![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/01f6620cca18698d2c6bb1545d25f7e1e4-vibration-plate-lede-2.rsquare.w400.jpg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: @thekelseyrose_ on Instagram, @samanthabanwer on TikTok\n <\/p>\n
It\u2019s somehow still January, and my algorithm won\u2019t let me forget it. But amid all the posts trying to convince me this will be the year I start bench-pressing<\/a> and taking protein shots<\/a>, some people are taking a different approach to their 2026 fitness routines. My feed is suddenly full of women who swear by jiggling their bodies on vibration plates<\/a>.<\/p>\n A vibration plate is basically just a platform that you stand on to rapidly shake your flesh and muscles. Machines like the Power Plate \u2014\u00a0which Serena Williams has said<\/a> she uses to help with recovery after intense workouts \u2014\u00a0have been in gyms for years. Now, influencers are raving about the benefits<\/a> of adding a vibration plate to your morning routine and sharing affiliate links<\/a> to at-home versions, which cost anywhere from $70<\/a> to more than $3,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to believers, vibration plates can help with everything from weight loss to stress. Gary Brecka \u2014\u00a0a self-proclaimed longevity expert who has worked with<\/a> Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber \u2014 says standing on one<\/a> can help improve bone density and circulation and support lymphatic drainage. On Instagram, women say they\u2019re \u201caddicted\u201d<\/a> to their vibration plates as a way to reduce bloating and puffiness. Some vibrate to decompress while wearing a red-light mask<\/a>, while others are using their plates to supercharge their workouts. The biohacker Dave Asprey claims<\/a> that lifting weights on a vibration plate is a shortcut to building muscle, and fitness influencers are filming themselves doing squats and planks<\/a> on them. On TikTok, one woman struggling with depression said that<\/a> using a vibration plate changed her life by helping to regulate her nervous system. Others claim sitting on one in the morning can help keep you regular<\/a>.<\/p>\n Standing on a device that jiggles your body does seem more fun than going to the gym. But when I called up Lauren Colenso-Semple, a muscle-physiology researcher at McMaster University, she advised me to save my money. Most of the hype around vibration plates is focused on the idea that they support lymphatic drainage \u2014\u00a0and therefore will make you look slimmer. But unless you have a serious medical condition or are recovering from major surgery, your lymphatic system is probably working just fine, says Colenso-Semple. While a vibration plate can help increase blood flow and circulation, all exercise does that. In general, moving your body has well-documented mental-health benefits, and light movement can help with recovery and muscle soreness. \u201cThe vibration plate isn\u2019t doing anything unique,\u201d says Colenso-Semple.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s definitely not a replacement for your typical workout. Ultimately, the calories burned by standing on a vibration plate are negligible. \u201cIt\u2019s not a weight-loss hack by any means,\u201d says Colenso-Semple. If your goal is to increase muscle or bone density, you\u2019ll get more bang for your buck by lifting heavy weights than trying to balance on a wobbly board. That\u2019s not to say that vibration plates are totally useless. But according to Colenso-Semple, they\u2019re mostly beneficial for helping improve circulation and stimulate muscle for people who, for a variety of reasons, are physically unable to do traditional exercise. The rest of us are probably better off going for a walk.<\/p>\n Stay in touch.<\/p>\n Get the Cut newsletter delivered daily<\/p>\n Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice<\/p>\n