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If you or a loved one has autism, commonly referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you may be on the lookout for therapies that can support and improve the development of mobility, coordination, and balance.
While individuals with autism can be impacted differently by the condition, exciting new research shows that vibration therapy (VT) may be able to reduce stereotypy, improve sensory processing, and boost coordination.
Read on to learn more about how vibration therapy works with the body (rather than against it), explore its benefits for people living with autism, and review a list of considerations you’ll want to keep in mind before starting this innovative new therapy.
How Does Vibration Therapy Work?
Vibration therapy is a type of somatosensory input, which is the information that your body's sensory receptors (like your skin, muscles, and joints) send to your brain. For example, when you feel the texture of an object or sense temperatures like hot and cold, that's your somatosensory system at work.
Research has found that vibration therapy offers a variety of physical and psychological benefits, including stronger muscle development, improved bone density, decreased stress, and improved circulation.1
In particular, the mechanical oscillations caused by vibration therapy can trigger a reflexive contraction and relaxation of muscles, leading to improved muscle strength and coordination. This could assist individuals who have neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorder.2
Benefits of Vibration Therapy for Autism
While vibration therapy can be an effective way to lose weight and stay in shape, this exciting technology also offers various benefits to individuals with autism. Various studies have researched the impact of this therapy on autistic children and adults, finding that it can have a positive effect on their muscle tissue, sensory input, and sensory processing.3,4
It’s important to remember that every person living with autism may have unique challenges and experiences regarding communication, sensory input, and behavior. However, vibration therapy can offer a range of benefits to people living with autism, from helping them regain strength and coordination to supporting relaxation or enhanced motor skills.
Here’s a closer look at some whole-body vibration benefits for individuals with autism:
Reducing Stereotypy or Stimming
Vibration therapy may be able to reduce or alleviate stereotypy, which refers to repetitive or ritualistic movements, behaviors, or actions. Also called stimming, stereotypy can impact an individual’s social behaviors and movements.
While further research is required, studies have found that VT can reduce the frequency and intensity of certain types of stereotypy in people who have ASD.3
Improving Sensory Processing and Relaxation
Some individuals who have autism face challenges regarding sensory processing. One benefit of opting for vibration therapy is that it can be applied to the entire body, or localized to one target area. This means it can be a suitable treatment for individuals with autism who experience low arousal by providing somatosensory stimuli.
By delivering somatosensory stimuli directly to the area of the body impacted by sensory processing difficulties, vibration therapy can prompt the person’s sensations to improve. It can also help people who are sensory seekers, meaning they’re inclined to look for proprioceptive input (i.e. heavy work input like pulling, pushing, or hanging).
VT can offer an easy alternative that gives the individual the stimulus and sensory experience they’re seeking without the need for rigorous physical activity.
Enhancing Motor Skills and Coordination
By helping individuals with autism improve and support their sensory processing, vibration therapy can also help them improve their fine motor skills and coordination.
The vibrations can stimulate the proprioceptive system, which is responsible for providing feedback to the brain about body position, movement, and spatial orientation. This means that the stimulation provided by VT may enhance bodily awareness and motor planning in individuals with autism.
Considerations Before Starting Vibration Therapy
Before you or your loved one begins vibration therapy, keep the following in mind:
- Vibration therapy can be part of a holistic approach – Vibration therapy should be viewed as part of a holistic approach to supporting individuals with autism. Considering factors like sensory integration, communication, social skills, and emotional well-being alongside vibration therapy is essential for ensuring effective care and support.
- Every individual is unique – Each person with autism is unique, so responses to vibration therapy may vary. That’s why it’s a good idea to conduct an individualized assessment of the person's sensory processing, motor skills, and coordination to understand how VT can support them.
- You may want to seek professional guidance – Consider looking for guidance from professionals familiar with ASD, like occupational therapists and autism specialists. They can help assess the suitability of vibration therapy based on a person’s needs, strengths, and difficulties.
With these considerations and details in mind, VT can offer a personalized and supportive therapeutic experience for people living with autism.
Explore Vibration Therapy with Lifepro Today
From toning your muscles to burning body fat, vibration therapy offers a range of potential wellness-boosting benefits. Not only can it help you level up your workout routine or enhance your home office, but it can also offer a variety of benefits to individuals living with autism.
At Lifepro, we make it easy to take advantage of all that vibration therapy has to offer. Our range of products, including vibration plates and exercise machines, allows you to fit this wellness practice anywhere in your life, whether you use vibration therapy while answering emails, watching TV, or working out.
Get started with reaping the benefits of vibration plates by finding the right one from Lifepro today.
Sources:
- Current Sports Medicine Reports. Whole Body Vibration Exercise: Training and Benefits. https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/Fulltext/2008/05000/Whole_Body_Vibration_Exercise__Training_and.11.aspx
- National Library of Medicine. Vibration therapy role in neurological diseases rehabilitation: an umbrella review of systematic reviews. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34225557/
- National Library of Medicine. Effect of whole body vibration on stereotypy of young children with autism. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3082064/
- National Library of Medicine. Tactile Perception in Adults with Autism: a Multidimensional Psychophysical Study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2185746/
Author
Joel Gottehrer is the Co-Founder of Lifepro Fitness and has dedicated his life to helping people transform theirs. With over 12 years of experience in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and owner of two personal training studios, Joel has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to helping transform lives. After suffering from physical injuries, Joel and his business partner, Abraham Brach, came together with a common goal to alleviate the pain caused by their injuries.
They continued to find themselves disappointed with the results stemming from various products promising to relieve their pain, and with that – Lifepro Fitness was born. Joel's mission is to have a positive impact on millions of lives with the Lifepro brand. Whether it's finding new and innovative ways to help people recover from injuries or developing products to improve overall wellness, Joel is always looking for ways to push the boundaries. Thanks to his commitment to help people live their lives free of pain, Lifepro has been able to do this for thousands of people since its founding in 2017.
