From Madonna to Manchester United FC, Clint Eastwood to the Chicago Bulls, Hilary Swank to elite golfer Rocco Mediate, it seems as if everyone is using vibration training (or Whole Body Vibration) to enhance their health, appearance or performance through what the market leaders Power Plate term ‘Acceleration Training™.’
 
So how does ‘Vibration Training’ work?

Well firstly you can perform four key types of exercises on a vibration training machine; strength training, stretching, mobility work and massage.

Strength Training

You know when you’re going up in a lift and the lift first pulls away? You feel some additional force placed upon your legs due to the acceleration of the lift up towards you and the associated g-force applied. Often you’ll feel your knees soften a little. This is exactly what the Power Plate machine is doing every time it vibrates up towards you. The base plate vibrates up and down between 25 and 50 times per second (on Commercial Series machines), i.e. they operate at frequencies between 25Hz and 50Hz. So if you’re using the platform at a 50Hz setting, you’re getting a force like you got in the lift but 50 times every second and 3000 times in a one-minute exercise set! The higher the setting on the machine, the greater the level of acceleration of the surface of the platform and the greater the g-force applied to you.

What are the benefits of this?
It is interesting to note that numerous studies have shown that while strength gains derived from conventional resistance and ‘vibration training’ are comparable, the gains in power or ‘quick strength’ are markedly greater when using vibration technology.

Vibration and Muscular Development

Relatively untrained individuals will certainly see gains in muscle size as a direct result of ‘vibration training.’ In already well-developed individuals, simply performing bodyweight exercise on a Power Plate machine will be unlikely to develop additional muscle. However, if they were to use vibration training in conjunction with their conventional strength training there are numerous additional benefits, many already discussed, which will enhance what they are already doing. One of the world’s leading bodybuilders, Jay Cutler, uses the Power Plate machine to enhance his performance.

Cardiovascular Training

Vibration training, like conventional resistance training, can be structured to be quite cardiovascularly demanding. If you imagine a circuit training class with short rest intervals between sets, Power Plate sessions can be structured in a similar fashion. Also using the Power Plate machine as a step can be great for boosting cardiovascular benefits.

‘Vibration Training’ is now hugely popular and here to stay!

How do I get my hands on a Power Plate machine? Is there a way that I can try it first?
Forward-thinking fitness clubs nationwide have already cleverly invested to provide this futuristic workout method on their gym floor. Virgin Active are now running Power Plate Group Classes in Sydney & Melbourne (See 'Plate Locator' for details of your local fitness club or studio featuring Power Plate machines). 

Power Plate equipment is the 'Rolls Royce' of Vibration Training/Whole Body Vibration. The cheap ‘wobbleboards’ you see on sale at the Shopping Centre or on TV are not going to stack up when compared to a more expensive machine.  The vibration they give is likely to be quite rough and irregular and thus only be of detriment to the body, inclusive of your joints and internal organs. You always get what you pay for - a lot of our clients that have purchased cheaper equipment to start with come back to us and ask for a Power Plate machine.

Not all Vibration is created equal and there is no substitute for Power Plate technology.

If you want results from a Vibration Training (Whole Body Vibration) Platform, you need Power Plate equipment!