What is vibration training?

Vibration training is a technique for training, strengthening and toning your muscles by using short bursts of intense vibration. A ten minute session is claimed to deliver the muscle building benefits of a full hour pumping iron in the gym.

Vibration training takes place on a vibration training platform. You stand on the platform holding particular positions while the platform vibrates rapidly beneath you. This causes your muscles to tense and relax very quickly as they counter the vibrations to keep you from falling over. This tensing and relaxing is similar to the way you’d tense your muscles when lifting weights in the gym and it builds strength and tones muscles in just the same way.

The Russian space programme pioneered the development of vibration training when they were looking for a way to prevent muscle and bone density loss during long spaceflights. Some reports claim that Russian cosmonauts were able to stay in space three times longer than their American astronaut counterparts thanks to their programme of vibration training.

In recent years, since the fall of the Iron Curtain, vibration training techniques have gradually become more widely available and are now within the reach of even home fitness users. Professional vibration platforms from suppliers such as PowerPlate and Globus Physioplate can costs several thousands of pounds; while home units from companies such as DKN are available from as little as £119.