Leisure

The latest craze in the world of health and fitness seems to be low impact vibration plate trainers, also known as power plates.Once a luxury, only afforded by celebrities, these machines are starting to enter the more affordable home gym equipment market. So, what are they and do they actually work?

As with any other piece of fitness equipment, a vibration plate will only deliver results if you use it correctly.It is all good and well spending money on a vibration plate, but if you don’t use it regularly you won’t see results.Likewise, your diet plays an important role. If you use your fitness equipment regularly but pay no attention to your calorie intake you may not achieve the desired results. As with any purchase you will find a variety of specifications and price tags.

As the plate you stand on will be your base from which you will stretch and balance you need to make sure it is large enough to allow you to do this.A larger plate will mean you can not only stand on the plate, but also sit on it and you will be able to perform light stretches and balancing exercises which boost the power of your workout.Variety is the key to a good workout, so ensure the model you buy has variable speed settings.As a general rule, slower speed settings aid weight loss and higher frequency settings help with toning.

You will notice that the majority of vibration trainers have arms and waist high speed settings. However, compact platform type versions are starting to appear on the market.If space is tight opt for a compact platform model, which can be stored away under a bed or in a cupboard.The vibration plate trainers supplied with arms do offer more balance and the controls are generally at waist height, rather than by your feet meaning they can be adjusted during the workout with ease.You may actually see better results from a compact model because the key to success when using a vibration plate is to balance effectively.

By standing on a vibration plate your muscles become stimulated in the same manner as is achieved through more conventional methods of exercise.By varying the speed you vary the amount of stimulation in your cells, but it can be as high as 14 times per second.By making your body think it weighs more than it does the vibration plate makes your body work against a greater force of gravity.

Vibration plates can be responsible for an improvement of your overall health, in addition to weight loss and cellulite reduction.Cell stimulation leads to a reduction of toxins in the blood and this can result in smoother, firmer skin and a reduction in cellulite.