FAQ - Whole-body Vibration

What is whole-body vibration?

With whole-body vibration (WBV), a passive and highly-effective form of exercise, you stand, sit or lie on our machines that have an oscillating, vibrating platform powered by sound waves (not motors as in traditional ones). Our machine is practically noiseless.  

With each vibration, the machine delivers energy to your body, which forces your muscles to contract and relax dozens of times each second.

Research shows that WBV may help improve muscle strength and that it may help with weight loss when you also cut back on calories.

WBV was initially studied and conducted by the Russian cosmonauts to counteract the effects of the zero-gravity environment of space, such as atrophy of muscles, bone density loss and other negative effects on the body.  

What are the benefits of whole-body vibration?

10 minutes a day of whole-body vibration several times a week may help with weight loss, muscle toning, burning fat, improving flexibility, enhancing blood flow and lymphatic drainage, reducing muscle soreness after exercise, building strength and decreasing the stress hormone cortisol (WebMD).  It increases bone density and balance in older adults.

It also helps with mood stability, improving sleep, diabetes management, pain management and reducing cellulite!

Is it just for fitness?

When performed correctly, WBV has been shown to reduce back pain, improve strength and balance in older adults and help reduce bone loss/improve bone density.

How often should I do whole-body vibration?

We suggest doing 10 minutes of WBV a day.  The benefits are seen in frequent, cumulative use.  You can work your way up to more frequent sessions, including 2-3 sessions a day.

Should I ease into WBV?

Yes, Start off slowly. Start with a 10-minute program, or even less since your body has been storing toxins for many years. The fluid movement generated by your WBV exercise program is going to stimulate your body to detoxify and remove unwanted fluid. As you slowly adapt you can add in another 10-minute session, or use the machine several times a day with up to three 20-minute sessions.

How many calories can I burn in a 10 minute session?

In one ten-minute WBV session with our machine, you can burn up to 190 calories.

Will WBV exercise help increase my flexibility?

Yes it can help improve your flexibility. Before you use WBV, try touching your toes, and after your session, try touching your toes again. You will notice It will be much easier the second time. A better range of motion and flexibility is usually the first thing the users notice.

Is it safe for children?

With young children, it is advisable to restrict use to under 3-4 min at a 50% or less amplitude. This would include the low intensity setting, or in the Manual mode at low frequency.

Who shouldn’t use WBV?

If one of the conditions listed below applies to you we strongly advise that you consult with your physician before using the WBV machine. If you have any known health concerns in addition to this list, consult your physician and advise them you wish to begin a sonic vibration exercise program which vibrates in a vertical plane between 3-50 Hz (vibrations per second) and has an adjustable intensity (rate at which the plate vibrates up and down). Your body may endure between negative and positive 3 Gs of force for up to 10 minutes. This can be equivalent to 1 hour of cardio.

• • Pregnancy

  • Acute thrombosis

  • Serious cardiovascular disease

  • Pacemaker

  • Recent wounds from an operation or surgery

  • Recent Hip and knee implants

  • Acute hernia, discopathy, spondylolysis

  • Severe diabetes

  • Epilepsy

  • Recent infections

  • Severe migraines

  • Tumors

  • Recently placed IUDs, metal pins, or plates

  • Electrolyte imbalance

What are some studies that prove WBV is effective?

• Six weeks of whole-body vibration exercise improves pain and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia.

• Additional studies can be found here: http://www.fullbodyvibration.com/research.html