Vibration of General Benefit
Vibration, if properly given, and without overdosing, is beneficial to the whole body, but it should be emphasized that no form of vibration can be as effective as active exercise of the same parts of the body, for active exercise depends upon the voluntary effort of the individual taking it. It is espe¬cially in the treatment of the sick, and those below normal in health and strength, and perhaps of those who consider them¬selves too old or too sedate to exercise, that vibration is of the most decided value.
A precaution that should be emphasized in giving vibra¬tion, particularly to the spine, is that overstimulation brings relaxation, perhaps exhaustion, of the nerves and of the circulation generally. Hence vibrotherapy is a “two-edged sword,” and should not be relied upon except as an adjunct to other therapeutic measures. That is, one should not get the impression that, if a little vibration is good for one, a great deal is better and consider as unnecessary many other valuable health measures. Vibration is at best but a help; it is not a cure-all,—in fact, it will cure nothing. But in the conditions where it is of value it has effects difficult to obtain by most other procedures. Use it if you desire, but use it moderately.