A new study finds vibrational exercise just might give you some of the same benefits as regular exercise.
This study compared whole-body vibration with regular exercise using normal mice and obese mice. After 12 weeks, the mice who were obese and diabetic had similar benefits from either walking on a treadmill or using the whole-body vibration machine. Researchers saw muscle mass and insulin sensitivity improvements along with an increase in levels of protein that help with bone formation.
Whole-body vibration is a machine you either sit, stand or lie on. It vibrates and sends energy to your body which makes your muscles contract and relax dozens of times each second. One important aspect in this study was that walking did improve low bone density while whole-body vibration did not.
The healthy mice in the study did not see the same benefits from the whole-body vibration. Many obese people have trouble doing regular exercise so this may be beneficial to them. But, more studies are needed to see if these results could be duplicated in humans. If you want to try this, here are my prescriptions:
Partha’s RX
1. Whole-body vibration is not a replacement for exercise. You want your lungs and heart to get a work out as it will benefit your entire body and mind.
2. You can use Whole-body vibration to warm-up and cool-down. It’s also good for squats and planks.
3. If you’re obese and have difficulty exercising, remember any movement is better than none. Try short walks around your neighborhood and build up to 30 minutes a day.
4. Whole-body vibration is not for everyone, especially if you have any health problems so be sure to check with your doctor before using it,
Whole-body vibration machines can affect people who have pacemakers or other electronic implants. Women who are pregnant women and those with a history of seizures, tumors or thrombosis should avoid them.
