Best Buy Vibration Plate Trainers for Whole Body Vibration Workouts

Vibration training is relatively new on the market, having only been around for a few years, but there is no doubting the effects it has on the body.

The technique was developed to allow astronauts to exercise in space; in zero-gravity, there is nothing for muscle fibres to contract against and muscular atrophy is a common consequence of spending time on the International Space Station.

It utilises a plate that vibrates and is therefore unstable, forcing muscle fibres to contract faster to compensate for the instability. This means that a squat, for exmaple, when performed on a vibration plate, forces the muscles to work exponentially harder to counteract the vibrations threatening to destabilise the exerciser. A press up performed with the hands on the vibration plate and the feet on the floor will force the muscles of arms, chest, shoulders and back to fight against the vibrations as well as pushing the body upwards.

Because of this, vibration plate workouts typically create muscle fatigue far quicker than conventional workouts, thus condensing an hour's worth of training into mere minutes.

Below is a review of three of the best at the most reasonable end of the price scale, and thus potential fitness aids for people on average wages in these recession-hit times.

If you don't have the kind of money that some power plates require, then the Whole Body Vibration Butterfly is the machine for you.

A smaller version of a power plate, the Butterfly still burns fat and tones and tightens skin, but has particular emphasis on toning the hip, waist and abdomen.

Regular use decreases the appearance and amount of cellulite and boosts the body's natural collagen production.

It claims to increase muscle strength by up to 50% in as little as three weeks, because during training, almost 100% of muscle fibre is utilized.

As with any exercise, it improves blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. The weight-bearing exercise and vibration helps build bone density and fight osteoporosis

A mid-priced vibration plate for those with deeper pockets, the Vibration Power Plate Plus is the latest design from Confidence Fitness.

This machine claims to be the answer to low impact, high results exercise in the home. Complete with a display console and easy to use menu, the Confidence Slim will enhance any simple weigh-bearing exercise through the use of vibration to force muscles to work harder, by creating a high frequency vibration which causes a stretch reflex within the muscle. This

The machine is fitted with yoga straps to enhance its potential for improving upper body strength and toning.

The manufacturers claim that ten minutes on the Vibration Power Plate Plus is equivalent to an hour of conventional exercise.

The BH Fitness ABP is at the highest end of our price range, but still, compared to many brands, extremely reasonable (Prices can reach up to $15,000.)

Its manufacturers claim it soothes and oxygenates sore muscles, as well as improving muscle tone and stimulating circulation with its large whole-body vibration plate.

It offers up to twenty different levels of wave vibration and its tri-axial movement (front-to-back, up-and-down and side-to-side) allows the exerciser to work all muscle groups and not just the ones that are involved in the particular exercise.

The display has eight timed programmess ranging from 30 seconds to 10 minutes of exercise, and the LED screen displays both time and frequency.

It's always important to make sure you know exactly how to use any piece of exercise equipment before you throw yourself into a new regime.

Read the accompanying instructions first and make sure you start carefully. Then, when you know what you're doing, feel free to incorporate vibration plate training into your weekly exercise routine for fantastic strength and toning results.