A number of fitness clubs now offer these contraptions that allow you to stand or sit while vibrations rock your body. Known as whole-body vibration or WBV, the machines claim to burn calories quickly, tone muscles, and help build strength. They also improve balance and bone density in older adults and reduce back pain and cellulite.
But just how safe are these devices? And does the vibration actually help you lose weight?
Vibration training has been around for a while and has been used by astronauts in space to simulate the effects of gravity so they don’t lose muscle or bone density. In addition, athletes have been using it to enhance performance for years.
The newest wave of popularity for these machines is due to studies that suggest a number of other benefits including more powerful muscles, increased bone density, a healthier heart, and even decreased blood pressure. The research has been enough to convince some health experts that these benefits outweigh any potential risks.
Currently, there are about a dozen different brands of wbv machines available on the market, with Power Plate being one of the biggest names. They have a portable machine that you can take with you anywhere called the Personal Power Plate as well as a variety of other options. Bulletproof coffee entrepreneur Dave Asprey offers his own version of the machine called the Bulletproof Vibe.
The type of vibration that these machines produce is low-magnitude mechanical stimulation. These platforms move a few inches up or down and do not rotate. They typically have an amplitude of only 2-3 mm and move in a linear fashion (z-axis). This study measured the acceleration transmitted through the plantar surface of the feet on three distinct WBV platforms and reported the results in terms of Threshold Limit Values (TLV) established to minimize risk to human exposure limits as prescribed by ISO-2631.
