Can we vibrate ourselves healthy? That’s the premise behind a form of therapy called whole body vibration, or WBV. Proponents argue that subjecting our bones and muscles to rapid vibrations makes them stronger — much the same way exercise does.
The idea is simple: Standing on a vibrating plate forces our muscles to do work. This low-grade stress ultimately leads to strength gains and weight loss. Some studies have even gone further, claiming WBV can reduce blood pressure or combat diabetes. If so, it could be an easy path to better health. But, despite years of research and hundreds of studies, the true benefits of WBV are still unclear.
