Effect of three-week OCV vibrotherapy on cellulite symptoms

Cellulite affects approximately 85% of women over the age of 20 and 2% of men. It is characterized by atypical distribution of adipose tissue which may result from adipocytes and connective tissue metabolic disorders. Those disorders may come from genetic, hormonal, dietary or associated with low physical activity basis. Many methods of treating cellulite have been developed, but their effectiveness (especially non-invasive methods) is still low. Recently, in the treatment of cellulite, vibrotherapy, a type of physical therapy, where a mechanical stimulus characterized by an oscillating movement is responsible for therapeutic action, has attracted attention. Vibrotherapy improves blood and lymph flow and helps increase the elasticity of blood vessels. In addition, some studies suggest that vibration exercise may increase the metabolic rate, affect glycemic control and blood lipoprotein composition, and previous studies by the authors of the presented report showed the effectiveness of oscillatory-cycloid vibrotherapy (OCV, Vitberg, Poland) in reducing the severity of cellulite (according to the Nürnberger-Müller scale). Therefore, they undertook further analyzes of the influence of OCV on the more detailed features of the cellulite skin condition.

• A single OCV treatment, as well as the whole series of treatments, improved skin hydration.
• Reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was observed immediately after the OCV.
• Ambiguous changes in the acid-base balance, depending on the OCV time and body position during OCV procedure, were observed, indicating a complex type of response to the series of OCV treatments used.

Prepared on the basis of:

Effect of Three-Week Vibrotherapy on Selected Skin Parameters of Thighs and Buttocks in Women with Cellulite. Piotrowska A, Czerwińska-Ledwig O. Cosmetics. 2022; 9(1):16.

Study population

60 healthy women (19-43 years old) with cellulite of at least grade I according to the Nürnberger-Müller scale participated in the study.

Test procedure

The examined women were randomly assigned to 4 groups receiving 15 vibrotherapy treatments:

• in a sitting position for 30 minutes
• in a sitting position for 60 minutes
• in the supine position for 30 minutes
• in the supine position for 60 minutes.

The selected parameters of the skin around the thighs and buttocks were measured with the Courage and Khazak apparatus at four time points, i.e. before (I) and after (II) the first treatment and before (III) and after (IV) the last OCV treatment. The treatments were applied 5 times a week (Monday to Friday) for 3 weeks.

Use of vibration in the study

OCV was provided by a medical device (Vitberg, Poland) from the RAM Vitberg+ series (currently updated and replaced by Vitberg Recovery System [Vitberg RS]), generating vibrations of an oscillating-cycloid nature, directed in 3 perpendicular planes (vibrating 3D effect), in accordance with a predefined algorithm (Vitberg). The transmission of vibrations was realized by a motor with a vibrating anvil, operating in the range of 18-39 Hz.

Results

The OCV influenced the basic characteristics of the skin.

Even a single OCV treatment improved the hydration of the skin of the thighs, while the series of treatments increased the hydration of the skin of both examined areas (thighs and buttocks).

Immediately after OCV procedures, a reduction in TEWL of the thighs and buttocks was observed with each administration regimen used, but no long-term effect was observed.

There were ambiguous changes in the acid-base balance depending on the time and position of the procedure (the lying position caused a greater reduction in the acid-base value), indicating a complex type of response to the series of treatments.

Comment

The obtained results show that OCV advantageously improves skin hydration, and each treatment reduces TEWL.

Earlier studies by the authors of this report showed that OCV reduces the severity of cellulite. The present study also showed that OCV improves hydration and reduces the TEWL (albeit not long-term) of the thighs’ and buttocks’ skin. It was also observed that OCV influenced the acid-base balance of the skin depending on the treatment position, while the lying position resulted in a greater reduction in the acid-base value. Next, researchers plan to analyze the long-term effects of OCV on TEWL, pH, and skin hydration after using an extended OCV therapeutic protocol.

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