Several similar studies on vibration training have been conducted in different parts of the world with the findings always showing weight loss, improved fitness and posture, enhanced athletic performance, improvement of certain medical conditions, among a range of other positive end results. The vibration training group had also lost nearly two-thirds more abdominal fat than those who simply did aerobic exercises.
At the end of this study, the individuals put under vibration training had lost 11% of their body fat while the aerobic and diet only groups had simply lost 7% & 6% body fat respectively. The first group was told to do no exercise for 6 months, the second group was instructed to perform aerobic exercise 3 times a week, and the final group was put under vibration training where they exercised on a vibration plate 13 minutes a day for 5 days a week. Test subjects were divided into 3 groups and put under the same diet. For instance, scientists at the University of Antwerp at one time conducted a study to determine vibration plate effects on weight loss. There’s also a ton of testimonies online from individuals who have lost weight, toned up, gotten rid of stubborn belly fat, improved posture, and enjoyed a range of other benefits from vibration training.Īs for scientific proof, there is quite a bit of research that proves beyond doubt the effectiveness of vibration machines. A vibration plate can deliver on its promises and there is even serious scientific research and anecdotal evidence to back up this fact. Theories and claims aside, do vibration platforms really work or are they just a money-making gimmick? Well, the simple and short answer to this question is an emphatic yes. Manufactures of these machines also claim that a vibration plate can improve balance, increase strength, maintain muscle tone and enhance bone health in people who cannot use their muscles normally. Since a vibration platform forces your body to work harder on whatever exercise you’re doing, it tends to greatly increase blood flow, which helps speed up recovery after workout. This in turn results in an effective workout in just a short amount of time. Maintaining this near-constant state of muscle contraction requires almost all of the muscle fibers to kick in. Power plate machines, however, have an unstable surface that forces the muscles to perform reflexive contractions several times per second in a bid to maintain stability.Ĭontractions can be as high as 50 times per second depending on the vibration frequency set on a power plate. walking, running, lifting weights) typically activate about 40-60% of muscle fibers. a workout area/equipment with a stable surface), all voluntary muscle movements (e.g. In theory, these vibrations force the body to use up more of its muscle fibers during any form of physical activity.
But do vibration plate machines really work or is it all just hype? Here’s a look at what the fitness community and researchers have to say about vibration training.Īlso referred to as power plates, vibration plate machines are basically workout equipment with a base/platform that creates very powerful, pulsating, multi-directional vibrations continuously during use. With a vibration plate, you get to enjoy all sorts of benefits (tone your body, reduce cellulite, improve bone density, promote recovery, increase strength, etc.) without having to engage in vigorous exercise. The attraction behind vibration plate machines like this one today is probably the fact that they cut workout time by two thirds and significantly boost exercise results. In fact, these devices have been around for quite a while and were first developed by the Russians in the 1970s to help astronauts overcome muscle atrophy and bone loss during long periods of weightlessness and inactivity in space. Despite their increasing popularity in the fitness industry as well as home and public gyms, vibration plates and platforms are not a new technology.