| Across the United States, exercise machines that | | | | planes, much like the human body is designed to |
| utilize whole body vibration technology are | | | | do. The end result is a tough workout in a fraction |
| beginning to pop up in gymnasiums, fitness | | | | of the usual time, increasing overall strength and |
| centers, and even homes. Already popular in the | | | | power. |
| United Kingdom, whole body vibration with | | | | The way that whole body vibration works is best |
| machines such as the Power Plate has been | | | | explained by the law of motion, as stated by Sir |
| integrated into fitness routines and utilized in | | | | Isaac Newton: force = mass x acceleration. In |
| training and therapy sessions. Everyone from | | | | other words, by applying more mass or more |
| professional athletes to those who just want to | | | | acceleration the body, one can increase and |
| get in shape are benefiting from the effects of | | | | improve functional force (strength, power, etc). |
| this type of exercise and enjoying the shorter | | | | Most workout equipment increases the mass part |
| workout times needed. | | | | of the equation by adding weight, such as weight |
| While some skeptics may disregard the whole | | | | machines, free weights, and resistance devices. |
| body vibration machines such as the Power Plate | | | | Machine like the Power Plate increase the |
| as simply a "fitness fad", celebrities like Madonna | | | | acceleration part of the equation, thereby |
| and Shaquille O'Neal have used the machine as an | | | | obtaining the same results in a much more |
| added low impact exercise to increase the | | | | low-impact form. |
| effectiveness of their workouts. Machines such as | | | | Whole Body Vibration Benefits - More Than Just |
| the Power Plate are appealing for a number of | | | | for Athletes |
| reasons. The sessions are shorter than most | | | | An assortment of health benefits make vibration |
| other machines, it takes up very little space, and | | | | exercises beneficial to more than just athletes. |
| it is not hard on your joints like running. But many | | | | Increased blood circulation along with higher levels |
| still wonder, "What is whole body vibration and | | | | of hormones such as serotonin contributes to |
| how does it work?" | | | | overall physical and mental health beyond athletic |
| A History of Whole Body Vibration and How it | | | | training. Studies conducted by independent |
| Works | | | | research groups have found that the increase in |
| While the technology behind machines like the | | | | circulation and stimulation of unused or rarely used |
| Power Plate may seem like a recent discovery, | | | | muscles in elderly patients helped them to regain a |
| whole body vibration dates back to the time of | | | | significant amount of balance and mobility. It also |
| the ancient Greeks who used it to speed up the | | | | helped to burn fat and cellulite as well as increase |
| healing process of injuries. A piece of cloth was | | | | bone density. Because the vibration plate |
| wrapped around the injured body part on one end | | | | machines require shorter usage time, elderly |
| and tied to a flexible saw at the other, which | | | | patients were able to get an effective workout in |
| would provide the vibrations. Though simple in its | | | | a fraction of the usual time, preventing them |
| design, the ancient Greek method was similar to | | | | from being fatigued. |
| the Health and Beauty Belt Massagers that have | | | | Athletes and personal trainers find that machines |
| been around for decades. Famed physician and | | | | like the Power Plate are great tools for |
| inventor John Harvey Kellogg also used mechanical | | | | rehabilitation. The NFC Champion New York Giants |
| vibrations in the late 19th century to treat | | | | have a Power Plate in their training center for |
| patients with a variety of disorders. | | | | conditioning and recovery from injuries. Improved |
| The first to utilize whole body vibration in its most | | | | flexibility, balance, and reaction time along with |
| modern application was Russian scientist Vladimir | | | | faster healing of muscle and tendon injuries make |
| Nazarov, using what he referred to as | | | | this device extremely valuable to a number of |
| "Biomechanical Stimulation." By using vibrations to | | | | professional and college sports teams. Shaquille |
| stimulate movement of the muscles, the Russian | | | | O'Neal used it to speed up his post-surgery |
| Space Program found that they could keep their | | | | recovery process during the 2002-2003 NBA |
| cosmonauts in space longer without worrying | | | | season and has inspired many of his fellow |
| about the adverse affects it would have on their | | | | athletes to add it to their training regimen. |
| bones and muscles. Later, ballet dancers | | | | Whole Body Vibration is Not for Everyone |
| discovered that whole body vibration allowed | | | | While whole body vibration is ideal for helping |
| them to recover from minor muscle injuries | | | | speed up the recovery process, it is not |
| quicker. They also noticed increased muscle | | | | recommended for those with recent wounds |
| strength and jump height, leading many of | | | | from an operation or surgical intervention as the |
| Russia's top Olympic athletes to adopt the same | | | | motion may loosen stitches. It is also not |
| method of training. | | | | recommended for those with recently fitted IUDs, |
| Whole Body Vibration exercises muscles by | | | | metal pins, coils, bolts, or plates. Pregnant women |
| creating instability in the user's body. With each | | | | as well as those with Epilepsy, severe diabetes, |
| vibration, the muscles in the body are forced to | | | | synthetic/artificial joints, tumors, and pacemakers |
| perform reflexive, contracting muscle actions | | | | should avoid the body vibration as a form of |
| anywhere from 25 to 50 times per second. The | | | | exercise. If you are unsure as to whether or not |
| contractions must work in multiple dimensions | | | | vibration exercise is safe for you, check with |
| vibrating plate machines oscillate on all three | | | | your doctor before ordering. |