Steppers & Vibration Platforms

Steppers & Vibration Devices

Steppers and vibration platforms are foundations in the aerobic exercise and weight loss categories. To get into shape and stay that way, these are the first pieces of equipment to consider.

Magnetic

Vibration Platforms

Plain stepper platforms have been used in aerobic classes for decades. You set up the platform at the height that challenges your workout abilities. Vibration platforms aid weight loss and body sculpting by engaging all your core muscles, legs, buttocks, and upper body.

Stepper Platforms

After researching various options, many people gravitate to using stepping platforms. Stepper platforms offer many benefits. The low-impact workout style improves your heart health, tones and strengthens all your lower body muscles, from your buttocks to thighs and calves. Small and portable, a stepper platform is perfectly quiet while you use it, too.

This low-impact workout option using a stepper platform saves your hips, knees, and ankle joints from repeated impacts they deal with as you run or do other types of aerobic exercises. High-impact exercise is not considered ideal for those 40 plus or anyone dealing with joint pain, bone loss, or arthritis. A stepper platform provides moderate aerobic activity, best used for regular 30 to 60-minute steady-state cardio workouts. Steady-state workouts mean you keep going at the same pace all throughout your workout, as opposed to interval training, where you speed up and slow down.

Improving your cardiovascular health means your heart gets stronger from consistent exercise and doesn’t have to work as hard. So, you gain more endurance, and everyday physical tasks – like carrying something up the stairs – becomes much easier. A stronger heart gives you the opportunity to do fun activities like hiking, playing ball, going on a bike ride, or walking with your dog.

Burn More Calories and Lose Weight on a Stepper Platform

Using a stepper platform burns enough calories to lose weight, but of course, you need to watch your diet, too. Your weight determines how many calories you burn per hour, so the more you weigh, the more calories you burn. But to lose weight, you always need to burn more calories than you consume.

Do Vibration Platforms Help You Lose Weight?

Vibration platforms, or ‘shaking machines,’ use entire-body vibrations that force reflexive contractions of your muscles. The idea is to perform regular style exercises like pushups, squats, or crunches on a vibration platform while they vibrate. The process makes your muscles work harder, helps you lose fat, build more muscle, and get stronger, quicker.

Lowering Blood Pressure

Studies show that performing at least 3 sessions using a vibration platform over 6 weeks can significantly decrease systolic blood pressure.Improving Strength with a Vibration Platform

Using a vibration platform has shown in studies to increase leg extension strength in women using vibration platforms. Significant improvement has also been demonstrated in standing long jump scores, which measures lower body power. Both men and women using the platforms report similar results.

Improving BMI

Using a vibration platform has been found to significantly decrease women’s skin folds and overall body fat in 8-week trials. For the best results, scientists recommend both dieting and aerobic exercise to lose more fat for both men and women. Researchers have concluded that using a vibration platform combined with a healthy diet is equally as effective as other aerobic programs with the same diet.

When the vibration platform shakes, your muscles rapidly, reflexively contract. Without your conscious control, these muscle contractions require energy, so you burn more calories. The amount of energy you burn depends on the strength and frequency of the vibrations.

Also, you can sit or lay on the vibration platform if you are still working on your balance. Perform different exercises on the platform while it vibrates to increase the number of calories you burn. You can do both static and dynamic exercises. Static exercises hold a position for a time, like a plank. Dynamic exercises mean moving, like a pushup.

Some exercises to try on a vibration platform:

• crunches
• pushups
• squats
• lunges
• calf raises
• planks

Add these to your workout routine, or simply start using the vibration platform instead of doing them on the floor.

In Summary

Steppers and vibration platforms are both an excellent addition to your workout routine. Relatively inexpensive compared to other exercise equipment, these are often the first pieces to start building a home gym. Adding these workout options to your home gym here at Eazyro.com is a great place to start!