Vibration therapy is a rehabilitation method that uses mechanical oscillations or vibrations to stimulate the body. Research suggests it may improve posture, increase range of motion, promote muscle strength, and reduce physical limitations.

In 1867, Russian physician and inventor Gustav Zander developed an apparatus that used weights and pulleys to create a sense of vibration. In 1895, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg implemented vibration therapy in his health practice using similar equipment.

Using a vibrating chair he developed himself, Kellog claimed the chair could improve circulation and alleviate constipation.

Later, during the Russian space program, experts found that astronauts experienced bone loss and fractures at a much younger age than people who hadn’t gone to space. Doctors in the program began using vibration therapy to strengthen astronauts’ bones and muscles.

In time, this therapy became available to the public to address different health concerns. However, more research is needed on the potential health benefits and risks of vibration therapy.

Vibration stimulates endings in your muscle spindles. These spindles are tiny sensor-like receptors on your muscles that let your brain know how much they stretch and contract. With this information, your brain calculates your muscle position and movement so you can control how you relax, move, stand, or adjust positions.

Certain health conditions and physical injuries may affect the function of your muscle spindles. Some research indicates vibration therapy could help rehabilitate them, relieving symptoms like reduced range of motion and mobility, muscular weakness, and pain.

In vitro research also suggests that certain types of vibrations may promote the body’s natural production of osteoblasts, the cells that form new bone tissue.

Vibration therapy may be applied in two ways: whole-body vibration or local vibration.

In whole-body vibration therapy, you stand, sit, or lie on a vibrating platform. For example, a therapist may ask you to stand in a half-squat position with your knees bent on a circular platform that vibrates at various speeds.

Local vibration therapy usually involves a therapist placing a hand-held vibrating device directly on the targeted parts of the body. For example, they may apply light pressure with the device on your calf or thigh muscles.

The direction, frequency, and intensity of vibrations may affect outcomes. Some vibration machines produce only vertical vibrations, while others produce vibrations that go up and down, front and back, and sideways.

Research suggests that different forms of vibration therapy may offer some benefits for specific conditions, particularly in cases of pain relief and muscle rehabilitation.

However, most studies pose limitations, such as differences in vibration protocols and targeted areas of the body, small samples, and short follow-up periods.

Some of the recent findings include:

  • A 2024 controlled trial in 44 people with cervical disc herniation found that vibration therapy was effective at reducing activity-related pain and improving function in participants, more so when added to a traditional physiotherapy protocol.
  • A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies in people with metabolic syndrome indicated that whole-body vibration therapy may have positive effects on the condition. Researchers found that the therapy helped with pain relief, mobility and range of motion, sleep quality, body composition (reduced fat), and cardiovascular markers (blood pressure and heart rate).
  • A 2021 review of 16 systematic reviews indicated that both whole-body and local vibration therapy may improve gait, balance, reduced flexibility, spasticity, and mobility in people who had a stroke.
  • A 2021 study showed that 20-minute sessions of whole-body vibration therapy, 5 times a week for 2 weeks, significantly improved the balance and gait of 20 subacute stroke patients compared to 18 participants in a control group.
  • A 2020 review and meta-analysis found that whole-body and local vibration therapy significantly improved muscle strength and performance in older adults with sarcopenia — an age-related loss of muscle mass.
  • A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that whole-body vibration therapy may aid in reducing fat mass in adults with overweight and obesity, especially when combined with traditional weight loss strategies like diet and exercise.
  • A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis found that, compared to receiving no treatment, whole-body vibration exercise reduced pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic low back pain. Researchers noted that studies showed that the therapy alone isn’t more effective than traditional treatment, but may complement and improve upon such treatment.
  • A 2019 systematic review of 17 studies concluded that there’s no solid evidence that vibration therapy can significantly reduce symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease.
  • A 2019 controlled pilot trial in 40 adults with nerve damage (neuropathy) due to chemotherapy reported that whole-body vibration therapy was effective at reducing pain and had no adverse effects.
  • A 2019 controlled trial of adult males with mild stress urinary incontinence after prostate cancer surgery indicated that whole-body vibration therapy for 4 weeks was effective at reducing symptoms.
  • A 2018 systematic review exploring the effects of local vibration therapy in healthy adults found that it can improve muscle strength, with or without accompanying training programs.

Research on the potential side effects and risks of vibration therapy is limited. Clinical observations have suggested that this therapy should not be used, or used with caution in the following cases:

  • stress fractures
  • nerve damage
  • conditions that cause seizures
  • after joint replacement
  • recent surgeries
  • pacemakers
  • areas with open or active wounds and injuries
  • high blood pressure
  • clotting disorders (or high risk of clotting)
  • pregnancy

It’s highly advised that you ask your healthcare professional about vibration therapy before starting a protocol, especially if you’re trying it out on your own.

Vibration therapy involves applying different speeds and frequencies of vibration to the body to activate a nervous and muscular response.

Recent research on vibration therapy is limited. However, existing evidence seems promising regarding the use of vibrational therapy for the management of a few conditions.