Training on the VibroGym is an ideal way for amateurs as well as professional skiers to prepare for the season to help reduce the risk of injuries. It helps improve stability and balance and also strengthens the core and most importantly, the thigh muscles as the quadriceps and gluteal muscles are the main muscles used during skiing as they help straighten the knee and also to bend it.

Whole Body Vibration (WBV) training automatically activates the “fast twitch” muscle reflex and the muscle fibers are almost 100% activated as compared to 40 – 70% with conventional workouts.

Another benefit of WBV is that you can do massages and stretches which helps to reduce DOMS because WBV helps release the hormones (HGH and IGF-1) which are involved in recovery, ensuring a faster and more complete recovery.

The correct preparation is essential before hitting the slopes as injuries are so common, especially to the knees. Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries are the most common injury in skiing, followed by ACL and tears.

WBV has been used in preparation as well as rehabilitation from skiing accidents such as Team VibroGym member of Australia’s leading aerial skier Lydia Lassila (nee Ierodiconou),

With her determined attitude, Lydia recovered from a knee reconstruction in an amazingly short time to be ready for the 2006 Winter Olympics. Entering as one of the favorites, she misjudged the landing on her 2nd jump in the semi-finals, reinjuring the knee she had repaired 8 months earlier.

After undergoing another knee reconstruction, Lyd­ia used VibroGym as part of her rehabilitation.

Another case is Olympic champion ski racer Chemmy Alcott who had a serious accident that could have ended her career. However her coach included training on a WBV machine, as part of her intensive rehabilitation programme, to include proprioception, recovery and massage.

The proven benefits are shown in the studies below.

Studies

J Athl Train. 2006; 41(3): 286–293.

PMCID: PMC1569559

Improving Strength and Postural Control in Young Skiers: Whole-Body Vibration Versus Equivalent Resistance Training

Nele N Mahieu,* Erik Witvrouw,* Danny Van de Voorde,* Diny Michilsens,* Valérie Arbyn,* and Wouter Van den Broecke

*Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

†Palfijn Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

Contributed by

Nele N. Mahieu, PT; Erik Witvrouw, PhD, PT; Danny Van de Voorde, PT; Diny Michilsens, PT; Valérie Arbyn, PT; and Wouter Van den Broecke, MD, contributed to conception and design; acquisition and analysis and interpretation of the data; and drafting, critical revision, and final approval of the article.

Author information ► Copyright and License information ►

Sports Med. 1994 Jun;17(6):411-23.

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