Good vibrations

The Elvis Presley classic “All Shook Up” would make a fitting accompaniment to a growing niche in the exercise world: the whole-body vibration workout. Standing or working out on the vibration exercise machines sets off what’s known as a “tonic vibration reflex,” causing muscles to react. “Simply by standing on a vibrating plate, it actually causes your muscles to contract,” says Jeff McBride, an associate professor in biomechanics at North Carolina’s Appalachian State University, who has researched vibration. “So that, in essence, is sort of a form of exercise.”

In Europe, they’ve been feeling good vibrations for decades. Now vibration therapy is making inroads in the U.S. Professional sports teams were among the first to embrace the technology: One leading machine, the Power Plate, is used by about two dozen teams, including the Denver Nuggets. Medical facilities, universities and gyms across the country are using vibration technology for conditioning and rehabilitation. And Hollywood has jumped on the bandwagon, with celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson reportedly using another machine, the VibraFlex, with such stars as Jennifer Lopez and Avril Lavigne.

The machines aren’t cheap. The VibraFlex 500 sells for about $10,500. Power Plate offers its “Next Generation Power Plate” for $9,250 and “Personal Power Plate” for $3,500. Seeking to further penetrate the home market, Soloflex has introduced its Whole Body Vibration Platform for $395.

Manufacturers tout the many benefits of vibration technology, from stimulating blood circulation to improving muscle strength and bone density. Though there are some studies to back up the claims, more research is needed, says Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. He sees vibration therapy as an emerging technology with possible benefits for elite athletes and couch potatoes alike. “The problem is that there are a lot of questions that remain.”

Roger Rettig, owner and director of the Colorado Physical Therapy Institute in Broomfield, would like to see more research, too. But he’s already sold on the benefits. He uses the Power Plate for various purposes, including general strengthening and helping treat diabetic neuropathy, a nerve disorder caused by diabetes.

“Whether it’s Power Plate or not, I think you’re going to see a lot more of it (vibration therapy) coming down the pike,” Rettig says.

The Nuggets have used the Power Plate for about two years. Steve Hess, strength coach for the team, says it adds variety to a workout.

“It helps with injuries. It helps with muscle soreness. It helps with muscle strength.”

The stimulus from the Power Plate platform causes muscles to contract 30 to 50 times a second. The vibration itself is hard to describe and impossible to ignore, Hess says. “If you lock your knees out, you can feel it all the way to your teeth.”