Whole body vibration: a genuine therapy or just another 'weight loss' fad?

Vibration machines have popped up in gyms alongside traditional equipment, and manufacturers claim ten minutes of vibration a day can be equivalent to an hour spent working out. Standing on a rapidly shaking platform will, according to claims, improve muscle tone and circulation, and accelerate weight loss.

It’s an appealing prospect: passively standing on a platform and doing, well nothing, while your body seemingly tones and loses weight on its own. But is there evidence these vibration machines actually work as they say they do?

How does it work?

Whole body vibration therapy was initially developed for athletes to improve the effectiveness of their training. Vibration platforms would be included in some regular conditioning and gym exercises such as squats, press-ups and step-ups.

The therapy is undertaken by standing, sitting, lying or doing exercises on specifically designed equipment that oscillates, generally in a horizontal plane, at relatively high frequencies.

The theory is that the vibration signals are transferred into body tissues, tendons and muscles, which increases muscle contractions and ultimately improves muscle strength, co-ordination and balance. In the long term, such contractions would increase muscle mass and energy expenditure, leading to better control of blood sugar levels.

Current theory also suggests bone cells are sensitive to this vibration and respond by increasing bone density. This has a further impact on better sugar control.

But these are still theories. The overall effects of whole body vibration therapy remain elusive, as scientific studies vary largely in the vibration parameters used.

A recent study comparing whole body vibration with exercise in male mice specifically bred to be become obese and diabetic showed whole body vibration was equivalent to exercise for improving muscle quality, control of blood sugar and improving bone health.

It was also equivalent in reducing fat tissue – especially in the abdomen, which is known as “bad” fat. But caution should be exercised when applying findings from this or any other animal study directly to humans.

Can it enhance weight loss?

There are a number of significant differences between humans and mice. These include size and gait (two legs compared to four). The vibration protocol for rodents would also have likely been more extreme compared to what humans could safely tolerate.

A review of trials for whole body vibration therapy in humans showed the outcomes were far less convincing. Whole body vibration therapy alone (without exercise) – usually three times per week, ten to 60 minutes per day over periods of six to 52 weeks – does not support meaningful weight loss (considered to be more than 5% body weight).

While small individual studies report weight loss, their methodologies often combine diets or other exercises. Such benefits are rarely seen with whole body vibration therapy alone.

However, isolated whole body vibration therapy in similar time doses (30 to 60 minutes) does promote physical conditioning, muscle strength, bone health and functional capacity to a similar extent as the currently recommended 30 to 60 minutes of light to moderate exercise per day.

Other health benefits

Whole body vibration therapy has now been tested as a potential stand-alone therapy in a number of patient groups where their mobility, capacity or desire to undertake exercise is limited but it is a recommended therapy.

These groups include those who have suffered cerebrovascular events like a stroke; those with osteoarthritis where mobility is limited; those with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases who find exercising difficult as they struggle to breathe; and those with type 2 diabetes and post-menopausal women who may have limited motivation to undertake exercise.

The studies found benefits of whole body vibration therapy in these groups. But it was limited to improved bone health and capacity to walk or transitioning from a seated to standing position. These outcomes ultimately reduce risk of falls and fractures, and increase capacity to undertake activities of daily living.

So this means body vibration may have a role in preventing weight gain and improving functional capacity and bone health in groups of people where normal exercise or physical activities are significantly impaired. More rigorous research is still needed.

Overall, if you’re physically able, you’ll have far more benefits taking a 30-minute walk with friends, or engaging in 30 minutes of outdoor activities in the backyard or park with your family, rather than standing in one place being vibrated for 30 to 60 minutes.

Nigel Stepto is affiliated with the Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The Institute of Sport Exercise and Active Living and Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation. He is also full member of Exercise and Sport Science of Australia (ESSA) and an ESSA accredited Exercise physiologist, which includes roles on their national research committee.