Whole-body vibration may provide some fitness and health benefits, and some types, like oscillating vibration plates, create movements very similar to regular exercise.
You stand, sit, or lie on a machine with a vibrating platform to experience vibrating exercise machine. The machine transmits energy to your body as it vibrates, forcing your muscles to contract and relax dozens of times per second. You may feel as if you are exerting yourself during the activity.
A whole-body vibration machine can be found at a local gym or purchased for home use
Advocates claim that as little as 10 minutes of whole-body vibration three times a week can help with weight loss, fat burning, flexibility, blood flow, muscle soreness after exercise, strength building, and lowering the stress hormone cortisol.
Since this technology has been around for more than 30 years, extensive research has been complted on whole-body vibration. Research has shown whole-body vibration provides the same range of health benefits as active exercise such as walking, biking, or swimming.
Some research suggests that whole-body vibration may help improve muscle strength and aid in weight loss when combined with calorie restriction.
Whole-body vibration may have applications beyond sports and fitness. According to some research, whole-body vibration, when done correctly and under medical supervision when necessary, can:
• Reduce back pain
• Improve strength and balance in older adults
• Reduce bone loss
Still, if you want to lose weight and get in shape, eat a healthy diet and incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. If you choose whole-body vibration, make sure you also do aerobic and strength training exercises.
And, as with any exercise program, consult your doctor about using whole body vibration, especially if you are pregnant or have any health issues.
Whole-Body Vibration (WBV)
Whole-body vibration, produced by companies such as “Power Plate” and “LifetimeVibe” is by far the most popular new addition to the passive exercise category. It grew out of a program used to train Russian cosmonauts and quickly spread throughout Europe and Japan before making its way to the United States, where entire centers are now devoted to this workout.
Vibration machines have appeared alongside traditional gym equipment, and manufacturers claim that ten minutes of vibration per day can be equivalent to an hour of exercise. According to claims, standing on a rapidly shaking platform improves muscle tone and circulation while also hastening weight loss.
It’s an enticing prospect: standing on a platform while your body appears to tone and lose weight on its own. But is there evidence that these vibration machines work as they claim?
Thankfully, more research is supporting many of these benefits, but much remains to be completed.
How does it function?
Whole-body vibration therapy has been adapted from original Cosmonauts and Astronauts, to also help athletes improve the effectiveness of their training. Some common conditioning and gym exercises, such as squats, press-ups, and step-ups, now incorporate vibration platforms.
The therapy is performed by standing, sitting, lying, or performing exercises on specially designed equipment that oscillates at relatively high frequencies, generally in a horizontal plane.
Because the vibration parameters used in scientific studies vary greatly, more research is needed to continue to discover the full benefits of whole-body vibration therapy.