Steps to Reduce Cellulite with a Vibration Plate

With the ever-increasing pace of life, our spare time seems to be melting faster than spring snow. Stressful days and overloaded agendas appear to have become the norm of modern days, leaving us with less and less time for the truly important things. People sleep less, exercise little to none, and have developed unbelievably harmful eating habits. Indeed, the picture is quite unpleasant. Obesity, heart disease, and diabetes type 2 are on the rise. Other pathologies, such as high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis are at their highest peak ever. And the bad news does not stop there. Another condition has also been making its way up quite quickly and it now affects about 90% of women. That’s right – we are talking about cellulite.

What is cellulite?

  Cellulite is a cosmetic condition that is characterized by dimpled-looking skin. The most common body parts that are affected by cellulite are the thighs, abdomen, buttocks, and upper arms. Currently, the unpleasant condition bothers just about 9 in every 10 women worldwide and is becoming a common thing among men too. Even though cellulite is not a medical condition and is not associated with serious health issues, many women want to get rid of it due to aesthetic reasons. The good news is that minor lifestyle changes can help a lot in that aspect. Some of these changes include the introduction of regular exercise and healthy eating patterns. Another intervention has also been gaining popularity in recent years, showing a lot of promising results. It is best known as the whole body vibration (WBV), using as a medium the vibration plate, referred to by many as the cellulite reduction machine. But before we learn more about this innovative fitness tool, let’s first find out what causes dimpled-looking skin.

What Causes Cellulite?

  Cellulite develops in body areas that naturally contain a bigger fat percentage. This is why the most affected regions are the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen. The dimpled-looking skin that is associated with the condition is caused by the fatty tissue pushing against the upper skin layers. It seems that nowadays no one is insured against cellulite, not even men. Some of the most common causes of orange peel skin include age progression, body inflammation, hormonal disbalance, decrease in collagen production, impaired blood circulation, and damaged lymphatic drainage.

• Genetic predisposition
• Age progression
• Overweight and obesity
• Abnormal estrogen levels
• Inflammation of bodily tissues
• Reduction of collagen synthesis
• Impaired lymphatic drainage
• Poor blood circulation

How to get rid of cellulite?

  As we have already mentioned, cellulite is a cosmetic condition that can be tackled by some diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. There is no doubt that some of you will have bigger success in fighting off the orange peel skin and some might have to be a bit more patient. Nevertheless, with the implementation of the right fitness activities and eating habits, the dimpled-looking skin does not stand a chance. Another successful method for decreasing the fat deposits around the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen is the body vibration therapy that uses the vibration machine for cellulite reduction. The machine produces high-frequency vibrations that go through the whole body, improving blood circulation, aiding lymphatic drainage, and increasing the fat-burning rate on their way. Some of the most helpful methods for tackling the unpleasant condition include:

• Appropriate exercise regimes, such as cardio activities, cycling, swimming, and various massage techniques
• Healthy diet, including more fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds, and plenty of water
• Weight loss helps in fighting off cellulite as it reduces the overall body fat percentage
• Quit smoking and reduce the alcohol intake as these bad habits create a favorable environment for the development of orange peel skin
• The cellulite reduction machine has gained a lot of popularity in the past decade or so with plenty of promising outcomes

There are numerous studies, such as this systematic review and meta-analyses, that prove the health benefits of the vibration machine, but can they help in the fight against the so-called orange peel skin? Do vibration plates work for cellulite? Well, let’s find out.

Do vibration plates help with cellulite?

  The high-frequency mechanical oscillations that are produced by the body vibration platform do encourage metabolism speed-up, fat-burning rate, and collagen production. As a result, it has been established that women who use the vibration plate as a cellulite reduction machine boast tighter skin, smaller body fat percentage, and improved blood circulation. All you need to invest in 20 – 30 minutes of your time a day, 3 – 4 days a week. That’s all. It is worth mentioning however that the women who have reported the best results are those who have used the cellulite vibration machine in combination with a proper diet regime and lifestyle changes, such as at least 8 hours of sleep a day, no smoking, and little to none alcohol intake. So, let’s have a closer look at the secret of the vibration plate.

How do vibration plates reduce cellulite?

  So far, vibration plates have proved very useful in strengthening bones, increasing muscle tone, and reducing body mass index. There is additional scientific evidence that the whole body vibration aids lymphatic drainage, blood circulation, and fat cell apoptosis (fat cell death). Some of the latest studies, such as this one, have also proven that the vibration machine can be useful means for cellulite reduction. The vibration plates aid cellulite reduction in several different ways. The high-frequency vibrations aid body fat utilization for energy, thus decreasing fat tissue; stimulates collagen production in the body which leads to firmer and tighter skin; promotes lymphatic drainage and optimal blood circulation which prevents the body from retaining excessive amounts of water and lymph fluid. The vibration plate:

• Speeds up metabolism, increases muscle tissue contractions, and stimulates fat burning rate which leads to a reduced body fat percentage and overall weight loss
• Promotes collagen and elastin production which increases the firmness of the epidermis, thus making it more difficult for the adipose tissue to push the skin up
• Stimulates the optimal functioning of the lymphatic system preventing the body from keeping excessive amounts of water and lymph fluid

Final thoughts

  There is no doubt the orange peel skin is an unpleasant condition and what is even more unpleasant is the fact that it affects almost 90% of the women population worldwide. While many of the cases are due to a genetic predisposition or hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, such as overeating, lack of exercise, and smoking, have also had their contribution lately. The good news is that cellulite is a reversible condition that can be tackled with some lifestyle changes. Among the most helpful ones are the implementation of a healthy diet, regular fitness activities, and enough sleep. Ceasing smoking, reducing alcohol, and increasing water intake has also been proven helpful. Furthermore, for the past several years women have gained another powerful ally in the battle against the orange peel skin, namely the body vibration machine. References (in order of appearance) Omidvar, M., Alavinia, S. M., & Craven, B. C. (2019). The effects of whole body vibration therapy on reducing fat mass in the adult general population: A systematic review and meta-analyses. Journal of musculoskeletal & neuronal interactions, 19(4), 455–464. Pilch, W., Czerwińska-Ledwig, O., Chitryniewicz-Rostek, J., Nastałek, M., Krężałek, P., Jędrychowska, D., Totko-Borkusewicz, N., Uher, I., Kaško, D., Tota, Ł., Tyka, A., Tyka, A., & Piotrowska, A. (2019). The Impact of Vibration Therapy Interventions on Skin Condition and Skin Temperature Changes in Young Women with Lipodystrophy: A Pilot Study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine.

By: Rockell Williamson-Rudder

Rockell Williamson-Rudder is a movement specialist and fitness educator with a background in boutique fitness, WBV training, and Pilates. As International Program Director at Hypervibe, she has developed training programs for therapists and trainers worldwide. A former professional dancer and global fitness leader, she has helped expand wellness brands internationally.