Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is a therapeutic technique that uses controlled mechanical vibration to provide repeated sensory and neuromuscular stimulation to the body.
During WBV, a child may stand, sit, kneel or complete therapeutic activities on a specialized vibration platform. The movement generated by the platform is transferred through the body, creating rapid changes in muscle length and stimulating sensory receptors within the muscles and joints.
What this means for your child
Whole body vibration lets your child’s muscles activate again and again while they take part in the standing, balance, and movement activities they are already working on in therapy.
Our muscles, joints and nervous system are constantly communicating to help us understand where our body is in space and how we need to respond to movement.
One of the key theories behind WBV is that vibration stimulates sensory receptors within the muscles, including muscle spindles, which detect changes in muscle length. This sensory information is rapidly communicated to the nervous system and can contribute to reflexive muscle activation as the body responds and adapts to the vibration.
In practical terms, this means the muscles can be activated repeatedly within a short period of time while the body continually adjusts to the movement underneath it.
The body’s response to WBV can be changed by adjusting factors such as the frequency and amplitude of the vibration, the child’s position on the platform and the activity being performed. This allows our therapists to incorporate WBV into therapy in different ways depending on each child’s abilities and individual goals.
At NAPA, WBV may be incorporated into therapy to support goals involving:
WBV is not used as a stand-alone therapy at NAPA. Instead, our therapists may incorporate it alongside active exercises and functional activities as part of an individualized therapy program.
Learn more about how whole body vibration works and vibration therapy for children with cerebral palsy.
Across our NAPA clinics, we use the Galileo® Whole Body Vibration system.
Galileo differs from many traditional vibration platforms because it uses a side-alternating movement. The platform operates in a seesaw-like motion: as one side rises, the other lowers.
This movement is based on the alternating pattern of human gait and creates a corresponding tilting movement at the pelvis. The body must continually respond to this movement, producing alternating muscle activity between the left and right sides.
There are several features of Galileo that make it particularly useful within our therapy environment:
Galileo’s movement pattern is designed around the natural alternating movement of walking. This provides our therapists with opportunities to incorporate WBV into activities targeting posture, balance, coordination and movement.
Galileo provides a broad range of vibration frequencies, depending on the model being used. Different frequencies produce different neuromuscular demands, allowing therapists to select settings appropriate to the activity and the child’s therapeutic goals.
The amplitude of the vibration can be altered through positioning on the platform. Moving closer to or further from the center of the plate changes the amount of movement experienced, giving therapists another way to carefully grade the activity for each child.
At appropriate frequencies, the rapid movement of the platform can stimulate reflexive muscle responses. This can provide repeated neuromuscular activation while a child is simultaneously participating in a therapeutic activity.
Some Galileo systems also offer the unique Wobbel function, which automatically varies the vibration frequency during an activity. Because the changes are unpredictable, the body must continually adjust to the changing stimulus. This can be particularly useful when therapists are targeting dynamic balance, coordination and postural responses.
Most importantly, Galileo can be incorporated into active therapy rather than being used simply as a passive vibration treatment. Depending on the child’s goals, our therapists may combine WBV with standing, squatting, reaching, weight shifting, strengthening, balance activities or other functional movements.
At NAPA, Whole Body Vibration is another tool available to our therapists, not a one-size-fits-all treatment.
Whether WBV is appropriate, and how it is used, is determined by the child’s therapist based on their individual presentation, tolerance and therapeutic goals. The frequency, intensity, position, duration and activities performed can all be adapted as part of the child’s program.
Your child may experience Galileo WBV during physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy, where appropriate to their individual treatment goals.
Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is a therapeutic technique that uses controlled mechanical vibration to provide repeated sensory and neuromuscular stimulation to the body. During WBV, a child may stand, sit, kneel or complete therapeutic activities on a specialized vibration platform.
One of the key theories behind WBV is that vibration stimulates sensory receptors within the muscles, including muscle spindles, which detect changes in muscle length. This can contribute to reflexive muscle activation, so the muscles can be activated repeatedly within a short period of time while the body continually adjusts to the movement underneath it.
Galileo uses a side-alternating movement. The platform operates in a seesaw-like motion: as one side rises, the other lowers. This movement is based on the alternating pattern of human gait and creates a corresponding tilting movement at the pelvis, producing alternating muscle activity between the left and right sides.
Some Galileo systems offer the unique Wobbel function, which automatically varies the vibration frequency during an activity. Because the changes are unpredictable, the body must continually adjust to the changing stimulus, which can be particularly useful when therapists are targeting dynamic balance, coordination and postural responses.
WBV is not used as a stand-alone therapy at NAPA. Instead, our therapists may incorporate it alongside active exercises and functional activities as part of an individualized therapy program.
Whether WBV is appropriate, and how it is used, is determined by the child’s therapist based on their individual presentation, tolerance and therapeutic goals. Your child may experience Galileo WBV during physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy, where appropriate to their individual treatment goals.
NAPA’s US clinics are located in Los Angeles, Boston, Austin, Denver, Chicago, and Charlotte. Services and schedules vary by location, so our team will help you find the clinic that best fits your child’s plan.
Share your child’s goals with our team, and we’ll help you understand whether whole body vibration could be part of their therapy plan.
or call 888-711-NAPA
