To prevent fractures, you need the right vibration platform
In old age, people's sense of balance worsens and muscle strength decreases, which increases the risk of falls and poorly fused fractures. According to the results of earlier studies, vibration causes reflex muscle contractions that help strengthen muscle tissue.
Postgraduate student at the University of Technology (Sydney) Sven Rees and his colleagues decided to test this theory, for which they attracted 43 healthy men and women over the age of 70.
At the beginning of the work, they assessed the participants' ability to stand on one leg. After that, some of the participants underwent a small stability training, consisting of standing on a vibrating platform and a subsequent set of exercises: squats and toe lifts. The control group performed only a set of exercises.
Training sessions lasting less than 10 minutes were conducted three times a week for eight weeks. At the end of the course, the authors tested the strength of the participants' leg muscles again and found that training on a vibrating platform significantly improved the ability to stand on one leg. At the same time, the most pronounced improvements were observed in individuals with the worst initial indicators.
After that, the authors tried to conduct similar training with people over the age of 90, however, standing on a vibrating platform, they did not feel confident enough to let go of the handrail.
Reese believes that over time, this group of volunteers will gain enough confidence to feel the positive effect of vibration on the muscles. At the same time, he argues that the data available today is not enough to unequivocally declare the positive effect of vibration on the sense of balance. In addition, it is not known which muscles are affected by such training.
In the near future, the authors are going to conduct longer tests with the participation of more people in order to optimize the amplitude and frequency of vibrations of the platform.
According to Reese, some of the participants find the vibrations unpleasant, while others enjoy them. Some even purchased vibrating platforms at a sporting goods store. However, Reese warns that the platforms used in the work vibrate with a specially selected amplitude and frequency that help strengthen muscles, whereas "just" vibration negatively affects health, and commercially available vibration platforms can do more harm than good.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on ABC materials
02.07.2008