Stretch, lift, tighten, pulse, squeeze. And now? Vibrate. We know how to work our muscles using hand weights, momentum, body weight, and resistance. But exercising with vibration? We’ll need some specialized equipment for that.
Now, before you get too rattled (sorry for that one), it’s important to know that vibration plate exercises aren’t necessary for weight loss or the other amazing benefits we talk about below. But they may seriously amp up the results of all your hard work.
There are two major types of vibration plates:
- Tri-plane – moves in three directions—up and down, side to side, and front to back.
- Oscillating – rocks from side to side with a “see-saw” motion.
Even though it seems like the vibration plate does all the work, our muscles are actually contracting and relaxing at a high rate of speed.
So what does whole body vibration do for us?
Check out these six health benefits:
1. Improved Lymphatic Drainage
Vibration plates support lymphatic drainage by improving circulation through rapid muscle contractions and dilated blood vessels. This, in turn, helps the body get rid of waste more efficiently for better overall health.
Research has shown that whole body vibration increases the body’s resting metabolic rate, meaning that we may burn more calories when we’re not moving.
Although studies are limited, vibration may help reduce excess fat in a short period of time. Think: 20 minutes, just a couple times a week for four weeks. This can be your ally when you need to tone up or lose weight.
As we age (and especially after menopause), bone density decreases, making us more prone to fractures. Studies show that whole body vibration may increase bone mineral density. Better to start sooner than later, we say!
5. Stronger Immune System and Less Pain
Whole body vibration can show a significant reduction in inflammatory markers, meaning it may reduce inflammation and the pain that often comes with it.
6. Faster Muscle Recovery
If you like to go hard in your workouts, a vibration plate can speed muscle recovery. Testing has shown that using whole body vibration before and after intense workouts lessen muscle soreness and speed up recovery.
So, knowing all this, which vibration plate should we use?
After some digging, we found that, although oscillation is super beneficial, the tri-plane seems to come out on top. One of the best tri-plane plates out there is PowerPlate, due to its precise vibration has been used in whole body vibration medical studies.
“If you see videos of people shaking on machines, or at the mall, that’s not harmonic Whole Body Vibration. That is a cheap machine that shakes you,” says Jacqueline Wicks, Chief Commercial Officer at Power Plate.
Finding the right vibe is a vital part of introducing whole body vibration into your practice.
“Whole body vibration is one of, if not the, most important modalities to not only maximize the positive metabolic effects of exercise but also increase lean muscle mass and decrease visceral fat. The natural effect of increased muscle mass and oxygen consumption is an increased resting metabolic rate. This is what makes it such an effective tool for modifying body composition,” explains Zak Lerner, Director of Healthcare and Wellness and head of PowerPlate’s research team.
Oscillation is a great starter plate for those new to fitness or if lymphatic flow and recovery are the main focus.
At the end of the day, it just feels good to catch a buzz. Think of it as a super natural high with supernatural results.
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The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the article are the views of the author only, and Poosh does not endorse or recommend any such content or information, or any product or service mentioned in the article. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
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