For the past several weeks, one of Given’s exercises has been to step back and forth, right and left, in front of a Trazer machine.
When Given moves his feet the correct way, a target dissolves on the screen, complete with a whining, shooting sound.
The process looks like fun, but for Given, the virtual-reality activity is far from kid’s play.
“I don’t look at it as a game, not when you almost bust your butt,” Given said of the Trazer, which he has used about a dozen times at the medical center in West Akron.
Summa acquired the $8,600 machine and monitor about a month ago. Gary Lake, manager of outpatient rehabilitation, said about a dozen patients, including young adults and seniors, have used it in their rehabilitation programs for stroke, knee injuries and balance problems.
Lake said that traditionally athletic trainers have used Trazer machines to help in performance enhancement. He and Summa athletic trainer Eric Moats came up with the idea to adapt the machine’s use after they saw it at a convention two years ago in St. Louis. “Our reaction was: This is something we could really use from a rehab point,” Lake said.
Stroke patients, Lake said, often have difficulty with balance and proprioception — the ability to sense where the body is in space. Use of the Trazer can help strengthen those skills, with a bonus.
In traditional physical therapy, stroke patients are encouraged to navigate around lines or objects on the floor. With the Trazer, patients must keep their head up while moving their body, which is what is required in everyday activities such as grocery shopping. And the therapist can adjust the machine to force the patients to make various movements in a consistent or random pattern.
To begin Given’s therapy, physical therapist Tami Folk put a 2-inch-wide strap around his waist. The belt, which had a sensor on the front end, emitted beams that traveled to the computer hard drive under the monitor.
As Given stepped back and forth to knock down the virtual target, the computer was able to detect where his feet were and provide information to Folk about Given’s center of gravity and reaction time.
Folk stood behind Given as spotter. Several times, he lost his balance but then regained it himself.
That was big progress: When Given started to use the program several weeks ago, Folk had to physically help him rebalance.
Folk said seeing how Given learned to regain balance in front of the Trazer gives her important data about his readiness for release from therapy.
“That’s how we know someone’s safe,” she said. “We all lose our balance during the day, but we regain it.”
Lake said the Trazer is new to rehab settings, and Summa is in “very preliminary” talks with the research and development staff at Cybex, the manufacturer of the machine, about collaborating on developing protocols for use.
By the time that could happen, Given, a native of Richwood, W.Va., hopes to be resuming his normal routine. He wants, once again, to be spending hunting season in a tree stand.
Katherine Spitz can be reached at 330-996-3581 or kspitz@thebeaconjournal.com
This story can be accessed via the web at:
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living/13598582.htm
Read about T.O.S. Technology.
Whole Body Vibration exercise includes the following contraindications:
- active cancer
- acute severe migraine headache
- acute infection or inflammation
- cardiovascular disease
- deep vein thrombosis
- epilepsy
- gallstones
- kidney stones
- pace maker
- pregnancy
- recent joint implants
- recent operative wounds
- severe diabetes
- tumors
NEW STUDY FINDS POWER PLATE® EXERCISE AIDS IN WEIGHT LOSS, REDUCTION OF HARMFUL VISCERAL FAT :
Irvine, CA (May 11, 2009) – New research presented at the 17th European Congress on Obesity (ECO) suggests that exercise done on Power Plate® vibration plate exercise machines in conjunction with a healthy diet may help people lose weight and trim harmful belly fat.
The study, conducted at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, found that overweight or obese people who regularly undertook Power Plate® exercise were more successful at long-term weight loss and shedding visceral or belly fat (which is associated with a higher susceptibility to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes) than those who combined dieting with a more conventional fitness routine and those who simply dieted.
The study was conducted over a six month period, after which subjects returned to their daily lives and reported back for retesting at 12 months. In terms of weight loss:
- The “Power Plate®” group lost 11 percent of their body weight and maintained a 10.5 percent loss
- The diet and conventional fitness group lost 7 percent and maintained a 6.9 percent loss
- The diet only group lost 6 percent, and maintained less than 5 percent loss
Even more promising was the reduction of visceral fat:
- The “Power Plate®” group lost 47.8 sq. cm. (18.8 in.), and maintained a loss of 47.7 sq. cm (18.7 in.)
- The diet and conventional fitness group lost only 17.6 sq. cm. (6.93 in.), and maintained only a 1.6 sq. cm (.63 in) loss
- The diet only group lost 24.3 sq. cm. (9.57 in.) and maintained only 7.5 sq. cm. (2.95 in.) loss
“We are extremely encouraged by the results of this study, especially in terms of the reduction of visceral fat,” said Guss Van Der Meer, Founder of Power Plate®. “Obesity is a major concern both in the United States and worldwide and we are excited that Power Plate® exercise may provide a low-impact way for people to lose weight and belly fat.”
Acceleration Training™ with Power Plate® machines creates instability in the human body, as with each vibration the body is forced to perform reflexive muscle actions, multiple times per second. Furthermore, these contractions must work in multiple dimensions as the Power Plate® machines actually oscillate in all three planes, exactly as the human body is designed to do. The net result is an incredible improvement in force production, or strength and power.
The principle by which Power Plate® machines work lies in the law of motion, stated by Sir Isaac Newton: that the force of an object is equal to its mass multiplied by acceleration, or f = m x a. What this means is that one can improve functional force (stability, strength or power) by either applying more mass or more acceleration to the body. Many forms of training and conditioning use mass – as seen in methods with weight machines, free weights, etc. Power Plate® machines, instead, use the second half of this equation, by applying acceleration to the body, while keeping mass, i.e. your body weight, the same.
This is a real breakthrough in training and conditioning as we can now optimally “load” the human frame while minimizing high impact, high load, and high stress factors. Gravity is the force that adds load to the human body every second of every day for every movement we perform. Through Acceleration Training™ exercise, Power Plate® machines make the body feel as though it “weighs” more every time acceleration forces increase.
The result is that you work against a far greater influence or “load” of gravity in every movement you perform. This is the essence of all strength and conditioning programs and Power Plate® machines simply use a different part of the same equation to achieve this! In fact, the amazing outcomes seen with Acceleration Training™ exercise respect the same biological and physiological laws of the body as witnessed in other forms of training. The difference is merely the nature of the stimulus applied (i.e. acceleration), and not the human response.
WHOLE BODY VIBRATION TECHNOLOGY : Be Sure The Power Plate Method Is For You
YOU SHOULD CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE BEGINNING ANY EXERCISE PROGRAM, INCLUDING A PROGRAM INVOLVING THE USE OF THE POWER PLATE MACHINE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY KNOWN MEDICAL CONDITION, OR ANY PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS ON YOUR ABILITY TO EXERCISE, POWER PLATE STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE USING THE POWER PLATE MACHINE.
IF, WHILE USING THE POWER PLATE MACHINE, YOU FEEL DIZZY, FAINT, SHORT OF BREATH, OR ANY PAIN, STOP USING THE POWER PLATE MACHINE IMMEDIATELY, AND CONSULT A PHYSICIAN.
Whole Body Vibration
One the best forms of exercise for bone health is whole body vibration exercise done with standing on a vibration plate. Whole body vibration creates increased g-forces (gravitational load) on the body since the body is literally being accelerated and gravity is an acceleration force.
1g=9.81 m/s2 (normal earth gravyt)
Values smaller than 1 = microgravity (i.e. 0g in space)
Values greater than 1 = macro-gravity (i.e. roller coaster -> max. 6 g!)
In addition, when standing on a vibration platform the muscles are stimulated to respond by contracting reflexively in response to each vibration and these contractions pull and stimulate bone. However all of this occurs without any impact or external load so it is very safe. Studies have shown that whole body vibration directly stimulates increase in bone density and bone health, and bone health can be stimulated by as little as 15 minutes per week of use of appropriate levels of whole body vibration.
Isometric Strength Technology
New Isometric Technology allows an exerciser to self-load all the major bones and joints of the body with extremely high levels of force/load, but it is extremely safe because the exerciser is loading their body and there is no external weight or load. By doing the four controlled exercises: chest press, leg press, core-pull, vertical lift one time, which only takes 5 minutes once per week, you can safely apply high loads to your bones and help maintain or increase your bone health.
In a pilot study with 500 people who used the new isometric technology for four years one time per week on average with an average age of 52, the average strength increase was 297% and the average bone density increase in exercisers who had their bone density monitored by their physician was 4.5%.
By combining whole body vibration and specific isometric exercise you can provide an ideal form of exercise stimulus to help maintain bone health in as little as one 15 minute session per week.
References
(http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/bonehealth/chapter_1.html#TheMagnitudeoftheProblem)
S. Tsuzuku, H. Shimokata, Y. Ikegami, K. Yabe, R.D. Wasnich (2001). “Effects of High versus Low-Intensity Resistance Training on Bone Mineral Density in Young Males”. Calcified Tissue International . 68(6):342-347.
Whole Body Vibration Technology
See www.powerplate.com for additional articles.
Call the office for an extensive summary of research performed.
WAVE AND WHOLE BODY VIBRATION
Jan 5, 2010
USA Ski and Snowboard Teams Will Use WAVE Technology to Bring Home the Gold
The United States’ Ski and Snowboard teams will be using WAVE (Whole-body Advanced Vibration Exercise) technology to fire up their muscles during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The athletes trained on the WAVE Pro Elite at the US Ski and Snowboard Association’s Center of Excellence – the national training and education center in Park City, Utah – and have now brought it to their training facility in Vancouver, British Columbia.
“The US Ski Team is excited to have a WAVE Pro Elite right on the race hill at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. We have a warm up area at the bottom of the race hill and will be using the WAVE Pro Elite to get our athletes perfectly primed immediately prior to their race. This will be an important factor in our success. We find the machine incredibly useful for waking up the neurological system and applying loads through the body that we just can’t get from traditional weight training,” says Troy Flanagan, Director of Sport Science, US Ski Team and US Snowboarding.
November 17, 2008
WAVE editorial featured in November 2008 issue of Government Recreation and Fitness
Be sure to check out the article “Military Fitness, Eielson AFB and NSA Naples: Fitness Centers at Forefront in Excellence” in the November 2008 issue of Government Recreation and Fitness. The article features NSA Naples fitness center personal trainer Pasquale “Lino” Silvestre describing the benefits of WAVE vibration exercise in stretching tight muscle groups, rehabilitation, and strength increases. WAVE is already in use at U.S. Naval Support Activity, Naples, Italy and Souda Bay, Greece, and U.S. Naval Station, Rota, Spain.
