Fitness fads come and go, and vibrations are the latest to join the fray. These claim to offer a new way to get fit without heavy impact on your joints. Simply standing on them is supposed to help you get fit and gain strength. Yes, low-impact workouts are a game changer for people struggling with chronic conditions, say arthritis, but are vibration plates the answer, or is this piece of exercise equipment just an expensive gimmick destined to become a laundry rack?
Well, we believe people are becoming more aware of what's actually good for their health. A recent CNET survey showed that six out of ten surveyed US adults are willing to invest in a better sleeping setup, which we know is vital in the fight against sleep deprivation. On a similar note, people commented on a recent Reddit thread saying they don't believe vibration plates are the actual solution when it comes to losing weight. However, some also acknowledged that it helps them feel more energized.
Since we don't want to leave this question unanswered, we went straight to the fitness experts to get the real answers on the benefits, the risks and who should absolutely step away from the wobble.
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What is a vibration plate?
Whole-body vibration plates are a form of exercise machine that shakes rapidly when you stand on them. When you stand on a vibration plate, you're engaging in a full-body vibration exercise, where your muscles are forced to contract and relax quickly.
"The purpose of vibration plates is to generate quick vibrations that cause your body's muscles to contract and relax several times per second," says Leah Verebes, a physical therapist and assistant professor at Touro University's School of Health Sciences. "At a far greater frequency, this resembles the spontaneous contractions that take place during exercise."
"This stimulates a subconscious muscle activation each time the machine moves, meaning your muscles are activating far more than they would on a stable surface," says Laura Wilson, a personal trainer at Life Time Fishers and director of training and curriculum at Power Plate, a company that produces vibrating exercise machines.
There are several ways to use a vibration plate, the most common being standing on its rectangular platform. However, you can also perform squats or push-ups on it.
Wilson says vibration plates can move in multiple directions: up and down, side to side and front to back. The harmonic vibrations move between 25 to 50 times per second, activating the corresponding muscles.
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