Focal Muscle Vibration
Stability.Strength.Performance
Focal Muscle Vibration
Download Focal Muscle Vibration Instructions
“I struggled last year with a high hamstring tendinitis, which also led to some pretty serious lower back pain. I was constantly in pain management mode with my training. I wanted to reach out to you because I am finally able to sprint/jump/throw without pain! Specifically, I wanted to send my regards to you for the research and time you spent chatting with Dr. Krasnov about the injuries. We aggressively used your recommendations with the vibration tool and the triple stick strap in our approach to heal my hamstring/back. The expertise you shared with Dr. K was a lifesaver for me at the end of last year and the beginning of my fall training this year.“
Focal Muscle Vibration: A Powerful Clinical Tool to Improve Balance, Strength, and Agility.
Some amazing new research has shown that when a contracted muscle is vibrated at a specific frequency and intensity, it can produce long-term changes in athletic performance and balance. In an interesting study of competitive volleyball players, Brunetti et al. (1) show that the application of just 3 sessions of focal muscle vibration (FMV) applied bilaterally over contracted quadriceps muscles produced a 26% increase in muscle power and 13% increase in counter movement jump height. Even more surprising, these changes persisted for more than 6 months. Although the exact mechanism for improved performance remains unclear, most experts agree that FMV enhances output from muscle spindles, which in turn improves the synchronization and coordination between agonist and antagonist muscles producing smoother more efficient joint/muscle interactions.
FMV can be used on any muscle (Fig. 1) and ankle weights and/or elastic bands can be used to apply light resistance. The typical protocol is to have the person perform a mild 10-minute isometric contraction with the motors running, followed by a 60-second rest. This is repeated 3 times each day for 3 consecutive days. In most cases, treatments are repeated once or twice a week for the next 4 to 6 weeks and home rehabilitative stretches and exercises are encouraged during this time period. People with chronic ankle instability respond especially well to FMV over the proximal peroneus longus, while chronic rotator cuff injuries do well with FMV applied directly over a tight infraspinatus. For a full review of the benefits associated with FMV, read the full article here.
Ordering 2 of these motors allows you to test core proprioception with the focal muscle vibration test (article). When purchased as a pair, these motors come with a line splitter, a plug-in cord, and an on-off switch to start and stop the diagnostic test. Purchasing a pair also allows you to target two muscles simultaneously, which comes in handy when treating quads to improve jump height, and calves to improve balance and athletic performance.
1. Brunetti O, et al. Focal vibration of quadriceps muscle enhances leg power and decreases knee joint laxity in female volleyball players. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2012 Dec 1;52:596-605.
Testimonials
“I started using focal muscle vibration for injury recovery at the instruction of my chiropractor. I noticed significant improvements in strength and injury pain relief within days. Floored by the results and ease of use, I ordered my own set to use at home for injury prevention and strength training.”
“I have been dealing with high hamstring tendinopathy for well over two years. After following the recommended protocol of 3 by 10-minute isometric contractions for 3 consecutive days, I was able to significantly increase my strength. I feel much more powerful while running and most importantly am running pain free! I would highly recommend this tool for anyone looking to improve performance or promote injury recovery.”