Do Vibration Plates Help Varicose Veins?

Similar to arteries, veins are blood vessels that carry blood around your body. The only difference is that the first supply organs with oxygen-rich blood, whereas the latter takes deoxygenated blood from the organs and transport it to the heart and lungs for reoxygenation. The deoxygenated blood is rich in carbon dioxide that makes the blood appear blue, which is why your veins look bluish.

The entire network of veins, venules, and capillaries comprises the venous system. It is as important as any other system in the body and its optimal functioning is vital for the well-being of the whole organism. Unfortunately, the venous system is not insured against pathological conditions either and has its flows. Among the most common ones are varicose veins.

The good news is that varicosity is a treatable condition with several successful methods currently available in that direction. Depending on the progression of the disease, sufferers may take advantage of minor lifestyle changes or compression practices. Another helpful technique is the whole-body vibration which is performed on the vibration plate. This type of treatment is relatively new but so far it is showing very promising results when it comes to improving overall health.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins also referred to as varicosities or varicose, are enlarged, swollen, and twisted blood vessels. While any major vein can be affected, the ones that are most prone to swelling are those on the lower legs and feet. Varicosities are often blue or purple, and lumpy or twisted in appearance. It has been established that the condition bothers around 25% of the adult population worldwide and that women are more susceptible to it.

Varicosities are most evident during summer when the weather is hot and after a prolonged standing in an upright position due to increased blood pressure in the lower part of the body. The main reason for developing this unpleasant condition is the failure of the valves that are located along the veins. The role of the valves is to keep the blood flowing up towards the heart. When this function is impaired, the blood starts collecting in the vein which leads to its enlargement.

How do I get rid of varicose veins on my legs?

Varicosities can be an extremely unpleasant condition that is bothering millions of people, causing them discomfort and aching pain. If neglected and left untreated, the disease can worsen and lead to more serious health problems. This is why varicose vein sufferers should seek help well on time and not procrastinate.

Among the most successful treatment methods are:

• Changes in lifestyle and diet
• Compression techniques
• Surgery in the form of vein ligation and stripping

Patients are advised to lose weight, avoid standing or sitting for too long, including various exercise activities into their routine, and eat a healthy diet. Additionally, varicosities sufferers may take advantage of the use of compression stockings and socks. As a final resort, doctors may suggest surgery.

Before heading up to the operation room, people with varicose are advised to try any other available treatment. Recently, scientists have discovered another helpful method in that aspect which is known as the whole body vibration machine. The machine produces high-frequency vibrations that pass through the body, improving blood flow, lymphatic drainage, and muscle tone on their way. According to this study, the best results are observed when the vibration frequency is between 10 – 20 Hz.

Can I get rid of varicose veins without surgery?

As already mentioned there are several non-surgical treatments for varicose veins. Usually, medics will prescribe surgery as a very last resort, when all other methods have been proven unsuccessful. That depends also on the progression of the condition, the level of pain, and the location of varicosity. In many cases however the non-surgery-related treatments have a positive effect and vein ligation might not be needed.

The following non-surgical methods have been proven successful in treating varicose veins:

• Lose overall body weight and keep it within the healthy range with a BMI of 18.5 – 24.9 kg/m2. Try staying closer to the lower range but do not go below it;
• Avoid standing in an upright position for too long as well as being too sedentary. Walk more frequently and implement light exercise activities into your daily routine (swimming, cycling, walking, yoga);
• Base your diet on vegetables, fruits, pulses, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Abstain from fried foods, processed meats, and foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. Drink plenty of water;
• Wear compression stockings or socks that put pressure on your legs and aid easier blood flow through the veins. They can also help reduce swelling that is associated with varicosities;
• Use a vibration platform machine for preventing varicose veins with whole-body vibration therapy. So far the noninvasive technique has been showing pretty promising results helping many people to relieve the symptoms of varicosities;

When to worry about varicose veins

Lifestyle changes, dieting, compression socks, and whole-body vibration can help relieve the symptoms of varicose and preventing them from getting worse. However, if you are becoming more concerned about the condition, the look and size of your veins, as well as the amount of pain that is present, you might want to see a doctor.

In most cases, there is no need to worry but as with any other pathological condition, varicosities might start progressing in which case a medical examination is highly recommended. Even if the noninvasive methods have not proven helpful, surgery might not be needed as there are plenty of other minimally invasive treatments. Some of the most common ones are laser surgery, sclerotherapy, endoscopic vein surgery, and microsclerotherapy.

How does whole body vibration remove varicose veins?

As previously discussed, there are several successful noninvasive treatments for varicosities. One of the latest additions in that area is the whole body vibration machine. Preventing varicose veins with whole-body vibration therapy is gaining a lot of popularity lately. The results so far have been quite promising and it seems that this noninvasive method has a bright future.

The vibration plate and the high-frequency oscillations that are produced by it have been shown to remove varicose veins in several different ways:

• Overweight and obesity are among the leading factors for developing varicosities. Whole-body vibration raises metabolism and increases fat burning rate, which leads to decreased body fat percentage and overall weight loss;
• The regular use of the vibration plate (15 – 20 minutes a day, 3 – 4 days a week) aids lymphatic drainage and eases blood flow through the veins. The final result is reduced pressure in the blood vessels and improved functioning of the valves;
• The whole body vibration machine promotes collagen synthesis. Together with elastin and keratin, collagen is responsible for blood vessels’ strength and elasticity. The stronger and more elastic the veins, the lesser the chance of developing varicose;

Final thoughts

Varicose veins are indeed an unpleasant pathological condition that affects millions of people every year. The progression and the severity of the disease vary but the symptoms are the same – unappealing look, aching pain, and lots of discomforts. The good news is that there are plenty of successful methods that can relieve the symptoms of the condition before opting in for surgical intervention.

One of the latest additions in the medical arsenal of varicosity fighting techniques is the vibration plate and the activity that is performed on it, namely whole-body vibration. So far, the results from the clinical trials have been pretty promising and many varicose veins sufferers have already benefited from the innovative treatment.

References

Song-Young Park, Won-Mok Son and Oh-Sung Kwon. (2015). Effects of whole body vibration training on body composition, skeletal muscle strength, and cardiovascular health. Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation; 11(6): 289-295.

Lythgo, N., Eser, P., de Groot, P. and Galea, M. (2009). Whole-body vibration dosage alters leg blood flow, Clinical Physiology, and Functional Imaging, 29(1), 53-9.

Kessler, N., Kim, S., Mcgeehan, M. A. and Hong, J. (2012). Applications of whole body vibration therapy in the clinical setting: A brief review. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 19(7):405-413.