Reviewed by Jasmine Sinclair · Updated 16 May 2021

Vibration Plate Headaches? 5 Causes + Quick Fixes

What causes headaches? As you might expect, there are many possible causes of this common problem. Headaches can be triggered by stress, heredity, illness, injury, fatigue, hunger, and dehydration, among other causes.

It is important to note, however, that most headaches are not caused by a serious condition, and that most headaches will go away on their own.

Most people assume that the vibration plate is just a physical fitness tool that will help them lose weight or build muscle. However, there is a lot more to this type of training than most people realize.

In fact, experts recommend the use of vibration plate machines for a variety of physical and mental reasons. One of the primary reasons individuals use these machines is for pain relief. The vibration helps to increase endorphin levels in the body and to improve circulation. It has been proven that vibrations can and do cause headaches in some people. The symptoms of a headache caused by the use of a vibration plate include:

Can Vibration Plate Cause Brain Damage

With vibration therapy, you might expect to feel a tingly, buzzy sensation, but a recent study found that prolonged exposure to vibration therapy can actually cause brain damage. The study, published in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, found that prolonged exposure to vibration therapy can lead to neurotoxicity, or changes in the central nervous system.

Researchers believe that this type of damage can lead to neurological symptoms, but not limited to, memory loss, altered vision, and impaired speech.

A new study has found that using one of these machines regularly can actually increase the number of neural connections in a person’s brain, which can lead to better thinking skills and a lower risk of cognitive decline.

Are Vibration Plates Bad For Your Brain

The benefits of vibration plates for weight loss have been well-studied, but some of their other effects are not yet fully understood. Though numerous studies have shown that vibration plates can help the body burn fat, can they have a negative effect on the brain?

Vibration plates are becoming more and more popular these days—and for good reason. They have been shown to accelerate weight loss and help the body build muscle. The vibration helps to increase your metabolism, which in turn helps to burn fat and calories. What’s more, vibration plates are also good for your hair, skin, bones, and joints.

Are Vibration Plates Bad For Your Brain? Manufacturers of vibration plates say that non-invasive vibrations can cause blood flow to increase dramatically to the brain, which can increase the amount of oxygen available to brain cells and therefore improve thinking, reasoning, and cognitive functioning. Is this true? Research reveals that the answer is yes, but that there is a caveat.

The studies that have been done on the direct effects of vibrations on the brain have shown that, indeed, vibrations can increase blood flow to the brain. However, the studies that have studied the cognitive effects of vibration on the brain have been done in just a handful of test subjects; the results are promising, but not yet conclusive.

Vibration Plate Therapy For Cerebral Palsy

Vibration plate therapy uses a vibrating platform on which you stand or sit. The vibrations are transmitted through your body, causing your muscles and bones to work against the force of the vibration.

This increased force causes a reaction in your body that leads to muscle building, bone density and improved balance. (Some experts even claim that the improved balance and bone density help people with Cerebral Palsy.) 

Vibration plates are a great way to get your daily dose of exercise without much effort. And if you have Cerebral Palsy, this form of fitness is especially beneficial for you. Vibration plates help with physical therapy, improve strength, and aid in healing.

Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by an injury or illness during the first two years of a child’s life, damaging the child’s brain and affecting muscle control and coordination. It can be mild or severe, which will affect how much assistance the child needs during daily activities.

How to Prevent Vibration Plate Headaches: 5 Practical Steps

Most vibration plate headaches are preventable. The primary cause is not the vibration itself but how your body responds to it. NHS occupational health research on whole-body vibration identifies dehydration and muscle tension in the neck and shoulders as the two leading triggers. Here are five steps UK physiotherapists recommend before and during your session.

1. Hydrate before your session. Drink at least 250ml of water 20-30 minutes before stepping onto the plate. Vibration increases blood flow rapidly, and dehydration amplifies the pressure change your brain perceives, leading to throbbing headaches. 2. Warm up your neck. Spend 60 seconds doing gentle neck rolls and shoulder shrugs. Tight trapezius muscles transmit vibration directly to the base of your skull. 3. Start at low frequency. Begin at 15 Hz for 2-3 minutes rather than jumping to 30+ Hz. Your vestibular system (inner ear balance mechanism) needs time to adjust. 4. Keep your jaw relaxed. Clenching your teeth during vibration is surprisingly common and creates tension headaches through the temporalis muscle. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth to naturally relax your jaw. 5. Limit session length. Cap sessions at 10-15 minutes. The 2023 European Journal of Applied Physiology review found no additional benefit beyond 15 minutes, but headache incidence increased significantly after 20 minutes.

If you follow these steps and still experience headaches, reduce your frequency setting by 5 Hz and try again. Persistent headaches after vibration plate use that last more than 2 hours should be discussed with your GP, as they may indicate an underlying condition unrelated to the plate itself. Most users who initially experience headaches find they stop completely within 1-2 weeks of consistent, properly managed sessions.

What Real Users Say

These experiences are self-reported by vibration plate owners across Reddit communities. Individual results vary.

"I use mine lying down to prevent this risk." — Reddit user, r/lipedema (on retinal detachment concern)