Lots of people buy vibration plates for weight loss, building strength and body toning, but can they make your skin look better too? In other words, do vibration machines help with cellulite?
In my personal experience, increasing muscle mass is has helped me decrease cellulite the most. However, whole body vibration has shown to help with the appearance of cellulite too (see this study).
How Do Vibration Plates Help Reduce Cellulite Exactly?
1. First of all, vibration machines increase blood flow throughout the body, including the thigh and glute region. At the same time, the oscillating vibrations stimulate the lymphatic system to release toxins and extra fluid.
The movement can reduce inflammation and swelling as well. And as you can imagine, lymphatic drainage can offer multiple health benefits in addition to the reduction of cellulite in your legs.
2. Second, whole body vibration triggers muscles to contract. As a result, you can build strength in your muscles with regular use of these machines. (Remember I mentioned above that muscle building has been the most effective method for me at smoothing out my cellulite.)
Therefore, consider performing different leg exercises while standing on a vibration platform. This allows you to focus your muscle-building in the areas you want to target the most: the thighs and glutes.
For example, do squats and lunges instead of simply standing on the device. Doing different exercises also makes the movements more challenging, thus activating your muscles more. Yes, you may get sore after a workout session, but that can be a sign that you are building more muscle.
Note: Diet also plays a role in the way your body looks. I believe that limiting processed food and lowering carbohydrate intake can help your body retain less fluid. So, you may want to consider eating a whole food diet.
Vibration Machine Exercises that Can Help with Cellulite:
As I mentioned above, you can speed up your results using vibration exercise instead of just standing on the platform. Here are 3 ideas you can try out.
- Squats: Start by standing on the vibration plate with your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly bend down and then stand up. Ideally, you want to squat down to where your thighs are parallel with the floor, but perform the movement to where you feel comfortable.
- Lunges: Stand on the vibration plate with one foot and place the other foot on the floor. Just like with squatting, you want to raise and lower your body. Perform the movement on each side.
- Plie: This exercise is very similar to the squat above, but you place your legs wider apart and have your toes turned out. This helps target the inner and outer thigh area more.
You can watch videos online to see how these exercises are done, but working with a professional trainer will help you achieve proper form and avoid injuries. In addition, it’s best to check with your doctor before starting any workout routine.
Note: Although vibration exercises can help lessen the uneven bumpy appearance of cellulite on your thighs, it may not completely get rid of it. Plus, you need to need to continue doing the exercises even after you see improvement, so that you can maintain the look you want.
2 More Ways to Help Get Rid of Cellulite:
1. Massage for Cellulite Reduction:
Another way to minimize the appearance of cellulite is to massage (see this study). Some people use a handheld massage gun for this.
Keep in mind that it can take up to 3 months to see significant results when you perform massage treatments on a regular basis. Plus, cellulite can re-appear once you discontinue the routine. Therefore, you need to develop a habit and stay consistent with this practice.
2. Dry Brushing to Minimize Cellulite:
In addition, you can try out dry brushing to reduce cellulite. Just like vibration, dry skin brushing helps stimulate blood flow to the skin and lymphatic drainage.
One advantage of dry brushing is that the brushes are inexpensive, compact and easy to carry in a bag. I suggest trying this method before getting in the shower, so you can rinse off dry skin flakes and get more effective exfoliation at the same time.