Although they’ve started to appear in increasingly more gyms, until now, no scientific evidence that vibration plate machines actually worked as they said they did has been provided. Luckily, a new study comes to show that these machines have helped overweight and obese people get better results in terms of weight-loss than those who have only worked out, as WebMD informs.

The study compared the amount of weight lost by overweight and obese adult subjects, mostly women, who were divided into four groups. The findings, while encouraging, should not prompt gym-goers into ditching the old-fashion routines in favor of the revolutionary machines, researchers warn, stressing that the key to successful long term weigh-loss still remains a balanced diet and plenty of exercise.

“These are very encouraging results, but it doesn’t mean people trying to lose weight can ditch aerobic exercise and jump on the vibration plate instead. They still need a healthy diet and aerobic exercise, but this could be a viable alternative to weightlifting.” researcher Dirk Vissers, a physiotherapist at the Artesis University College and the University of Antwerp in Belgium, says for WebMD.

Women were divided as follows: a group that only dieted, one that dieted and worked out the traditional way (aerobics, swimming, jogging, etc.), one that dieted and followed a vibration plate exercise program, and a fourth one that did absolutely nothing. All groups were monitored for six months while sticking to the aforementioned routines, and then another half a year, when they were told they could pick their own routine to keep the weight off. Of the four groups, the one that registered considerable weight loss in the long term was the one that dieted and used the vibration plate machines, which may indicate that, indeed, this type of gym equipment could actually be as efficient as they say it is.

“Over the year, only the conventional fitness and vibration groups managed to maintain a 5% weight loss, which is what is considered enough to improve health. People say vibration machines are fitness for lazy people. It may feel like a short cut, but if it’s easy, you are not doing it properly.” Vissers says for the same publication. However, researchers also stress, the machines must be used as per instructions in order to have the expected results: which means that the slimmer has to actually work out while standing on it. “Supervision in the beginning is imperative and the longer the better. What we see in gyms very often – people just standing on the machine holding the handles – is not going to do anything.” Vissers concludes by saying.