Vibration Machines: Will a vibration machine help me to lose weight?

Are you looking to lose weight and wondering “will a vibration machine help me to lose weight?”  This is a very common question that we get asked by clients, especially those who may find it difficult to undertake other forms of exercise or who are looking for different ways to have a positive impact on weight loss.

What is a vibration machine/ whole body vibration training?
A vibration machine is a lightweight platform that a person stands on, which provides light resistance exercise from repeated oscillations of the platform.  It was developed in Germany, mainly for older people, to improve bone mineral density, balance and quality of life.  The machine can be programmed to varying levels of oscillation/intensity.

What effects can a vibration machine have on my body?
Vibration machines have been shown to be effective in increasing leg blood flow, muscle strength and balance in the elderly population compared with control groups undertaking no other forms of habitual exercise.  The effects on bone mineral density are inconclusive, with different study designs offering different outcomes.  Vibration therapy has been used in some rehabilitation settings in conjunction with other forms of exercise to improve overall function, particularly in the elderly population.

Can a vibration machine be used to assist weight loss?
Although there are isolated studies that have shown improvements in body composition in patients with type 2 diabetes and middle aged females after 12 weeks and 9 months respectively in conjunction with caloric restriction; systematic reviews of a large number of published studies from reputable sources undertaken in 2018 and 2019 have not shown vibration training to be consistently effective in helping people to lose weight.

The most recent systematic review in 2019 examined 7 studies that included 280 subjects who used three different types of vibration machine devices.  The authors concluded that there were only insignificant effects on body fat percentage in these studies which were less than 6 months long.  They concluded that further research with larger population numbers and duration were needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of vibration training.

Need help with an individualised exercise program for your ability and goals?
If you’d like to get some professional advice specific to your ability and goals, Book an appointment with one of our Exercise Physiologists today.

Lisa Parkinson
Accredited Exercise Physiologist & Credentialled Diabetes Educator.

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