Whole-body vibration (WBV) machines are a good money-maker for manufacturers but they're certainly not the "silver bullet" to the problems of obesity or osteoporosis, says exercise physiologist Professor Rob Newton.
A US mouse study found sitting or standing on a vibration machine for just 20 minutes mimics the muscle and bone health benefits of a 45 minute walk.
"Our study is the first to show that whole-body vibration may be just as effective as exercise at combating some of the negative consequences of obesity and diabetes," said the study's senior author, Meghan McGee-Lawrence of Augusta University.
The study published in the Endocrine Society's journal Endocrinology showed the obese mice gained less weight after exercise or WBV than compared to the mice in the sedentary group, although they remained heavier than normal mice.
Exercise and WBV also enhanced muscle mass and insulin sensitivity in the genetically obese mice.
Ms McGee-Lawrence also said longer-term WBV treatments held "promise" for preventing bone loss.
However Professor Newton from the School of Medical and Health Sciences at Edith Cowan University says the findings of this study don't mean much at all when you try to translate them to humans.
Apart from mice being an entirely different species, comparing WBV to walking is "meaningless".
"We usually use walking as a control condition because we know the patients will only get little benefit from it, so to come out and say that it's comparable to 45 minutes of walking is pretty meaningless to be honest," Prof Newton said.
The fact is the research on WBV in humans remain ambiguous , he says.
"Some have shown some benefits, some have shown none at all. Certainly our studies in cancer patients found absolutely no benefit in terms of muscle and bone."
WBV consists of a person sitting, standing or lying on a machine with a vibrating platform. When the machine vibrates, it transmits energy to the body, and muscles contract and relax multiple times during each second.
Professor Newton says a well-designed exercise program remains far superior to WBV.
"You can't compare the increases in strength and physical function, the weight loss that occurs with a well designed exercise prescription to what occurs when someone stands on a vibrating plate,"
Prof Newton also adds WBV machines aren't a very pleasant experience and can be very boring.
"Wouldn't you rather be out walking in the park or lifting some weight while talking to your friends?" he asked.
