Weight based vibration training

I have mentioned before about wanting to do some more research into weight based vibration training so I have done some online research about it and the effects of it on dancers. 


http://www.vibrationexercise.com/vibrationtrainingdancers/

'Not only can it be utilized, but it’s quick and requires no large learning curve. Best of all, there is the potential to increase compliance with vibration exercise, as opposed to a weight training type of program.'

Again it is mentioned here about it being time efficient which is useful as dancers because it could be easy to fit in a training session in the middle of a day of rehearsals or in between performances. 

It also states the vibration is an effective rehabilitation tool, especially for those dancers with weak or unstable ankles. 

Increases flexibility. The vibration group was compared to a control group. The conclusion demonstrates that highly trained dancers saw an increase in flexibility. The study led the researchers to conclude that vibration training would be a beneficial supplemental training intervention.

Article by:
Dr Jaspar Sidhu


Studies that show vibration training increases vertical jump. 


I found an article on the chartered society of physiotherapy:

http://www.csp.org.uk/frontline/article/good-vibrations


I have actually struggled to find any real scientific research about weight based vibration training.

'Even devotees of WBV admit there is a real research deficit. At first glance there is a considerable literature, covering its use in a variety of settings, including rthopaedics, neurology and sports medicine. But most of these studies are small scale and far from conclusive.'

Massage functions are useful for warm-up and cool-down. Good for rehabilitation with bone injuries and micro-fractures.

At the end of a hard day’s rehearsing and before an evening performance, dancers at the Royal Ballet can often be found lying down with their legs on a vibrating plate.

‘Rehearsals can be from 10.30am to 5.30pm, then the performance is at 7.30pm,’ explains Royal Ballet physio Daryl Martin. ‘Ballet is hard on the calves in particular, because they spend so much time en pointe. So that’s a favourite massage.’

The physio department in Covent Garden is far from unusual in utilising whole body vibration therapy. Over the last five years, use of WBV has grown rapidly in gyms, physiotherapy clinics and in the home.

At the Royal Ballet, Daryl Martin introduced WBV after learning about it in his previous role, working at the British Olympic Association with Dr Cardinale. Around a third of the dancers use it as part of their daily warm-up routine, he says, while around a half use it as part of physiotherapy sessions. 

‘Subjectively, I believe it helps prepare dancers for practice and that it helps prevent injury. There is evidence it pre-activates muscles – jump heights improve after WBV because the muscles are “switched on”.’  

It’s used in three main areas: stretching, where the dancers can get a fuller stretch than on the floor (the vibration, Mr Martin suggests, desensitises the muscle that would normally ‘stop’ the stretch); strengthening, particularly after exercise such as stress fractures of the foot, and finally, massage.