Are you sitting on the couch dreaming one day you can have enough time and energy to do exercises to improve your health, or just to reduce the guilt for being not sporty enough in your free time? Well, thanks to the progress of technology nowadays, we have vibration training to help us solve that problem.
Vibration training? What is it and where does it come from?
Vibration training is when “...you stand, sit or lie on a machine with a vibrating platform. As the machine vibrates, it transmits energy to your body, forcing your muscles to contract and relax dozens of times each second. The activity may cause you to feel as if you're exerting yourself,” according to academic journal.[1] (Edward, Laskowski, 2020)
Vibration training was first invented by a Russian scientist called Vladimir Nazarov, who initially used vibration training as a therapy to prevent astronauts from losing their muscles and bone mass quickly in space[2]. (FOX, 2011)
Because space has minimal gravitational force, the astronauts’ muscles and bones are not getting loaded as they are on earth, so their bone loss would get faster. The fast bone loss process would cause potential bone fractures and unpredictable dangers to the astronauts. Thus, astronauts are required to take special vibration training before their departure to boost the density of their bones and the muscular strength before they get into space.
Till today, with the spreading use of vibration machines, vibration training is widely used in various industries such as rehabilitation, professional sports, and physical therapy.
Now, how does a vibration plate work?
The basic working principle of a vibration plate is to create an instability to trick your body, and force your body to create reflexive muscular actions, approximately 25-50 times per second. Most vibration plates contain the function that allows the machine to vibrate in multiple dimensions, which achieves “an incredible improvement in force production, or strength and power.[3]” (At Home Fitness, 2007)
Principle of force: f=ma. The force of an object equals the mass of it multiplies the acceleration -- Isaac Newton.
By forcing your body muscles to contract and relax dozens of times each second, a vibration plate can help your muscles to do exercises without having you necessarily pay additional effort[4]. (Edward, Laskowski, 2020)
Okay, what are the benefits of using vibration plates?
1. Strengthens your Bones and Muscles
Using a vibration plate is a wonderful way to build stronger muscles and bones. The Fit Day journal argues that “Unlike other forms of exercise which work on only about 40% of your muscle fibers, vibration plate training works on up to 90% of your muscle fibers to help you strengthen muscles and develop more muscle tissue”[5] (Fit Day, unknown). The stimulation to your bones and muscles would help increase the density of your bones and muscles.
The Department of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Athens did a study in 2007 that found volunteers have significant improvements in sprint speed and strength after six weeks of doing vibration training. Furthermore, “a 2003 study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise showed significantly increased strength of knee-extensors (the muscles in the front of your thigh) in 67 untrained female volunteers.”[6] (Jill, 2011)
In a nutshell, if you’re looking for fitness equipment that can help you strengthen your bones and muscles, then vibration plates are definitely your perfect number one pick.
2. Help Reduce Cellulite
While it’s well-known that almost all types of workouts can boost your blood circulation and the detoxing process, it’s still worth mentioning that whole-body vibration training can help reduce cellulite better.
In case some of us are not that familiar with Cellulite, it is a skin condition whereby the skin appears to have bumps and sagging, it is caused by uneven fat cell distributions. Cellulite is likely to appear on the thigh area, abdomen, and buttocks among both men and women.
To get rid of this unwanted skin condition, whole-body vibration workouts could be a perfect contributor. As when your body gets stimulated by the regular vibration, the fat cells are more likely to get broke down, which would help reduce the cellulite on your skin[7](All Vibration Plates, 2021). Thus, workout on a vibration plate is a great way to get rid of cellulite.
3. Increasing Production of Hormones
Regular vibration to your body would help encourage the production of the growth hormone. While using a vibration plate, your body would get stimulated and produce the Human Growth Hormones, which is also known as HGH, it helps to improve muscle mass, boost metabolism, and burn fat.[8] (All vibration plates, 2021)
Furthermore, your body would produce a type of hormone called serotonin, the increased amount of serotonin can help you feel less stressed, and stabilize your mood.
Thus, if you’re feeling stressed and just not energetic enough to take any other intense exercises, why don’t you try a whole-body vibration to ease your mind?
4. Boost Weight Loss
With all the benefits above said, helping with weight loss should be an unsurprising benefit of vibration plates. According to a research journal, “Advocates say that as little as 15 minutes a day of whole-body vibration three times a week may aid weight loss, burn fat, improve flexibility, enhance blood flow, reduce muscle soreness after exercise, build strength and decrease the stress hormone cortisol.[9]” (Edward, Laskowski, 2020)
However, there are no comprehensive experiments that can prove isolated whole-body vibration can help people lose weight directly. Although some researchers use mice as experimental subjects and got positive results[10] (Meghan, McGee-Lawrence, and colleagues, 2017), there are a number of significant differences between humans and mice.
But one thing that’s for sure, using a vibration plate while doing exercises can achieve better weight loss results than doing exercises singularly. Thus, if you are looking for fitness equipment that can help lose weight easier and more conveniently, a vibration plate is a perfect option.
Great! Where can I get an affordable vibration plate?
Zelus Fitness offers multiple modes of vibration plates include a 3D vibration plate, 4D vibration plate, regular vibration plate, and an extra-large size regular vibration plate that can work with users up to 330lb.
Some may wonder what are the differences between these vibration plate modes. Well, let me explain:
3D vibration plate: this mode can provide users with “front and back”, “left to right”, and “up to down”, three dimensions of vibration.
4D vibration plate: same as the 3D one, based on having “front and back”, “left to right”, and “up to down”, three dimensions of vibration, the 4D vibration plate has a massaging plate design that can massage the soles of users’ feet to stimulate blood circulation while vibrating.
Regular & Extra-large regular vibration plate: these two are the entry-level vibration plate modes that are mostly used for achieving regular side-to-side vibration.
Thus, for users who demand regular vibration for a relaxing aim, the regular & extra-large regular vibration plates could perfectly fulfill the needs. For users who are looking for a multiple dimension of vibration training, 3D and 4D vibration plates are the perfect choices. If you are planning to use the vibration plate at home with the shoes off, then you can totally consider getting a Zelus 4D vibration plate for a whole-body vibration training, and a good feet massage.
So, what are you waiting for? Get a vibration plate yourself and take an advanced step to a healthier life!
[1] Edward R. Laskowski, M.D., 2020. Is whole-body vibration a good way to lose weight and improve fitness? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/whole-body-vibration/faq-20057958
[2] FOX 19, 2011. Whole body Vibration Machine. fox19.com/story/14859966/whole-body-vibration-machine/
[3] At Home Fitness, 2007. How Does Power Plate (Vibration Machines) Work? https://www.athomefitness.com/how-does-power-plate-vibration-machines-work/
[4] Edward R. Laskowski, M.D., 2020. Is whole-body vibration a good way to lose weight and improve fitness? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/whole-body-vibration/faq-20057958
[5] Fit Day, The Benefits of a Vibration Plate, https://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/equipment/the-benefits-of-a-vibration-plate.html
[6] Jill, 2011. Good Vibrations: Can Body Vibration Machines Help You Get Fit? https://www.huffpost.com/entry/body-vibration-machines_b_893774
[7] All Vibration Plates, 2021. What Is Cellulite and What Causes It? – Can Vibration Machines Reduce Cellulite? https://www.allvibrationplates.com/can-vibration-machines-reduce-cellulite/
[8] All Vibration Plates, 2021. What Are The Benefits of Vibration Plates? https://www.allvibrationplates.com/vibration-plate-benefits/
[9] Edward R, Laskowski, M,D, 2020. Is whole-body vibration a good way to lose weight and improve fitness? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/whole-body-vibration/faq-20057958
[10] Meghan E. McGee-Lawrence, Karl H. Wenger, Sudipta Misra, Catherine L. Davis, Norman K. Pollock, Mohammed Elsalanty, Kehong Ding, Carlos M. Isales, Mark W. Hamrick, Marlena Wosiski-Kuhn, Phonepasong Arounleut, Mark P. Mattson, Roy G. Cutler, Jack C. Yu, Alexis M. Stranahan, 2017. Whole-Body Vibration Mimics the Metabolic Effects of Exercise in Male Leptin Receptor–Deficient Mice. Endocrinology, Volume 158, Issue 5, 1 May 2017, Pages 1160–1171, https://academic.oup.com/endo/article/158/5/1160/3070534?login=true#80751224