Cindy Crawford swore by it for keeping herself trim; Claudia Schiffer loved it for saving time; Madonna famously used hers while on the phone.
In the mid-Noughties, no A-lister’s workout was complete without one particular piece of exercise kit – the vibration plate.
The idea, initially popularised by elite athletes looking to gain a competitive edge, was that standing on a rapidly oscillating platform could offer all the gains of a traditional gym session but more quickly and with less effort.
In the decades that followed, it became a phenomenon. Infomercials made claims along the lines of ‘you can get a complete workout in ten minutes while standing still’.
Then, as rapidly as they had emerged, vibration plates began to fall out of favour. A New York Times investigation in 2011 featured biomechanics experts questioning the overblown claims and a major study two years later concluded many of the gadgets on the market were potentially unsafe.
Now ‘shake plates’ are emerging as one of 2026’s hottest health and wellness trends. The outlandish claims have returned, too, with enthusiasts on TikTok and Instagram suggesting that just standing on the plate can help you drop three dress sizes and that five minutes vibrating is as good as an hour in the gym.
Meanwhile, other advocates have praised them for helping build muscle tone and improving lymphatic drainage. In viral TikTok posts, cosmetics guru Trinny Woodall – who does arm and leg workouts while using her plate – even claimed that it helps speed up her digestive processes in the morning.
Today, the smallest and most basic plates can be bought for under £100, while the larger and more sophisticated at-home models can cost more than £3,000, leaving many people asking: Is it a good investment? And do they really work?
Experts have told The Mail on Sunday there’s a growing body of research – partly driven by efforts to protect astronauts from the effects of zero gravity – into the potential benefits of what is known as whole body vibration.
Now ‘shake plates’ are emerging as one of 2026’s hottest health and wellness trends
And while dismissing the notion that vibration plates represent the holy grail of effort-free weight loss, the experts say they make work-outs more efficient.
Aside from exercise, there are potential medical benefits, including reducing the risk of brittle bones in older people and post-menopausal women, and boosting circulation.
The key is the interaction between the vibration of the plate and the user’s muscles.
Typically, plates vibrate up and down between ten and 50 times a second, with the difference between the highest and lowest point of each vibration set between 3mm to 8mm. When the user stands on the plate, in response to this vibration, the muscles automatically engage.
Damien Bailey, Royal Society Wolfson professor of physiology and biochemistry at the University of South Wales, said: ‘As the rapid oscillations pass through the feet and legs, the vibration stretches the muscles and tendons, and the body responds with tiny reflex muscle contractions. Getting the muscles to contract quickly is a form of muscle training. It’s a big bang for your buck as you’re not pounding the pavements, you’re just standing on a plate. It’s almost doing the training for you.’
In combination with muscle-building exercises such as squats, lunges and calf raises, the plates can deliver a significant improvement for toning muscles and burning calories.
Dr Mark Sanderson, exercise science lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, said there was growing evidence doing the same exercises on a vibration plate could make them more effective.
He said: ‘Studies have compared somebody doing squats on the ground to somebody doing squats on a vibration plate. On the plate, energy expenditure is significantly higher, because the added vibration means you need to work harder and contract the muscles more than if you were just on solid ground.’
Vibration can provide a boost for athletes whose sport involves short bursts of high-intensity activity – such as sprinters, high-jumpers or power-lifters.
Dr Sanderson said: ‘The rapid change in muscle length that occurs while using the plate temporarily increases the sensitivity of the nervous system – so when someone comes to do a performance a short time later, the threshold for activating the muscles is much lower. They activate much quicker and more forcefully. It’s an acute effect, lasting just a few minutes, but can produce a more explosive performance.’
Fortunately, for people who aren’t trying to run 100m in under ten seconds or deadlift 500kg, vibration plates bring other advantages too.
For Cheryl Hoare, from Berkshire, a daily session has allowed her to transform her life as she struggles against debilitating illness. Diagnosed with the autoimmune conditions lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, she suffered joint pain, weak muscles, lethargy and shortness of breath.
Unable to exercise, her weight crept up, while doctors warned she might soon need a wheelchair.
Cheryl Hoare, 54, from Hungerford in Berkshire, and, right, after losing three stone using a vibration plate
Last year, she decided enough was enough. She said: ‘The bad days were taking over, I was letting the disease get the better of me.’
Seeking help from the Accomplish Fitness studio in Hungerford, she began using vibration plates. In just 14 months, the 54-year-old charity worker has lost 3st – and feels back in control of her life.
She said: ‘My muscles are leaner and I feel so much stronger. I’m doing low-impact exercise that’s not damaging my joints and by using the plate I’m getting a lot more benefit.
‘It’s still hard work – but the plate means I don’t end up sore after exercise. Previously, I struggled to get up off the sofa. It’s worked wonders.’
As well as regular exercise sessions, Cheryl does ten minutes a day of gentle movements while vibrating. She said: ‘It really helps reduce any bloating and puffiness around my face and legs.’
Her experience chimes with the legion of online influencers driving the current shake plate trend, as one of their most common claims is for enhanced lymphatic drainage – often promoted as a form of detox, to improve skin radiance or promote anti-ageing.
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels transporting a fluid called lymph around the body to remove waste and fight infection. When the system isn’t working properly, it can build up – usually in the arms or legs – and cause painful swelling.
Professor Bailey said: ‘A lot of the claims about vibration plates for detox and beauty are hyperbole. There’s no clear scientific evidence for it. But as you’re bouncing away super-fast on the plate, there is definitely a “muscle pump” effect – where the repeated muscle contractions compress the lymphatic vessels and improve lymphatic circulation – which is potentially a good thing for people with lymphoedema.’
The same action, he said, could also improve blood circulation – a particular benefit for patients with venostasis, where blood pools in the veins, resulting in swelling and skin discolouration.
The idea that vibration can aid health has a long history, with Swedish doctor Gustav Zander creating bizarre steam-powered contraptions for stimulating the muscles of Victorian gentlemen as far back as 1860.
Entrepreneur Trinny Woodall on her vibration plate on a video posted to Instagram recently
More recently, research has been driven by space exploration. In zero gravity, astronauts rapidly lose bone density – and with plans to launch a return trip to Mars, scientists are exploring whether vibration could help.
Professor Bailey, who works with the European Space Agency, explained space research had uncovered possible benefits on Earth, too, for people suffering from thinning or brittle bones.
He said: ‘Bone cells are produced in response to the strain and pressure of daily activity, exercise – and gravity. In the micro-gravity of space, these cells aren’t produced at the same rate and bones quickly break down. Vibration could provide a countermeasure as it stimulates the production of more bone cells.
‘On Earth, for patients with spinal cord injuries, or who are bedridden, or for older people with limited mobility, this could be an alternative way to mechanically load their bones and potentially slow loss of bone density.’
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Although vibration plates are considered safe, Dr Sanderson advised anyone suffering from bone conditions such as osteoporosis or osteopenia to seek medical advice – in case the vibrations could cause harm.
He is also worried some people are using the plates in a potentially dangerous way. He said: ‘Anything that directly transmits vibration to the spinal cord or brain should be avoided. They’re delicate structures and can be easily damaged.
‘I’ve seen people doing sit-ups on their plates and doing press-ups on them with their arms fully extended which is transmitting vibration directly to the upper body.’
Some people using the plates also complain of temporary red patches of blotchy skin – a condition called erythema, caused by increased blood flow to the tiny blood vessels under the skin.
Overall, Dr Sanderson said, vibration plates can prove useful, although similar results can be attained without having to invest in costly equipment.
He said: ‘The commercial side is on fast-forward while the research is playing catch-up. If you wanted to save money, the same benefits could be achieved by simply doing lots of different exercise. There is no short cut. Despite some claims, five minutes standing on the plate doesn’t equate to an hour in the gym.
‘You have to be doing exercise while on the plate – although studies do show the plates can help make that exercise more effective.’
So would you spend £3,500 on a top model?
Merach 2440 Vibration Plate
£149.99
Awarded ‘Best Budget Buy’ by Women’s Health, the board, pictured below, has a large, easy-to-read display that shows time, speed and calories burned. It’s also sturdy, supporting up to 440lbs.
uk.merachfit.com
Bodi-Tek 4D Vibration Plate Exercise Machine
£300
This board has 120 intensity levels thanks to its three internal motors. It includes resistance bands, a remote control and a compact design with wheels for easy home storage.
boots.com
LifePro Rumblex Plus 4D Vibration Plate
£437.99
The Rumblex Plus has 60 adjustable speed levels, a cushioned, non-slip rubber surface designed to reduce stress on joints during workouts and a wrist-worn remote so you can change settings mid-workout without bending down.
therange.co.uk
Vibration Therapeutic VT007 Vibration Plate
£855
Vibration Therapeutic claim their plate is ‘a high-frequency, low-amplitude linear vibration machine primarily designed for therapeutic use, bone density support, and neurological stimulation’. It’s also highly rated by physical therapists.
ninefit.uk
Power Plate MOVE
£3,495
If money is no object, this is the one to go for – as it was Men’s Fitness’s top-rated board. The unit is sturdy, durable and users get access to the Power Plate ‘eco-system’ with a huge array of workout resources and videos for all abilities.
powerplate.co.uk
