- With Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
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Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Dr. Edward Laskowski is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center and a professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
He has been on the staff of Mayo Clinic since 1990 and specializes in sports medicine, fitness, strength training and stability training. He works with a multidisciplinary team of physical medicine, rehabilitation and orthopedic specialists, physical therapists and sports psychologists.
Dr. Laskowski is an elite-level skier and approaches sports medicine from the perspective of a physician and an athlete. In addition to skiing, he is an avid hiker, cyclist and climber.
In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Laskowski to a two-year term on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Dr. Laskowski was a member of the medical staff of the Olympic Polyclinic at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and was involved in medical coverage for the Chicago Marathon. He serves as a consulting physician to the National Hockey League Players' Association and is a featured lecturer at the American College of Sports Medicine's Team Physician Course.
Dr. Laskowski, a Cary, Ill., native, has contributed to Mayo Clinic's CD-ROM on sports, health and fitness, a Web site guide to self-care, and hundreds of Mayo Clinic articles and booklets in print and online. He is a contributing editor to Mayo Clinic's "Fitness for EveryBody" book.
"There are many myths and misconceptions about exercise and fitness in general, and also many traditions that don't stand up to scientific scrutiny," he says. "My goal is to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information on sports medicine and fitness topics in a way that you can practically incorporate into your life."
Fitness basics (4)
- Exercise and illness: Should you exercise when you're sick?
- Heart rate: What's normal?
- Body fat analyzers: How accurate are they?
- see all in Fitness basics
Aerobic exercise (10)
- Weighted hula hoops: Exercise gimmick or good idea?
- Elliptical machines: Better than treadmills?
- Air pollution and exercise: Is outdoor exercise risky?
- see all in Aerobic exercise
Strength training (10)
- Weightlifting belt: Do I need one?
- Sit-ups: Is it OK to stabilize my feet?
- Flat stomach: Can wearing a girdle tighten abdominal muscles?
- see all in Strength training
Sports nutrition (4)
- 'Natural' steroids: Are they safe?
- Insulin: Can it boost athletic performance?
- Energy drinks: OK for athletes?
- see all in Sports nutrition
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Question
Whole body vibration training: An effective workout?
I've seen a few ads for whole body vibration machines that supposedly exercise your muscles while you just stand there. Is this a good way to lose weight and improve fitness?
Answer
from Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
For most healthy adults, whole body vibration isn't likely to result in measurable weight loss or fitness gains.
With whole body vibration training, you stand or sit on a vibrating platform. As the platform vibrates, your muscles are forced to react to the vibration. This may help you burn a few extra calories, but it isn't as effective as physical activity that you initiate and maintain yourself — such as walking or swimming. Whole body vibration training may even be harmful for people who have certain medical conditions, such as low back pain.
Still, whole body vibration training may have a place in some fitness routines. In recent studies, whole body vibration training:
- Boosted bone mineral density in postmenopausal women
- Improved muscle strength in elderly adults and women who have knee osteoarthritis
- Improved balance in elderly women
If you want to lose weight and improve fitness, don't look for shortcuts. Enjoy a healthy diet and include physical activity in your daily routine. If you choose to try whole body vibration training, remember to do other aerobic and strength training activities as well.
Next questionExercise: How much do I need every day?
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 13, 2009.
- Dolny DG, et al. Whole body vibration exercise: Training and benefits. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2008;7:152.
- Cochrane DJ, et al. A comparison of the physiologic effects of acute whole-body vibration exercise in young and older people. Archives of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation. 2008;89:815.
- Trans T, et al. Effect of whole body vibration exercise on muscle strength and proprioception in females with knee osteoarthritis. The Knee. 2009.
- Rees SS, et al. Effects of whole-body vibration exercise on lower-extremity muscle strength and power in an older population: A randomized clinical trial. Physical Therapy. 2008;88:462.
- Cheung WH, et al. High-frequency whole-body vibration improves balancing ability in elderly women. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2007;88:852.
