Regularly working your muscles is critical to improving their size and strength. That is why most fitness experts recommend that you engage in some form of strength training at least two times a week (preferably three to four if you have the time and can make the commitment).
And you have a number of muscle building options available to you. Which ones work best? To help answer this question, let’s look at two common types of strength training: resistance band training and whole-body vibration.
Resistance Band Training
Engaging in strength training with resistance bands means performing a variety of exercises using a set of elastic bands. Each exercise is aimed at a particular muscle or muscle group, and the bands come in a number of different tensions. This allows you to pick the one that is best for that particular muscle, allowing you to create a full body workout without having to buy a bunch of bulky and expensive weights or weight machines.
Whole-Body Vibration
Whole-body vibration requires that you stand, sit, or lie on a platform that vibrates while exercising, causing your muscles to continuously relax and contract, allegedly strengthening them in the process. Although you can find this type of equipment in various gyms and recreational centers, you can also purchase them for in-home use.
Which Is Better?
Research has found that exercising while on a whole-body vibration machine can provide a number of benefits, such as a more stable posture and improved performance, specifically in regard to jump height and recovery time. However, studies have also found that this type of exercise does little to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation post-workout, as well as offering minimal improvement in muscle function.
On the other hand, other studies have found that resistance band training is “as effective as weight machines.” This means that they help increase muscle size, work to lower your body fat, improve your endurance, and boost your strength in the same way as regular old weights and weight machines.
So, if you have to choose one or the other, resistance band training offers more proven benefits. Or you can also decide to include both in your exercise regimen to enjoy the advantages that each has to offer.
Have you ever used a whole-body vibration machine? If so, what are your thoughts?