Can Vibrating Exercise Equipment Increase Your Fitness Level?

You may have laughed at the old-timey ads showing smiling women using vibrating exercise machines to reduce flab. Amazingly enough, vibrating exercise equipment made a comeback several years ago and is now being used in a variety of sports training programs. Do these body vibrating machines really help to increase fitness levels?

Several studies suggest these machines, sometimes know as whole body vibration machines, may be worth closer consideration. Studies have shown that use of these whole body vibrating machines by women resulted in an increase in muscle strength comparable to that gained from a cardio strength training program, all while standing stationary on a rapidly vibrating platform.

To use one of these innovative whole body vibration machines, you simply step onto a rapidly vibrating platform. When the machine vibrates it causes your muscle fibers to contact as they do during resistance training except at a higher frequency. It’s this vibration that appears to build strength. To increase the effectiveness of the whole body vibration workout, strength training exercises can be performed while the machine vibrates.

Vibrating exercise equipment is not without its skeptics. Many believe these machines are just another exercise gimmick designed to separate your from your money. But some gyms are making body vibrating machines available to their members in an effort to provide them with more exercise options. The word among those who have tried these machines is they may provide some additional benefit to a conventional strength training program but won’t take the place of standard resistance training. They also emphasize for the person who has a limited capacity to exercise such as the elderly, this machine is a better option than a sedentary lifestyle and may promote moderate increases in muscle strength. Unfortunately, these machines are not designed to burn body fat or promote weight loss.

One area where vibrating exercise equipment holds some promise is in the area of osteoporosis prevention in post menopausal women. A study conducted in 2004 showed that training three times a week with whole body vibration for a period of six months caused significant increases in bone density.

Other skeptics are concerned that the constant vibration from vibrating exercise equipment may actually be harmful. That’s why they’re recommending limiting vibration time to less than ten minutes per session and using whole body vibration machines only a few times per week.

You can even purchase whole body vibration equipment for use at home. Soloflex now has their own version of a vibrating platform designed for home use which will cost around $400.

The verdict? There’s not enough evidence available to say one way or another whether these machines work, although there are small studies and anecdotal evidence that suggests they could have some effect on muscle strength. Before using vibrating exercise equipment, always check with your doctor particularly if you have a history of spinal injury or other orthopedic disease. Also don’t plan on giving up your regular strength training routine. It will very likely provide you with greater benefits than vibrating exercise equipment.