Kelowna Capital News - Thiel: Positive results for fibromyalgia vibration therapy study - Mobile Edition

Here's an interesting article by Dr. Thiel in the  Kelowna Capital News.

Kelowna Capital News - Thiel: Positive results for fibromyalgia vibration therapy study - Mobile Edition

It is estimated that fibromyalgia (FM) presently affects approximately one in 1.5 million people in Canada.


FM patients, by definition, must have widespread pain throughout their body for a minimum of three months and must demonstrate 11 of the 18 specified trigger points in order to be diagnosed with FM.

These trigger points are found in the chest, hip, shoulder, neck and knee regions.

It is a very difficult disease to diagnose and some question as to whether or not it actually exists, as its diagnosis is one of exclusion.

One of the more disturbing symptoms include loss of balance and disequilibrium.

Exciting research published in Arthritis Care & Research this August may prove beneficial in managing some of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.

Dr. Narcis Gusi used an interesting tool that had positive effects on neural, muscular and musculoskeletal symptoms. This intervention is called Whole Body Vibration (WBV).

They write: “In WBV, the patient stands on a platform that oscillates at a particular frequency and amplitude, causing muscular contractions through stimulatory or sensory receptors.”

The study group had a sample of 41 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia between the ages of 41 and 65 years of age.

They were randomized into the control group or the vibration group.

The vibration group had three 30-minute sessions a week of vibration over the course of 12 weeks. The frequency of 12.5 Hz was used.

The balance, both static and dynamic was assessed pre-and post-study in both groups.

Their findings indicated that the vibration group had an overall improvement of 36 per cent when compared to their baseline, whereas no benefit was observed in the control, or non-vibration group.

The authors found that “this raises the possibility of adding a new technology with potential health benefits to the usual exercise regimes recommended for patients with pain,” as a result of fibromyalgia.

When one stands on these vibratory platforms, the cerebellum, also known as the motor part of the brain, becomes overwhelmed with proprioceptive input.

This is essentially our balance sense.

The pathways that are responsible for reporting position of body and righting posture becomes very dominant.

This would allow the individual to bypass the normal nociceptive, or pain stimuli.

Essentially, balance becomes dominant over pain.

It is also noted in the literature that WBV is also very effective in increasing bone density in a patient who have osteoporosis.

In addition to this, the oscillations of the vibration machine would also facilitate lymphatic drainage and venous congestion.

One of the major limitations of the device is its cost of approximately $1,500 to $3,000 for home use.

Having said that, I believe that there are facilities in town that possess such a machine for public use.

This is a nice example of how we are able to retrain our nervous system as a result of activity.

The body is nothing more than a vessel that adapts and overcomes its environment.

I’m reminded of my physiology professor. His name was Dr. Yageesh Bambani.

I would say to him, “How are you today Dr. Bambanni?”

He would always reply, “I am adapting and overcoming through my internal environment.”

The body and nervous system adapts to whatever stressors you determine are appropriate at a time. For so many exercise, for others, cigarettes.

The stressors are ours to choose.

Markus Thiel is a doctor of chiropractic in Kelowna.


Vibrance Wellness Spa 102 - 3480 Carrington Road West Kelowna, B.C.V4T 3C1 Tel: (250) 768-1989Fax: (250) 768-1909 http://www.vibrancewellnessspa.com