| Many patients who present themselves to the | | | | a time series of postural sway shows much more |
| chiropractic office suffer from musculoskeletal | | | | variation than is seen in a physical pendulum. In the |
| disorders. More and more research confirms what we | | | | past, the variation was attributed to random effects. A |
| know to be true from our own daily anecdotal | | | | more recent interpretation is that sway has a fractal |
| knowledge. There is hardly a modality that works | | | | structure. A fractal pattern consists of a motif |
| better for these conditions than chiropractic. Yet there | | | | repeated at varying levels of magnification. The levels |
| are a number of modalities that can enhance the | | | | are related by a ratio called the fractal dimension. It is |
| benefits of adjustments. | | | | believed that the fractal pattern offers a range of fine |
| One of these modalities is just finding it's way into the | | | | and gross control tuning. Fractal dimension is altered in |
| healthcare field in America, after having been used and | | | | some motor dysfunctions. |
| re-searched for the last four decades in Russia and | | | | This is one of the best definitions I have read and, |
| Europe-Whole Body Vibration. | | | | therefore opted to re-use it in this context. WBV |
| In a number of articles over the next few months, I will | | | | introduces a significant additional stimulus to the CNS in |
| outline the scientific reasoning behind WBV and how it | | | | order to challenge the postural reflexes. Utilizing WBV |
| can be beneficial to the chiropractic practitioner's | | | | on many of my patients over the last year, I have |
| practice. | | | | found a number of them are making significant gains in |
| I will start with a brief review of the neurologic control | | | | their spatial awareness and proprioceptive responses. |
| of posture. The definition given in Wikipedia -Posture, | | | | This is particularly true for the geriatric patient and, in |
| standing reads as follows: Although quiet standing | | | | particular, those that have not exercised for years. |
| appears to be static, modern instrumentation shows it | | | | Patients with chronic postural distortions also derived |
| to be a process of rocking from the ankle in the | | | | tremendous benefit and excelled in their improvement. |
| sagittal plane. Standing posture is often likened to an | | | | Doctors practicing with somatic release may be |
| inverted pyramid. | | | | familiar with the term somato-motor amnesia. Many of |
| Standing posture relies on dynamic rather than static | | | | these patients' postural senses have become |
| balance. Our Center of Mass (COM) is in front of the | | | | overwhelmed by the aberrant stimuli of faulty |
| ankle. A static pose would cause us to keel over on | | | | positioning. WBV helps patients to key in on their own |
| our face. In addition, we are constantly subjected to | | | | body on a subconscious level. Integrating the stimulus |
| external perturbations such as breeze and internal | | | | of WBV into the treatment protocol increases assists |
| perturbations from respiration. Erect posture requires | | | | the patient in becoming more aware of their position in |
| adjustment and correction. Traditionally, our correction | | | | the three dimensional room. Many experience an |
| was explained by the spring action of our muscles. | | | | improved sense of balance, all of which facilitates |
| This is a local mechanism that takes place without the | | | | becoming more limber and flexible. |
| intervention of the Central Nervous System (CNS). | | | | All of these above mentioned changes are, of course, |
| Recent studies, however, show that spring action, by | | | | benefits of regular exercise. Moving our limbs through |
| itself, is insufficient to prevent a forward fall. Also, | | | | the three dimensional room helps to gain better control |
| human sway is too complicated for spring action to be | | | | over our whole body. Yet many of our patients may |
| the sole mechanism. | | | | not be able to go to a gym or other exercise facility |
| According to current theory, the CNS continually | | | | for a multitude of reasons. |
| monitors our direction and velocity below our | | | | Having a WBV unit in the chiropractor's office, |
| conscious awareness. Our vertical body axis | | | | therefore, becomes a feasible choice. Standing on a |
| alternates between forward and backwards tilts. | | | | vibrating platform creates a safe and user-friendly |
| Before each tilt reaches the tip-over point, the CNS | | | | environment to introduce a postural challenge into the |
| counters with a signal to reverse direction. Sway also | | | | above described neuromuscular control system. If the |
| occurs in the hip and there is a slight winding and | | | | patient is assisted by a therapist and taken through a |
| unwinding of the lower back. | | | | series of exercise while standing on the plate, they are |
| An analogy would be a ball that is volleyed back and | | | | performing neuromuscular re-education and the office |
| forth between two players and is not allowed to touch | | | | is well justified in billing for such a service. |
| the ground. The muscle exertion required to maintain | | | | WBV can be a tremendous asset to the chiropractic |
| an aligned standing posture is crucial but minimal. A little | | | | care of our patients. It relaxes the patients, helps them |
| goes a long way. Electromyography has detected | | | | to get ready for an adjustment and prepares their |
| slight activity in the muscles of the calves, hips and | | | | neurologic systems to accept the input provided by the |
| lower back. | | | | articular manipulation. It is difficult to imagine a better |
| Although the pendulum model is a good approximation, | | | | preparation for the chiropractic adjustment. |