The data suggests that there was a significant benefit afforded by adding Whole Body Low Frequency Vibration to a short-term resistance training protocol with regard to ‘‘explosive’’ strength expression. The addition of vibration prior to and between sets of resistance exercise may be a viable alternative to vibration applied during resistance exercise when trying to improve ‘‘explosive’’ isometric strength. [more]

Based on our findings the Power Plate is a useful tool which enhances upper body muscle endurance [more]

The results of this study suggest that WBV might be a useful modality as applied during the pre-competition warm-up. [more]

The Whole Body Vibration training period of 6 week produced significant changes in sprint running kinematics and explosive strength performance. [more]

Whole Body Vibration training is as efficient as a fitness program to increase isometric and explosive knee extension strength and muscle mass of the upper leg in community-dwelling older men. These findings suggest that Whole Body Vibration training has potential to prevent or reverse the age-related loss in skeletal muscle mass, referred to as sarcopenia. [more]

Whole Body Vibration may be a potential warm-up procedure for increasing vertical jump height. [more]

Whole Body Vibration resulted in an increased activation of the leg muscles. During Whole Body Vibration, leg muscle activity varied between 12.6 and 82.4% of MVC values. [more]

Whole Body Vibration training induces a gain in knee-extensor strength combined with a small increase in fat free mass. The gain in strength is comparable to the strength increase following a standard fitness training program consisting of cardiovascular and resistance training. [more]

Power Plate^® Training proves to be a safe, suitable and efficient strength training method for the aging population. The findings of this study show that Power Plate^® Training has great potential for application in geriatric and therapeutic settings as a safe, low-impact strength training method. The low exertion and safety of loading elderly subjects may indicate Power Plate Training for weakened populations, as well as for people who are not attracted to, or physically able to perform conventional resistance training. [more]

Power Plate training leads to a significant increase in hip area bone density, as well as an increase in muscle strength and postural control in postmenopausal women. [more]

Whole Body Vibration, and the reflexive muscle contraction it provokes, has the potential to induce strength gain in knee extensors of previously untrained females to the same extent as resistance training at moderate intensity. It was clearly shown that strength increases after WBV training are not attributable to a placebo effect. [more]

In nursing home residents with limited functional dependency, six weeks static Whole Body Vibration exercise is feasible, and is beneficial for balance and mobility. [more]

Fatigue or lack of interest can reduce the feasibility of intensive physical exercise in nursing home residents. Low-volume exercise with similar training effects might be an alternative. The aim of this trial was to investigate the feasibility of Whole Body Vibration in institutionalized elderly, and its impact on functional capacity and muscle performance. [more]

These preliminary data show that Whole Body Vibration training may have the potential to reduce Visceral Adipose Tissue more than aerobic exercise in obese adults, possibly making it a meaningful addition to future weight loss programs. [more]

In older women, resistance training alone and with whole-body vibration resulted in positive body composition changes by increasing lean tissue. However, only the combination of resistance training and whole-body vibration was effective for decreasing percent body fat. [more]

This study shows that Power Plate Training is extremely effective and time efficient; the cardio group took four times longer to improve 32.3%, while the Power Plate Training group improved 25.7% in an average of 10-minute sessions, two or three times a week, over six months. [more]

The addition of Whole Body Vibration to both static and dynamic exercises appears to significantly increase oxygen uptake in overweight and obese women. [more]

Whole Body Vibration training in community-dwelling elderly appears to be efficient to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength. [more]

Five minutes of 30 Hz or 50 Hz vibration produced significant increases in SBF. Clinically, 50 Hz has additional benefits because Skin Blood Flow increased more rapidly and did not result in vasoconstriction during the recovery period. [more]

The emerging therapeutic modality of Whole Body Vibration as a passive intervention appears to increase circulation in individuals with healthy microcirculation. [more]

This study shows that Power Plate training can be an effective treatment to reduce spasticity. [more]

The improvement in walking speed observed after consistent use of the Power Plate machine is comparable to that reported in literature about other forms of training that may help increase mobility. The level of change observed in this study is considered clinically meaningful, even in non-clinical populations. Therefore exercise on a Power Plate machine may be a useful way to improve walking function in those with SCI. [more]

Results suggest that a 6-week traditional exercise program with supplementary WBV safely reduces pain and fatigue, whereas exercise alone fails to induce improvements. [more]

This study shows that Power Plate training resulted in a greater improvement of joint stability and balance than conventional strength training. Power Plate training also has the advantage of shorter training time. It should therefore be considered a useful addition to rehabilitation interventions after Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction. [more]

This study shows that a single Power Plate session acutely can decrease arterial stiffness. An increased arterial stiffness is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events like cardiac infarction and stroke, so that’s why it’s important to prevent this. [more]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is defined as damage to the white or grey matter contained within the spinal cord which carries signals to and from the brain. A common consequence of SCI is loss of walking function, but where the tissue has not been totally damaged (an incomplete lesion), there is the possibility that patients may be able to walk again. In these cases, it is muscle weakness and sensory impairment which can limit a person’s ability to walk. Rehabilitation of SCI patients focuses on regaining walking function. The purpose of this pilot study (a small-scale study to test fea… [more]

Weakness and atrophy in the muscles of the quadriceps group is a common challenge for patients recovering from reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of whole body vibration training on the healing process. This study sought to build upon previously published research outcomes and investigate the hypothesis that whole body vibration training leads to increased co-activation of the extensor and flexor muscles of the lower extremities, causing positive effects on joint stabilization, strength and circulation. Method: 16 sub… [more]

These research findings present an exciting solution for an ever-worsening problem in our aging population: osteoporosis, loss of postural control and balance, bone fractures from falls often resulting in difficult and incomplete recovery. As the average age of the western world’s population increases, we are faced with an increasing epidemic of osteoporosis. Each year millions of people suffer from fractures due to early bone loss. One in three women and one in eight men will suffer from osteoporosis this year. In the U.S., 2.8 million people (80% of whom are women) suffer from bone… [more]

The number of elderly people in Western populations is increasing every year. Because of the fact that the population is aging, more people will be confronted with age related conditions. Maintaining the best possible health and fitness level is very important in order to prevent or cope with any of these conditions. And there are many ways in which people can contribute to sustain that level - for example, a healthy diet, or staying in shape by adopting an active lifestyle. Aging is associated with a decline in muscle mass and muscle strength, also known as sarcopenia. This condit… [more]

The hypothesis of this study was the potential of whole body vibration, performed on the Power Plate® machine, in a therapeutic context, where it may enhance muscular performance in patients and older adults for whom standard exercise programs are not an option. Maintaining muscle mass, functional strength and cardiovascular performance is a challenge for the elderly due to the risk of potential overload and the diminished ability of the aging body to adapt to high levels of loading. Whole body vibration provides a safe and easy opportunity to train these systems without excessive ov… [more]

The present study, performed on a Power Plate® Next Generation (2004), shows that 1 year Power Plate® training in elderly persons resulted in reduced fall frequency and improvement of the response to surface rotations. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of Power Plate® training on postural control and the prevention of falls in the elderly. The Power Plate® generates vibrations that activate sensory receptors in the body, in turn provoking reflexive muscle contractions in leg and trunk muscles (tonic vibration reflex). As both sensory and motor pathways are strongly st… [more]

Proprioception is the conscious perception of limb position in space. There are many proprioceptors (sensory nerve receptors) located in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). ACL injuries reduce proprioceptive ability and postural stability. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a Power Plate® training program and that of conventional therapy treatments on knee proprioception and postural stability in ACL reconstructed subjects. A total of 20 male athletes who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery participated in this study. The participants were randomly allocated to… [more]

Age-related changes in body composition are well documented, with the most commonly observed of these being an increase in fat mass and a decrease in muscle mass. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of a combined whole-body vibration and traditional high intensity resistance training program on the body composition of postmenopausal women. The study involved 55 postmenopausal women, who were divided into three groups. The first group performed a resistance program only (RG), which consisted of eight resistance exercises (leg press, hip flexion and extension, hip… [more]

One of the biggest health issues for obese people is visceral (or abdominal) fat. Visceral fat is the fat tissue between the organs in the abdomen. It is a major health concern because there is a strong correlation between high levels of visceral fat and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. Each group followed the intervention for six months and had a six month ‘no intervention’ follow up. The anthropometric data, body composition and metabolic features were measured at three, six and 12 months. One measurement performed was the determi… [more]

In six months, the whole body vibration group - which exercised on the “classic” Power Plate® machine - achieved a 25.7% reduction of cellulite on thighs and buttocks, exercising two to three times per week, in sessions of 8-13 minutes. The whole body vibration + cardio group achieved a 32.3% reduction of cellulite on thighs and buttocks, exercising two to three times per week in sessions of 8-13 minutes with whole body vibration, plus 24-48 minutes of cardio training. These research findings reveal a new and exciting solution for fat loss and collagen remodeling. Finally, celluli… [more]

Only a short massage is needed to get results. After three minutes of massage on a Power Plate® machine, there’s an increase in skin blood flow which lasts until at least 10 minutes after treatment. The greatest increase in blood flow actually happens during the first five minutes of massage. Carrying out massage on a Power Plate® machine on settings of both 30 Hz and 50 Hz high can increase blood flow to the skin and thus improve circulation. However massage carried out on a 50 Hz high setting increases the blood flow more rapidly and keeps the level higher du-ring the recovery pe… [more]

Fitness professionals can employ high settings (50Hz, High) when using the Power Plate® machine, to improve muscle performance in the upper body. These findings expand the use and application of vibration for the upper body, as they indicate that improvements are possible even when specific upper body exercises are being performed without direct vibration exposure. [more]

It is well known that the performance of players who do not do any type of re-warm-up intervention during half time decreases. Researchers at the University of Hull found that using a Power Plate® machine during half time prevented a decrease in performance during the start of the second half. They also found that soccer players who used the Power Plate machine at half time had decreased fatigue in their hamstring muscles and improved lower limb stability, at the start of the second half of the match. The researchers concluded that use of a Power Plate machine during half time could… [more]

Increased age is associated with a decline in cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular performance. However for elderly people to continue to function independently and perform daily activities, it is essential they maintain sufficient muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness. To do so, they should perform progressive resistance and aerobic training. However a significant proportion of elderly people are unable or unwilling to undertake two training regimens. Exercise on a Power Plate^® machine could offer a viable alternative, as it may be an efficient combination of bot… [more]

The Power Plate machine can help increase flexibility and range of motion, even for those people who already have excellent flexibility. [more]

Sprint performance is determined by the ability to attain maximum running speed as fast as possible, achieving the highest running speed and by maintaining this speed for the required time or distance. By improving specific kinematics such as step length, step rate and running speed, as well as increasing explosive strength, sprint performance can be improved. These kinematics can be trained by improving optimal motor neuron excitability and fast twitch fiber recruitment. Previous studies suggest that whole body vibration training causes length changes in the muscle which stimulate… [more]

The whole body vibration group achieved a 16.6% gain in isometric strength of knee extensors, a 9% increase in dynamic strength of the quadriceps muscles, and a 7.6% increase in vertical jump height. There were no reports of adverse side effects. Most subjects found the vibration training enjoyable and fatiguing, but did not consider it a hard or exhausting workout. The placebo group, using a non-functional vibration machine, did not achieve strength or power gains, although they performed the same standing knee extensor exercises. The resistance training group achieved strength ga… [more]