Mechanical vibration is naturally present in various cells, tissues, and organs, and it is essential to life and health. This vibratory stimulus can be added/transmitted to the whole body of the individual in daily physical activities across our lifespan, from infancy and childhood to adulthood and to the elderly. The relevance of the mechanical vibration to the promotion of the health is highlighted by the presence of mechanoreceptors at superficial and internal levels of the body. The action potential that is generated due to the interaction of the mechanical vibration with the mechanoreceptors are responsible for various biological effects that are important to the human health and wellbeing.

In vibration therapy, mechanical vibration is transmitted to the individual that is in contacting with a device that generates this vibratory stimulus. In systemic vibration therapy (SVT), the whole-body vibration exercise is produced when the mechanical vibration that is generated in vibrating platforms, is transmitted to the body of the individual. Relevant effects of the SVT are improvements in muscular strength, bone mineral density, cognition, quality of life, and functional abilities, and reduction of the level of pain and risk of falls in several populations, from infancy to elderly.
The mechanical vibration can be applied locally, in the local vibration therapy (LVT), and the vibratory stimulus is generated in small and portable vibrators, and it is applied directly in a region of the body, over the tendon or muscle belly. Effects of the LVT have been also reported in different populations improving neuromuscular performance and functionality. A challenge is to establish the best clinical protocols of the SVT and LVT to be used in children, adolescents, adults, and elderly for the improvement of neuromusculoskeletal health, aiding in rehabilitation, and in the quality of life across the life span. The costs associated with aging and a longer life expectancy have increased over the years due to chronic age-related diseases such as musculoskeletal and neurodegenerative disorders with public health consequences. In light of this, the vibratory therapy could represent an effective, safe, and low-cost intervention to improve these health problems.

The aim of this Frontiers Research Topic is to publish original papers and reviews describing investigations about effects of vibration therapy, from applications to the prevention of diseases, increasing life expectancy and improving quality of life for the elderly. The main focus of this collection is to explore different approaches of the utilization of the mechanical vibration and its relationship with exercise and physical activity for individuals or communities.

Potential areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, vibration therapy:
- in the prevention and management of diseases, including musculoskeletal, neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases
- on neuromuscular responses and metabolism through the life
- physiological responses (systemic and local vibration therapy)
- in the prevention of falls, fractures, and frailty in elderly
- in individuals with disabilities
- as an effective intervention to improve health and quality of life and its effect on life expectancy

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