Benefits Of A Vibration Exercise Machine

Whole body vibration machines allow users to sit or stand while receiving vibrations and performing other tasks. The addition of vibration is thought to stimulate muscles, which can in turn stimulate bone growth. Studies in the United Kingdom and Belgium show encouraging benefits in using vibration exercise machines to stimulate bone density, and increase strength, muscle mass and balance.

Bone Density

A six-month study at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., tested the effects of whole body vibration training on postmenopausal women, finding a significant improvement in their bone mineral density scores for their hips. A control group that used resistance training for the same period saw no improvements in bone density. Both groups performed knee extension exercises, the difference between the two groups was that one group performed their movements while standing on a whole body vibration plate.

Strength

An additional study at Catholic University researched the effects of vibration machine training on muscle strength in men older than the age of 60, finding whole body vibration training to be as efficient as weight training. A test group stood on a vibration plate on a regular basis over the course of a year, while a fitness group lifted weights on a regular basis. A control group did nothing over the course of the study. Both the whole body vibration and fitness groups saw a marked increase in strength, while the control group saw little change.

Balance

In a study reported in the "International Journal of Sports Medicine," vibration training was found to be effective with a younger audience of professional female dancers. The six-week intervention protocol at the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom used whole body vibration training on dancers with functional ankle instability which caused difficulty in intricate movement sequences. The dancers experienced a marked improvement in their balance and movement abilities.

Muscle Mass

The Catholic University studies also looked at sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass that can lead to an increased incidence of diabetes, osteoporosis and functional disability. Significantly, the study concluded that vibration training has the potential to reverse or prevent age-related loss of skeletal muscle. The ease of performing whole body vibration training -- study participants in this case simply stood on the machine -- leads researchers to recommend further studies.

Considerations

Talk to your doctor before adding whole body vibration training to your routine, as it is not recommended for all exercisers. The vibrations can effect pace makers and other implants. Pregnant women and those with a history of seizures, thrombosis or tumors should avoid whole body vibration training.