Manual of Vibration Exercise and Vibration Therapy

PART I: THE FUNDAMENTALS

1. Physics of Vibration

2. The Biology of Vibration

3. Design principles of Available machines

4. Safety and contra-indications

PART II: PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES

5. Biomechanics of Vibration Exercise

6. Cutaneous and muscle mechanoreceptors, their sensitivity to mechanical vibrations

7. Electromyographical recordings during Vibration

8. Supraspinal Responses & Spinal Reflexes

9. Assesing reflex latencies in responses to vibration: Evidence for the involvement of more than one receptor

10. Metabolic responses to whole body vibration exercise

11. Circulation Effects

12. Hormonal responses to vibration therapy

PART III: USE OF VIBRATION FOR TRAINING

13. Warming up

14. Modulation of Neuromuscular Function

15. Application in Athletics

16. Using whole body vibration for countermeasure exercise


PART IV: CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

17. How to Design Exercise Sessions with Whole Body Vibration Platforms

18. Whole Body Vibration in Geriatric Rehabilitation

19. Application of vibration training for enhancing bone strength

20. Whole body vibration exercise as a treatment option for chronic lower back pain

21. Pediatric Rehabilitation

22. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

23. Urinary Incontinence

24. Primary Muscle Disorders

25. Application of vibration training in people with common neurological disorders

26. Whole body vibration therapy in patients with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure: Lessons from a pilot study

27. Vibration exercise and vibration therapy in metabolic syndrome

28. Whole body vibration exercise in Cancer

GLOSSARY, APPENDICES.

 

This book addresses the practical aspects of vibration exercise and vibration therapy. In addition, it describes the technical and physiological background, providing applied scientists and doctors with a deeper understanding of the therapeutic potential that vibration exercise holds. Having first emerged two decades ago, vibration exercise has since established itself as a widespread form of physical exercise, used in all rehabilitation areas. The goal of this book is to close the gap between scientific knowledge and practice.Given that occupational exposure to vibration leads to well-known unfavorable effects, the book is also dedicated to potential risks, hazards and contra-indications and of course, the application of vibration therapy in a number of specific conditions is presented in a clinically usable fashion.

Given its breadth of coverage, this book will be of interest to physiotherapists and exercise scientists, but also to a wider range of physicians working in the field of rehabilitation.

Author Information

Joern Rittweger has been a pioneer in the study of vibration as an exercise modality. For the past 20 years, he has been studying the mechanical and physiological effects of vibration, as well as its suitability in preventive and rehabilitative medicine and athletics. As an MD with specialization in physiology, he bridges the gap between fundamental research and clinical application. His primary affiliation is with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), where he heads the 'Muscle and Bone Metabolism' department of the DLR's Institute of Aerospace Medicine. His secondary affiliation is with the University of Cologne, where he is a full professor at the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Rittweger has published more than 200 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, currently holds one patent, and regularly offers training for young scientists and doctors in human physiology.