06 Feb Why does vibration training work?

(Note: It’s Vibration Training Week here at At Home Fitness. This is the fifth in a five-part series in which we’ll feature information on this increasingly popular area of fitness).
Whole Body Vibration Training (WBV), also known as Accelerated Vibration Training (AVT), stimulates the body’s reflexes to result in alternating muscle contractions and relaxations.
Vibration machines can be used for many different physical benefits. Depending on the settings and way your body contacts the machine, a vibration machine can be used for stretching, improving balance, core exercises, strength training and even massage therapy.
For stretching and basic strength training, the user can stand on the platform and hold a static exercise position (ie: squat, hamstring stretch or triceps dip). For more advanced strength training, perform dynamic exercises (ie: squat movement, pushup, bent over row).
The vibration plate motors send vibrations that you can adjust (usually between 30-50 Hertz), which travel into the activated muscle groups.
The vibrations create instability, which the body senses and reflexively contracts muscles involuntarily to stabilize and react to.
The muscles contract in response to the plate vibration and movement, resulting in rapid contractions and accelerated results.
Alternating muscle contractions and relaxations results in a user’s muscle tissues activating and reacting up to 50 times per second. Studies have found up to 97 percent of the muscle fibers may be activated instantaneously, compared to as little as 20 percent with traditional methods.
Because of this uniquely efficient way of training, users can see major benefits by working out on their vibration machine for as little as three times a week for 30 minutes.
Having used a vibration training machine to complement my own workout routine, I can attest to the fact that they are a great way to improve strength, flexibility and balance.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com