Do the Viral Vibrating Exercise Plates Work? Here’s What Doctors Say

In true Tik Tok fashion the social media platform has introduced another viral product that has users crazed. This time it isn’t a shower scrubber or a water pik flosser. It’s an exercise machine users claim are helping them to shed pounds without the strenuous activity of a full workout.

Viral Vibrating Exercise Plates

Every day, users are posting videos of themselves balancing, squatting, or doing pushups on vibration plates. The device, which is essentially a trembling stepper platform, claims to offer the benefits of a full workout and whole-body vibration. Exercising has obvious benefits. Improved heart function, better sleep, stronger bones, weight control, decreased stress and the like. Whole-body vibration, whose health benefits are still under investigation, boast benefits such as weight loss, increased bone density, promoted lymphatic drainage, improved circulation and beyond.

So, does it actually work?

“It’s not a silver bullet, but it has its certain merits,” Dr. Jörn Rittweger, head of the division of muscle and bone metabolism at the German Aerospace Center and a professor of space physiology at the University of Cologne in Germany, told NBC News.

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According to Rittweger, the calorie-burning and cardiovascular benefits are similar to “brisk walking for the same amount of time.” The caveat is those who are generally active may not experience much results. “If people don’t do anything” in terms of exercise, Rittweger said, “then the effects are moderate or even better. For the general public, if they’re exercising already, the effect is marginal or nonexistent.”

As for its claims to strengthen bones, Rittweger says the “effects are probably not tremendous,” although he does use the device in the children’s rehabilitation unit to help ward off muscle atrophy in kids who can’t walk.

When it comes to improved circulation and lymphatic drainage, Rittweger said there’s “evidence suggesting that the vibration actually does help with removal of fluids from your legs,” although it’s unclear whether the fluid is being removed from the lymphatic system or the veins.

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There are some risks associated with whole-body vibration. “An important one is any active clotting disorder. If you have a clot, you could displace the clot,” Rittweger said. A displaced clot could travel to the brain and cause a stroke or to the heart and cause a heart attack. He explained vibration could also dislodge kidney stones, which can be extremely painful.

Lifepro, a popular brand of vibration plate, lists on its website those who should avoid using the device are people with heart conditions, muscle or bone injuries, as well as medical implants such as pacemakers, shouldn’t use the devices, nor should pregnant women or young children.

This isn’t the first time a fitness fad has taken the nation by storm. Remember the shake weight? Or the weighted hula hoop? How about the mini stair stepper? Not to mention walking pads – which work from homer’s love, by the way – are very much still a thing.

Be it a diet, routine, machine, those looking to develop a more active lifestyle cling to what will seemingly produce results. Today it’s vibrating plates. We’re staying tuned to see what will “shake up” the wellness scene next.

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