Do I need special gear to train on a vibration plate?

Dear readers,

We’re starting a new series of articles dedicated to your questions. We receive a lot of messages from you and some of them are common concerns, so we decided to address these not only on our Support Site and social media accounts, but also here, on the blog, where the answers are visible for everyone.

1. Do I need to wear special gear when training on a vibration plate?

No, in most cases you don’t need special gear for training on the Hypervibe whole body vibration machine. A pair of sport shoes, some shorts or yoga pants, a comfortable t-shirt are enough for a WBV workout.

Some prefer to train barefoot or wearing only socks, but this can cause you to slip from the platform and fall down, especially if you’re skinny and train at high frequencies without holding the machine’s handles.

Moreover, training barefoot or wearing shoes with hard and thick soles may cause friction and prevent the vibrations from being correctly transferred to the body, so if you opt for any of these solutions, we encourage you to use the Hypervibe exercise mat as well.

2. Can vibration training cause head damage?

In some cases (upper body exercises during which your palms are on the platform and your head close to the machine’s tower, or pointing downwards, or exercises that require you to sit on the machine’s plate) WBV may cause head vibration, but there is no case of head damage reported in literature. It is however recommended to ask for your physician’s advice before training on a vibration plate, if you suffer from eye or ear conditions, or from an ailment that may cause dizziness or balance problems.

3. I can’t get to the gym daily, how often do I have to train on the WBV machine?

There isn’t a standard for the frequency of WBV workouts. If you can get to the gym 3 times per week, it’s great, but if you only have time for 1 WBV workout per week, it’s still better than nothing, but we encourage you to practice a form of physical activity at home as well. Do jogging, HIIT workouts at home, Yoga, Pilates or weight bearing exercises with free weights, and practice sports – swimming, basketball, running – as often as you can.

If you can invest in a whole body vibration machine for home use, we encourage you to train daily or at least 3 times per week, keeping the workouts short (10-15 minutes), and targeting different body areas in each session. Vibrating plate exercises can replace conventional strength exercises but are not a replacement for cardio workouts, so you’ll need to make time for some aerobic activities as well if you want to stay healthy and in shape.

4. What are the differences in exercise form during WBV compared to traditional strength exercises?

Most exercises are performed in the same manner: lunges, squats, push-ups, crunches, these require the same exercise form, as we’re dealing with the same principles of the human body. To prevent injuries, your abs should be engaged, back straight, knees slightly bent. Pay attention to exercises that require you to place your palms on the machine or sit on the platform – these should be performed at lower intensities to minimize head vibration.

If you have questions about whole body vibration machines, please write them below or message us on our Facebook page. The questions that may be relevant for other WBV users will be posted here as well.