Whole Body Vibration Training with the Power Plate ®

While the technology behind the Power Plate ® may seem like a recent discovery, whole body vibration dates back to the time of the ancient Greeks who used it to speed up the healing process of injuries. Though simple in its design, the Greek method was similar to the Health and Beauty Belt Massagers that have been around for decades. Famed physician and inventor John Harvey Kellogg also used mechanical vibrations in the late 19th century to treat patients with a variety of disorders.

The first to utilize whole body vibration in its most modern application was Russian scientist Vladimir Nazarov, using what he referred to as "Biomechanical Stimulation." By using vibrations to stimulate movement of the muscles, the Russian Space Program found that they could keep their cosmonauts in space longer without worrying about the adverse affects it would have on their bones and muscles. They later found that their ballet dancers recovered from minor muscle injuries quicker and could jump higher when training with vibration technology.

The Power Plate ® uses Whole Body Vibration to create instability in the user's body. With each vibration, the muscles in the body are forced to perform reflexive, contracting muscle actions anywhere from 25 to 50 times per second. The contractions must work in multiple dimensions as the power plate oscillates on all three planes, much like the human body is designed to do. The end result is a tough workout in a fraction of the usual time, increasing overall strength and power.

An assortment of health benefits make training with the Power Plate ® beneficial to more than just athletes. Increased blood circulation along with higher levels of hormones such as serotonin contributes to overall physical and mental health beyond athletic training. Studies conducted by independent research groups have found that the increase in circulation and stimulation of unused or rarely used muscles in elderly patients helped them to regain a significant amount of balance and mobility. It also helped to burn fat and cellulite as well as increase bone density. Because the Power Plate ® requires shorter usage time, elderly patients were able to get an effective workout in a fraction of the usual time, preventing them from being fatigued.

Athletes and personal trainers find that the PowerPlate® is also a great tool for rehabilitation. The 2008 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants have a Power Plate ® in their training center for conditioning and recovery from injuries. Improved flexibility, balance, and reaction time along with faster healing of muscle and tendon injuries make this device extremely valuable to a number of professional and college sports teams. Shaquille O'Neal used it to speed up his post-surgery recovery process during the 2002-2003 NBA season and has inspired many of his fellow athletes to add it to their training regimen.

Depending on your level of fitness and whether you intend the Power Plate ® to be for personal use or commercial use, 4 models are available: the my3, the my5, the pro5, and the pro5 AIRdaptive. The machines range in price from $2,400 to over $10,000 and make a fantastic addition to any fitness center or personal training program.