Here’s the latest celebrity fitness nonsense - The Power Plate - thanks to Madonna.
As Madonna performs in London, the word is the aging pop star has kept her fabulous figure fabulous by using a faddish gadget known as the Power Plate. The Power Plate is a vibrating platform you stand on while assuming various positions, which – according to testimonials and marketing materials – can strengthen and tone and all that good stuff in just ten minutes a day, three days per week.…
Article comments
376 - Anomo
There seems to be 3 camps here.
A) I have not tried it, but I don't believe it can work, so instead of trying it to find out I will just keep putting my 2 cents worth in hoping no one notices I have no idea what I am talking about
B) Buy a Power Plate. But do not ask any questions that might require a straight answer.
C) A number of people who have tried various products including Powerplate that say Powerplate are only cheap copies. Being marketed as the real thing, which seems to add to the confusion and gives the first lot lots of ammo.
I think if ONLY good machines were out there this would have been a short lived disagreement.
377 - Rob
Hi, I thought I would continue on from my earlier post and help give a bit of insight into power plates and their effectiveness. Now please bear in mind that I am in no way claiming my findings on a scientific level, so please no lambasting! I play rugby (I am used to very strenuous training and physical exertion) and I also have a very basic understanding of the human anatomy and mechanics from my A level sport science. I have been out of rugby for 2 years now and lost alot of conditioning and muscle tone due to my injury, also gained weight. I am using this equipment on suggestion of a physio as rehabilitation. I have been using the Power Plate branded Pro 5 ALRdaptive for one month now having 2 45 minute sessions a week. The exercises have gained in intensity over this period from immobile static positions for both exercise and stretching and recently begun introducing medicine balls and press up braces etc. The trainer at the studio seems to have taken particular interest in myself for two main reasons; 1. Being a rugby player and of reasonable fitness (6'3" 16st 8lbs) he feels he can push me alot more as the majority of his clients are female. 2. My back injury (bulging disc and socratic nerve damage) he feels that the power plate may improve my back strength ultimately improving my back condition. So after one month I can confidently say I have noticed considerable increase in both mass and tone of my quads. This is mainly because the majority of the exercises require bent legs and so most exercises done also work the quads, even if you’re doing your biceps! Since moving onto the harder exercises such as static crunch position (1 minute at 35Hz is very intense) press ups etc I have again in that 2 weeks noticed a reasonable level of mass increase. I would like to state that the gains I feel I have received in this 1 month period are no greater than what I would have expected from traditional resistance training. The huge benefit that cannot be ignored is that I am able to train to such a high level without the risk of furthering my injury due to load or prolonged resistance. This is because I am using my own body weight as resistance and doing the entire workout (stretching and cool down included) in 45 minutes! The cool down is fantastic as the massage as I have been told helps to reduce and dissipate the built up lactic acid and the following day I can barely feel the effect of my training. The stretching quite simply is amazing. I have been receiving physio treatment for 18 months on my back, glutes and hamstrings from my injury. We have currently been focusing on my hamstrings as they are very very tight and cause alot of the posture issues that further cause pain in my back. The physio has been keeping me on a strict regime of stretching for 18 months where I will see her twice a week for intensive stretching work along with the personal work I do at home. We are still to see noticeable results with it other than a fractional degree. When I began the stretching on the power plate I was able to get my finger tips to mid way down the front of my shin. After 1 45 second stretch I was able to get the palms of my hands under my feet! I am not kidding, I honestly thought the guy in some way had tricked me, it didn't seem real as I have never really been able to touch my feet since I was maybe 7. I looked for any explanation that proved what he did wrong but nothing. Now I must note my hamstrings slowly seized up over the evening and were back to normal the next morning. But after one month of stretching twice a session, so 4 times a week along with my back stretching from the physio I am now consistently able to touch my toes, even first thing on a morning. For me this is huge and is reason why I will continue to use this machine for rehabilitation and then as a complementary means of exercise when I am back playing rugby. I also went back to my physio and she too was dumbfounded over the improvement of my hamstring flexibility, her words were simply 'keep doing what you’re doing' I must admit though, my back has not particularly improved, but there is a noticeable improvement in my posture which I feel is due to the stretching but also the general tightening of my core. As someone who has now tried this machine for a reasonable amount of time I can honestly say it works. As to how you wish it to work and what results you want I think is obviously dependant on the way you use the machine. I feel it has huge potential for injury rehabilitation and even alongside any other training regime. I think if you wish to tone and exercise then this could be used as a sole item. If you wish to use it as a means of bulking up and increasing mass I think it is limited. If you wish to tone and harden muscle mass I think it also has a use. For rehabilitation and increasing flexibility I think there is no better product! I hope this sheds some light on the product and maybe gives some people that bit of confidence in it to go and try it. At the end of the day I’m getting great use out of the machine and if someone wants to sit on a forum all day putting it down with no firsthand experience, well, I guess I don't particularly care, I’ll see you when I get back from training lol.
378 - Christopher Rose
Hopefully that will be training in the basics of written English, like, you know, paragraphs, stuff like that...
379 - Rob
I had paragraphs entered into it, but for whatever reason they did not get replicated into the post. But well done on the constructive input.
If you have nothing to say then don't say anything .
Why is it that people always use internet forums to be complete *insert expletive as appropriate*. Hiding behind your desktop? I wonder if you'd be such a *repeat chosen expletive* in public face to face? Actually, you probably would be, so, like, you know, nevermind....
380 - Anomo
Rob,
You really need to visit someone with experience on multiple manchines, As Power- Plate have a reputation of not disclosing the myriad of treatments out there. They will ONLY tell you about something if they can sell it or supply it.
When I spoke to them what they didn't tell me was very enlightening. For example, it is know that pivotal machines can help with lower back injuries in a way lineal can't. I got that from someone who designs lineal products and has worked within PP.
It is good you are getting results, but do not trust the trainers, they are salespeople first, trainers second.
381 - Rob
Hi,
Thanks for the comments. I totally agree what you're saying there. I can clearly see the sales approach from the trainer as I myself work in sales (HVAC). I giggled to myself when i first went to see him as he was very much of the school of over-selling to the point where much of the information became water of a ducks back.
I initially had to choose to not listen to him and try it for myself as the confidence came from being referred by my physio who i have worked with all my rugby career an trust alot. As i think i mentioned there isn't any real change in my back condition other than my ability to maintain strength and increase flexibility.
I would be interested however in looking into what you said more. I shall begin to do some research on pivotal machines to possibly discuss them with my physio.
382 - Anomo
If you can find a Pulse Trainer, put it on Pivotal mode @ 20Hz 2mm and stand lock legged with feet exactly hip width apart for 10 mins.
Then the same day use the Power Plates rounded edge to massage the lower back muscles with some force. You may need to sit on some mats facing away from the machine to do this.
Where are you located?
383 - Rob
Hi,
you mention having it set at 20Hz, correct me if i am wrong but i have read in the medical journal that due to the bodies natural vibration 20Hz is very dangerous. Am I correct in thinking this?
Rob
384 - Anomo
Only on Lineal machines it is considered a precaution to keep above 30hz. Pivotal is not to go above 30hz.
Check out this small review on different machine types so you can see how varied they are. And how much BS there is around.
385 - blakey
Can I make a suggestion - go to a place where they do proper lessons and try it for yourself - don't buy a machine, but do some lessons.......I did this back in October last year and afer 2 sessions per week every week since then, and a relatively small adjustment to my eating habits (no second helpings) I have shifted 15 LBS and am no overweight for the first time in 3 yeras and I look and feel better. Maybe I could have done the same with other workout routines - but I think they would have taken more time that I have got.
386 - Michelle
I read your blog (im not sure why to be honest) but after reading it i thought poor girl.. Eh say what u want, but from goin from an Aust size 14 to an 8 with a vibrating excercise machine with little change in my diet.. nothing you say could is goin to make me love this machine any less!! my mum has also gone from a 16 to a 10, we are stoked with the results!!!
387 - Anomo
Who's blog did you read and what machine are you using ?
388 - saffy
Does anyone have any feedback about a product called Hypoxi - another low/no effort 'solution' to weight loss and cellulite?
Everything on the net seems to be advertising or is blantantly advetorial/PR.
389 - Chris
Personally, I've had great experience with the power plate. I had surgery in my right foot in October and earlier this year my doctor suggested adding power plate to my PT routine. Never once has anyone said to me "this will be the only thing you need to do" -- it's part of a routine -- not the only thing you should do to be fit. You don't stand on it for 10 minutes -- you work through different exercises/stretches for 30-60 seconds at a time. Believe me, as a triathlete, marathoner, distance cyclist I was VERY skeptical. But after working out on the pp for 20 minutes I was more winded than most of my cardio workouts. I'm not saying I'm a firm believer -- I didn't use it enough to see a difference (1x week for 4 weeks) but my foot was more flexible after using it. That's my experience on it.
390 - haha lol
your debates are so very amusing. go sal m!!
391 - Power Plate Vibration
Power Plate vibration machine is like the microwave of fitness you can do as little as 10 minutes and still achieve a great workout.
392 - power plate
In the United States, exercise machines, vibration technology to start in gyms, fitness center and even apartments. Already in the United Kingdom, Whole Body Vibration with machines like the Power Plate has been fitness and routines used in training and therapy sessions. Each of the professional athletes, for those who want only in form, impact of this type of exercise and enjoyment of the short period of meeting the need.
393 - Brian
As the author, I am a NSCA, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist D* and a NASM Corrective exercise specialist and a Performance exercise specialist. Unfortunately, the majority of people are looking for a 'short cut'and fall prey for 'quakery'. As a researcher, it is very easy to 'manipulate' data and these companies pay celebrities that look good eg Madonna and she gives the credit to these '10 min workouts'! Its NONSENSE and we in the fitness industry work very hard with our clients to counterpoise such info.
394 - Brian
Chris, as a marathon runner myself and many years working and doing research in a Medical setting-Physical Therapy clinic, this technology is simply not valid. I can't deny the placebo effect of ANY exercise if one 'believes' it is working for them. If you did the same exercise on the floor as the PP you would recieve the same benefits plus just mother time your ankle will heal. I train many doctors and to be honest there is a reason I train 'many' doctors--its because they have NO CLUE on exercise prescription and I dont mean that in any desrespect but they are not paid to 'prescribe' exercise programs
395 - Giovanni Ciriani
Brain,
I don't know what experience you've had with vibration plates. Dr. Bosco who pioneered the more recent generation of research studies on whole body vibration was certainly no dummy. On the contrary he was an accomplished world renown Sport Medicine scientist, who had trained several Olympic champions in various sports. I also know of at least another sport medicine scientist who currently teaches sport medicine at an accredited European University, and who is on staff at a top soccer team, who uses vibration plates to speed rehabilitation of his athletes.
Of course, vibration plate manufacturers hype the effects of vibration training for marketing purposes, but that doesn't mean that there are no benefits.
396 - XRCZLVR
Not all platforms you need to move on to work, so I understand the watered down version that Power Plate puts forward does seem a bit weak. Do 30 squats on the floor and you still get a workout right?
But if you try a not moving workout, just holding a pose session, on a real workout machine you will then understand. Until then you can only say you have tried a Physio session. If you believed Power Plates marketing, that they had a workout machine, you only have yourself to blame for being disappointed.
397 - Acceleration Training Plate
Power Plate is a new form of vibration training that puts its users into shape,
promising greater strength and flexibility with a decidedly non-traditional
workout.
398 - Tony
Hi! For 12 years have i trained on a gym, so am a bodybuilder. But since three years ago I discoverd Power plate. And everything I can say now is that i have with the Power Plates help reached much better results. My muscles are bigger and stronger than ever before. And to me, that is enough proof that the Power plate works. just try it out. use it for 3 times a week in a month, and see the transformation. What do you have to loose? you will just become more stronger, healthyer and feel much better! it's fantastic! Do yourself a favour.
-
"Let the Power Plate become the future of fittnes"
399 - Dr Caroline (BSc BVMS)
Wow.. what a lot of opinions! I'd have to say after 5 years of uni I'd definitely agree with Sal - anecdotal evidence should always be discounted if there are strong clinical studies out there on any subject. One's butt may be more "perky" after using the powerplate, but this may have happened if you had just adopted an exercise routine without the powerplate (difficult to tell if it is in fact the powerplate that's made the difference or just doing some exercise - wouldn't you agree???)
And D Leigha: I found many of your comments lacked any real understanding of physics. "Manipulating gravity"???? (the only way you alter the force applied by gravity is to move far away from the earth's surface - eg into outer space - where the force applied to the body by gravity is far less).
I'm not going to attempt to deal with any more of D Leigha's comments... suffice it to say - Sal, thank you for an informative article with a well researched point of view. I'm not sure we can conclude that the powerplate doesn't work, but I believe there is not enough solid evidence out there to conclude that it does either. On this basis, I would find it very difficult to justify parting with £7000 - give me a pair of running shoes and some good old fashioned free weights any day - I guarantee you they will also make your butt "perky" :)
400 - Giovanni Ciriani
Dr Caroline,
Apparently you haven't read any of the clinical studies that indicate vibration training positive effects.
401 - Di Heap - VibePlus
You can google or go to the regular academic sites for the clinical studies (remember that they are specific to the machine used and that machine must have been tested to ensure it is performing accurately to manufacturer's specs! Also that the test is sensible and the results lasting)
For the consumer who simply wants to use a machine in a studio or buy one for home use, and for instructors, personal trainers, and people who own or might want to own a vibration training studio; there's now a new website with lots of articles and a discussion forum for comments and questions that still need attention after reading appropriate articles
vibration-training-advice.com
402 - Stevie Wilson
As a person who has gone through a power plate workout, I started going through the research and talking to MD's and physical therapists. The MD I spoke to is very well trained, does research work and sees patients. She's highly qualified.
She thinks vibrational machines are actually quite helpful for those who aren't fit and might have health issues, (lupus or are in wheelchairs).
I spoke to a physical therapist about it too and she agreed that it's a great workout providing you get the right machine. I did hear some not so positive statements about Power Plate and that it does take some time and work to learn how to use these products.
Also there are at least 3 other brands out there and I know some MDs who are getting them installed in their offices for patients to come in 1-3 x a week for 10-15 minute sessions with clinical supervision.
The data from Europe goes back for 10 years. It's been confirmed to my satisfaction that it's a good technique to create a more solid core and increase flexibility. I do know how to read scientific research papers and I looked beyond power plate's research.
I respectfully say that there is a serious difference of opinion and celebrities don't mean a whole lot to me. What impresses me are the results over time. I have been testing one for about 4 weeks and I see positive changes in the way I feel, my flexibility and the way my body looks. I am leaner, stronger and building more muscle strength and bone density.
403 - vacheron
the clinical research can mean nothing, but without putting yourself on the powerplate and actually working out, it's so easy to generate a tonne of arguments against it...i'm sure there're many out there who advocate incorporating powerplate with your regular training regime, there's no need to put all ur stakes on powerplate!
404 - Giovanni Ciriani
Mike Hair,
Can you please write it in less confusing English? Who are the people blacklisted? The watchdogs or Hypergravity?