Cycloidal vibration technology

Cycloidal Vibration Therapy (CVT) is type of non-invasive mechanical massage therapy that employs a specialized motor to generate non-percussive vibrations at its surface in three orthogonal directions. This type of three-dimensional (3D) cycloidal vibration (CV) has been shown to increase blood circulation and lymphatic drainage by stimulating deep muscle activity and is used to treat a variety of medical conditions (see below).

Cycloidal Vibration

Cycloidal vibration is characterized by small amplitude, low frequency vibrations that produce motion in three different directions. The amplitude of the vibration is typically in the range of 0.1 and 0.5 mm with a frequency typically in the range of 15-75 hertz and an acceleration rate of approximately 28 m/s². The nature of the waves allows for deep penetration, as distinct from other forms of mechanical massage. Modern CV motors utilize either 12 V or 24 V brushless DC electric motor to drive eccentrically mounted weights producing radial plane oscillations within a suspension system. Each of the three different directions of motion is created at different points in the cycle by a complex electronic speed controller (ESC) and it is the “out of phase” relationship which gives rise to a circular movement and the term cycloidal vibration.

Conventional massage products typically operate in a singular plane, either delivering percussive impacts, or orbital oscillations. The standard vibrations produced are high amplitude, high acceleration and have a high fundamental frequency that can damage tissues, especially during wound healing. Conversely, Cycloidal Vibration Technology is faster at relaxing muscles by virtue of the extra dimensions of action, has deeper penetration, promotes wound healing.^[1][2][3]

History

Cycloidal Vibration Therapy was discovered by Wiliam L. Wettlaufer who was initially developing heavy-duty machines to screen and grade crushed stone, ores, coal and similar coarse materials.^[4] Wettlaufer had developed a motor to radially distribute loads across his screens ^[5] and the technology was employed in a Canadian coal mine in the 1930s. Curiously the workers using Wettlaufer’s coal-sorting machine were reporting therapeutic side effects from leaning up against the machine during their breaks. Inspired by the claims of muscular and joint pain relief, Wettlaufer went on to develop scaled down versions of the motor for use in therapeutic products such as beds,^[6] stools,^[7][8] chairs,^[9][10][11] adjustable tables ^[12] and cushions.^[13]

In 1948, one of Wettlaufer’s prototypes and patent was bought at an auction by Mr Owen K Murphy and then commercialized. The resulting company, Niagara Therapy began designing, manufacturing and selling out of Adamsville, Pennsylvania devices such as hand held units,^[14] cushions,^[15] tables ^[16][17] and mats.^[18][19][20] By 1953, 14 CVT products were available and had been sold to such notable people as Prince Sulaiman of Saudi Arabia who bought five chairs for his wives.^[21]

Clinical Research

Muscular-skeletal

Cycloidal Vibration Therapy relaxes muscles as measured by electromyography,^[22][23] and is able to penetrate deep tissues and act on muscles that are normally hard to access by conventional forms of massage. The primary action has been proposed to be due to a “re-setting” under conditions of excessive proprioceptor activity of some centrally controlled level of muscle relaxation.^[24] In studies on people without any specific muscular problems, sessions of Cycloidal Vibration (44–50 Hz, 0.1-0.5 amplitude) has been shown to relax muscles resulting in significant increases in trunk flexibility (2 inches compared to control)^[25][26] and be equally effective as a time equalent (15 min) program of flexibility exercise in increasing short term mobility of the hip flexors.^[24]

Studies of Cycloidal Vibration Technology and neuromuscular disease processes such as spastic paraplegia and hemiplegia, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and partial paraplegia has been shown to release tension of striated muscle and maintain relaxation in the associated spasms for several hours providing therapeutic relief and an improved quality of life.^[27][28] In a study on children with severe mental retardation, it was shown that CVT increased rates of certain responses such as vocalizing and smiling, while decreasing other responses such as crying.^[29] In a nine-month study on lower back pain, it was found that patients increased their range of spinal movement, and also had lowered blood pressure and respiration rate,^[30] while a study on knee joint mobility of osteoarthritic patients showed that although one treatment did not yield major effects, there was a significant increase in mobility after ten days.^[31] Important implications from the research are that Cycloidal Vibration Technology has a place in not only promoting muscle relaxation, but is also able to achieve the same benefits of massage where massage would be painful or inaccessible, such as maintenance of flexibility during injury, penetration to deep muscles or joint mobilization.

Blood Circulation

Studies into the effect of Cycloidal Vibration Therapy on blood circulation has shown that it increases mean blood flow^[32] and the temperature of skin and subcutaneous tissue and the clearance rate of radioactively labelled sodium from skin in contact with the CVT device.^[33] In rabbit, Cycloidal Vibrations at 22–62 Hz increases blood flow within 1–2 minutes due to an increased dilation in the resistance vessels of skeletal muscle.^[34] In humans with hypertension (systolic pressure equal or more than 140mmHg) Cycloidal Vibrations did not affect diastolic blood pressure, but did decrease systolic blood pressure and well as heart rate.^[35] In practice, the ability of CVT to increase circulation has been used in orthopaedic wards to prevent bed sores which are caused by pressure and immobility, reducing hospitalization time.^[36]

Lymphatic Circulation

Studies into the lymphatic system using Niagara Therapy devices showed that regeneration of delicate lymph vessels is an important factor in wound healing, and these newly formed vessels can be easily broken by even gentle effleurage.^[37] On the other hand, Cycloidal Vibration when applied to the wounds of surgically incised mice displayed little or no adhesion of the scar to the underlying tissues, decreased local edema, decreased general and local congestion without increasing the permeability of veins and lymph vessels and most importantly CVT accelerated the regeneration time of the severed vein and lymph vessels from 13 to 9 days.^[1] It has also been observed that the action of CVT disperses tissue fluid from conditions such as stiffness, pain or swelling caused by excess fluid in the tissues, and stimulates fibroblasts to produce more fibrous tissue to oppose further fluid accumulation.^[38] Further, it has also been shown that CVT treatment reduces limb volume and softer limb tissues in lower limb lymphedema.^[39]

Respiratory System

In a study of the effect of Cycloidal Vibration on the pulmonary ventilation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease it was shown that treatment with CVT decreased the Respiratory minute volume, decreased respiratory rate and increased tidal volume, suggestive of a decrease in the work of breathing and more efficient ventilation.^[40] In a study on patients with fractured ribs and patients who were unable to tolerate percussion or manual vibration, low frequency Cycloidal Vibration (16–20 Hz) was able to provide pain relief, relaxation, deeper breathing and was effective for sputum clearance and cough stimulation,^[41] and similarly in mentally handicapped children.^[28]

Wound Healing

As previously mentioned, CVT has practical uses in preventing bed sores ^[36] and accelerating wound healing.^[1] It has also been reported that its use has been able to accelerate early wound recovery of post-operative convalescent geriatric patients ^[42] and in patients with venous ulcers, CVT combined with standard compression bandaging, enhances the healing rate of the ulcers and helps to relieve pain.^[2][43] CVT has also been shown to decrease recovery times from cellulitis, a common infection of the lower limbs. When combined with standard therapy of antibiotics and rest, the addition of CVT treatment significantly reduced hospital recovery times compared to controls^[44] and this approach has also successfully been used in the community setting to treat patients that previously required hospital admission.^[45]

References