How to Choose the Right Whole Body Vibration Machine for Your Fitness Goals

Whether you haven’t exercised in a while and want to get back in shape or you want to amp up your exercise regime, working out with a whole-body vibration machine is the answer. These vibration machines or shaking platforms are an excellent way of taking your workout to the next level. The reason behind it?

You can get the same results as exercising in less time while also enjoying other important health and fitness benefits. So, if you want to understand whole-body vibration machines better, what kind of advantages you can expect, as well as how to go about choosing the best machine for your fitness goals, this article is for you!

Understanding whole-body vibration machines

We start this article by discussing how whole-body vibration machines work, what the two main types are, and take a look at some of the amazing benefits you can expect. Let’s take a closer look.

How do whole-body vibration machines work?

A little-known fact about vibration machines is that they were originally created to help cosmonauts in space to avoid losing muscle mass and bone density. Since then, they’ve hit the commercial market by storm and you can find them in many gyms and homes around the world. So, how do these machines work? In short, they contain a platform that you can stand, sit, or lie on. When you are securely on top of this platform, you select your exercise frequency range and then the machine literally starts vibrating.

However, it does so at specific intervals with milliseconds between the vibration. When you are on such a machine, these vibrations force your muscles to contract a lot more than a regular workout would allow for and this means that the rest period between muscle contraction and relaxation is that much shorter. This means you are working out your muscles in a much shorter span of time and therefore, you’re getting the same if not a better workout that much faster and in less time than usual.

The vibrations or frequencies emitted by these platforms contract your muscles between 30 to 50 times per second, making you feel as though you’re exerting yourself. These machines’ frequencies generally range between 10 and 40 Hz.

Types of whole-body vibration machines

Having covered what these machines do, it’s also important to take a look at some critical defining characteristics between the different types of vibration machines. The two main contenders on the market are pivotal and lineal machines and each one targets a specific part of the body while offering a different type of movement. Here is a brief breakdown of what each one is and what it does.

• Pivotal

Pivotal shaking or vibrating machines offer an oscillating type of movement. If you aren’t sure of what that means, it’s basically a seesaw action. When you put your legs hip-width apart on the platform, the right-hand side will move to one side followed by the left-hand side and this motion will be repeated going from side to side until your workout is over. Essentially, it means that the platform tilts up and down on the sides while the centre remains fixed.

The perk of this type of movement is that it targets the muscles in your whole body, including the so-called “deep muscles” that traditional exercise reaches with great difficulty. Therefore, it’s excellent for working out the whole body. In addition to this, these machines can support a greater amount of weight, they have a smaller impact on the body, they are easier on the organs, and are capable of keeping the spine more supple and loose. Because it imitates walking motion, it’s also an excellent way of improving one’s balance.

• Lineal

We also get lineal vibration machines. Instead of tilting up and down on the side like a pivotal machine, the movement of these plates is an up-and-down type of motion. Also known as a vertical vibration, it remains horizontal at all times and the entire platform moves by the same amount with its main focus being on the lower legs and other major muscle groups because it imitates a jump reflex.

Benefits of using whole-body vibration machines

Whole-body vibration machines offer a wide range of benefits to your body. Below, we explore some of the most important ones.

• Mechanical benefits: with a shaking platform, you’re essentially getting both an aerobic and anaerobic workout. You get greater circulation throughout the body resulting in more oxygen intake by your cells. Your physical strength will also improve, as will your dexterity and endurance. In addition, balance and coordination tend to improve greatly as well. Furthermore, these platforms are excellent for increasing bone density and as such, you will experience less joint pain and inflammation. You’re also more likely to see improvements in your pelvic floor function and if you’ve suffered from surgery or a trauma, the healing time will generally be much faster.
• Systemic benefits: using this type of machine will help increase your blood circulation and improve your cardiovascular system. The whole-body vibration also stimulates your nervous system’s proprioceptors, which helps you enjoy greater stimulation and this helps with minimizing lower-body atrophy. But that’s not all. You’ll also help improve lymphatic drainage and get a better body detox. Women who are menopausal will see a relief in their symptoms. There are also benefits for improved mood and energy levels. And what’s more is that the production of “good” hormones such as serotonin and the human growth hormone will also increase.
• Aesthetic benefits: aesthetically speaking, you will be able to see decreases in body fat and overall better toning of your muscles, as well as reduced appearance of cellulite.
• Mental/emotional benefits: vibration platforms are also excellent for decreasing stress and “bad” hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine.

Factors to consider when choosing a whole-body vibration machine

If you are ready to get your very own vibration machine that you can use at any time in the comfort of your own home, you might think that they all do the same thing and yield the same results. However, that would be quite far from the truth because these machines come with a wide range of features that you need to be aware of. This is why if you would like to choose a vibration machine, you need to consider the following factors before making your decision:

• The type of vibration (pivotal vs lineal)
• The size and power of the motor
• Power and weight capacity
• The dimensions of the platform, its size, and stability
• Speed and acceleration
• The availability of pre-set programs
• The intensity of the vibrations/Frequency and amplitude range
• Noise levels
• Your fitness goals and intended use
• Additional features and accessories (e.g. a remote control, LED display, Bluetooth connection, straps, mats)
• The cost/money-back guarantee/manufacturer’s warranty
• Design and structure (handles or no handles, whether it’s a metal structure, etc.)

Top whole-body vibration machines on the market

As mentioned earlier, there are numerous vibration machines on the market for medical, commercial, and home use. Four of the main ones are Hypervibe, Zaaz, Power Plate, and Vibe Plate. Although they each have different features and pros and cons, Hypervibe has been extensively tested and always comes out on top.

In conclusion

Choosing the right whole-body vibration machine can seem like a daunting task. There are many selection criteria you should be looking at when making your decision. However, in terms of recommendations, we would have to say that Hypervibe comes out on top as one of the most high-quality vibration machines on the market. The whole-body benefits it offers are absolutely incredible and are great for anyone whether you are a beginner of an experienced athlete.

Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6291875/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11071-016-2948-1#:~:text=Linear%20vibration%20absorbers%20are%20consisting,nonlinear%20stiffness%20or%20damping%20elements.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6944803/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/whole-body-vibration/faq-20057958#:~:text=With%20whole%2Dbody%20vibration%2C%20you,if%20you’re%20exerting%20yourself.