Whole Body Vibration Machines Pros and Cons

Whole body vibration machines pros and cons should be thoroughly analyzed before buying a vibration plate, as there are several aspects that are not visible at first sight but may influence the WBV training results.

Before taking a look at the advantages and disadvantages of vibration plates, it’s worth mentioning that there are two main types of whole body vibration machines: pivotal and lineal. Given that pivotal machines have a series of advantages that recommend them over lineal platforms, we’ll only refer to the tilting WBV platforms in this article.

Pros and cons of whole body vibration machines

Perhaps the most obvious advantage of vibration plates is that they allow you to maximize your workouts and to train harder in a shorter time. When exercising on a vibration machine, the load on your muscles and bones increases as a result of the hypergravitational environment created by the platform.

This means that your body has to work against a greater resistance force when performing the various movements, therefore the amount of energy consumed increases. More calories burned in a shorter time equal a more effective workout, especially for those of you trying to lose some extra pounds or struggling to find time for exercise.

A second advantage of vibration machines is that they allow you to perform strength training exercises without the risks that come with conventional weight lifting exercises. On whole body vibration platforms, you can tone and strengthen your upper and lower body without lifting weights and without using resistance cables or other accessories.

A WBV platform enables you to perform complex and demanding workouts while using only your body weight, and allows you to target specific body areas while providing a safe way to exercise. Whole body vibration is considered a low-impact activity, so even if you choose to exercise at higher frequencies, you are still less likely to get injured than when lifting heavy barbells or doing other complex movements that involve conventional weights.

We continue with our list of whole body vibration pros and we add one more advantage on this list: besides being an enjoyable and efficient training solution, WBV can also be used for rehabilitation and recovery purposes. This means that when you buy a whole body vibration machine, you receive not only a powerful training tool but also a versatile device that can support your rehabilitation efforts after an accident and can speed up recovery from fractures or surgical procedures.

Finally, another advantage of vibration platforms is that they can be used for improving circulation and lymphatic drainage, thus can support the weight loss process and can help in reducing the aspect of cellulite by encouraging the removal of excess water from the body. If you own a whole body vibration machine you can train, receive an anti-cellulite massage, relax your muscles, and practice recovery exercises using the same fitness tool.

Now let’s address some of the whole body vibration machines cons. If you want to buy a vibration machine that’s really qualitative and able to get you into your best shape, you might have to spend a significant amount of money, as high-quality WBV platforms are expensive.

Then, it may not be so easy to find a good vibration machine if you don’t have some technical knowledge, or don’t spend time learning about the most important factors to consider when buying a whole body vibration machine. It’s not the design nor the price that matter the most when it comes to these fitness tools, but their acceleration, frequency, and amplitude.

If you don’t have at least some basic understanding of what each of these parameters means and how it influences the outcomes of WBV training, you might end up paying too much money for a WBV platform that isn’t powerful enough for your health and fitness goals.

Another disadvantage of WBV machines is that some of them are noisy and heavy, thus may be difficult to move from one place to another and may not be the best investment if you have picky neighbors.

Finally, whole body vibration machines have contraindications, so they are not recommended to everyone. People with recent fractures or implants, those who suffer from epilepsy, pregnant women, and those with gall or kidney stones should avoid vibration training.

Now that you are more familiar with the pros and cons of vibration machines, you should be able to decide whether you want to invest in a WBV platform for home workouts. If you have something to add to this article, feel free to comment below or join our Facebook community and share your thoughts with us there!