Vibration plates are all over social media again, and as a result, they've sparked curiosity among fitness enthusiasts. Online claims suggest that these plates have many health benefits, like lymphatic drainage, building muscle and losing weight. But are these benefits actually based on facts, or are they simply misinformation being spread online?
To find out everything you need to know about vibration plates, and whether you should add one to your workout routine, we consulted with several fitness experts.
Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source on Chrome.
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.
Vibration plate benefits
... continue reading