Picture this: You’re wandering around the gym trying to figure out what exercise to do next when you spot someone standing on a platform while their body visibly vibrates. You stop and wonder: What the heck is that?

That odd-looking platform is a vibrating plate, also called a whole-body vibration (WBV) machine. It’s been causing quite a buzz on social media lately and may have appeared recently at your local gym.

But what does a vibrating plate even do? To find out, we spoke with fitness experts and dug into the research to break down the actual science behind vibrating machines to help you learn whether they’re helpful or just hype.

Read my latest for EatingWell: Do Vibration Plates Work? What the Science Says About Benefits and Risks