To paraphrase Coleridge, “Research, research everywhere but not a drop of proof.”
As revealed in my first two installments in this series, the quality of research provided by the manufacturers of Whole Body Vibration platforms is lacking. In this latest installment of Debunking the Myth of WBV I’m going to provide a review of items five through nine on the “Researches” (sic) page of the Hypergravity web site.…
Article comments
326 - Di Heap - VibePlus
Guppy, that's a bit harsh I think. It's easy enough to check out the above commenter's credentials. I saw his mistake, an easy one to make if one doesn't use comments/forums frequently.
Now back to the above article - The Emperor having No Clothes - I assure you He does, and the way for everyone to comment honestly is to "Give it a Go!" then please do come back here and comment.
327 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
It's easy enough to check out the above commenter's credentials.
Where?? In the infomercial that is linked through the url next to his name? LMAO! Dude, I know how these people airbrush photos to show the results they want. They do it in the supplement ads that are in fitness magazines all the time. And just because this guy might be able to prove his credentials doesn't mean there is an ounce of truth to these claims. Forget about the Emperor's clothes, how about,"Come get your Snake Oil".
328 - Anomo
Read this.
329 - Di Heap - VibePlus
Quote from the academic study posted about above:
"Our studies and previous work all confirm that vibration training is an effective training method in order to improve maximal strength and flexibility as well as various other factors if the training is properly designed"
Sal, how much longer can you deny the benefits of vibration training using properly designed machines and program?
330 - Anomo
Sal can not continue forever disrespecting the researchers by saying they all have it wrong and their studies are flawed.
Keep digging Sal,that hole is getting deeper.
331 - bryant meyers
Hey Guppie,
Maybe you should have a more respectful attitude to newcomers to this blog.
First of all, I am a real person with real credentials... see photos (scroll down)
What are your credentials? How much direct exerience do you have with whole body vibration... How many different machines have you tried?
Well I have been working full time in the industry for over 2 years, tried 17 different models, studied with some of the top researchers and personally helped over 200 people...
I have seen this technology help countless people... The photos are NOT air brushed, they are real and taken by doctors in various medical clinics in the southern US... see. The other testimonials on my site I personally hand collected and most of them (with their permission) I can put anyone in touch with the people in those testimonials.
The people in this thread claiming whole body vibration does not work are totally and utterly ignorant of this technology.
Just because there are cheap machines out there, does not mean those machines represent the industry.
I agree that soloflex, crazyfit, vibratrim, vibrafit and some other cheap brands are... well cheap. But there are some very high quality devices that that really deliver results and I have seen it personally for myself, my friends, my customers and the many chiropractors and doctors that I work with.
Bottom Line... Quality Whole Body Vibration Machines deliver results.. period.
Bryant Meyers
332 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Maybe you should have a more respectful attitude to newcomers to this blog.
Only to the newcomers who aren't trying to pull the wool over BC reader's eyes!
Bottom Line... Quality Whole Body Vibration Machines deliver results.. period.
I believe you there... I'm sure the results on the size of your wallet are enormous! Especially with that lame link to the Dr.Ted diet?!
I did try and read the WBV Research papers on that site and while most of it was some sort of scientific jargon that is probably being used to overwhelm the consumer - I did find one of those reports very astounding! Just from the beginning of reading Strength increase after whole-body vibration compared with resistance training, it states:
"Bosco et al. (3,5)found an increase in force-velocity, force-power and vertical-jump performance immediately after one WBV session... These effects were recorded 2 min after the intervention but disappeared in the next 60 min.
...Wait, What?!
These effects were recorded 2 min after the intervention but disappeared in the next 60 min.
Are you kidding me?? I'm at a complete loss for words here! I do not need credentials or an expensive education in Science to tell you this:
Any kind of resistance, strength or cardio training regiment will show results that won't disappear! So, for this WBV training to have a supposed effect on the body and for that supposed effect to disappear means one thing.... A HOAX!
Good Luck,Mr. Meyers, for if those credentials have any kind of validity to them, you are going to tarnish those schools reputations with this scam!!
333 - bryant meyers
Hey Brian,
I have seen this technology work first hand and it has helped people every day transform their health and their bodies.
I see no credentials, no experience from you so all you are doing is blowing a lot of hot air with nothing to stand on.
It is a waste of time even responding to you, I am too busy helping others by sharing this life changing technology,
I have before and after bone scans showing improvement (Kathy Williamson), I have seen a lady with M.S. (Patije Styers) get rid of her walker and now she can walk 3-4 miles a day, I have several remarkable weight loss stories, I have seen periperal neuropathy disappear (Mrs Hutcherson), and dozens of others. These are all people I directly worked with and have seen with my own two eyes.
Its a real shame that people like you and sal discredit a good a thing having limited direct experience working with it.
But, best of luck to you anyway
Bryant Meyers
334 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Hey Bryant,
I have no credentials because I didn't have to go to College to learn physical fitness, However, my experience with Strength & Endurance training started with Track in High School, from my 4 years of service in the United States Marines & my continued Strength & Endurance training(on & off for 10 years) not only in the gym but in Martial Arts as well. Plus, the number of years doing research & learning from mentors(people like Sal) & family who aren't in the bullshit business. Results that I have seen first hand and doesn't just disappear over time*HA!*
This priceless experience which you could NEVER attain from a University tells me from my gut that the propaganda you are trying to push is purely gimmick & A HOAX!!
The fact that there are companies that have produced such machines since 1976 and yet there still is no scientific evidence to prove it' worth tells me that I don't need to spend tens of thousands on something to find out that it's not true!
You don't have to continue any further discussion with me and, in fact, the sooner you & the other proponents of this sham leave Blogcritics, the better off we'll all be!!
But, Thanks for Playin'
-Brian aka Guppusmaximus
335 - Di Heap
Guppy, The commenters on this article returned after a new article was published by BC on this same topic. And we are not going away, ever.
You're right about some studies on Vibration Training- some done with invalid parameters and so invalid results because the researchers didn't have a clue. This is specific equipment with specific usage programs - one day you will be forced to admit that using quality equipment and program - it works very well!
A hoax, a gimmick? If it was, those of us giving hours and more hours unpaid or with only moderate return would, long ago, have moved on to something more viable.
336 - Anomo
I think Brians point of view is, if it's not broken don't fix it. In other words he has seen other easy to understand proven training methods work so why develop new hard to understand ones?
Well for a start IT IS BROKEN, old methods have been ineffective in fight obesity and targeting other health issues like osteoporosis. We all know something like resistance training would help both these groups, but that's a mute point, they never will do weight training and we all know this. An uncomfortable fact staring us in the face that no amount of name calling will change.
So unless someone has a mind control machine I don't know about, other options must be tried. This one is just allot harder to grasp for most people, and even if you do think you understand the theory, nothing prepares you for the experience. It is harder than most things you will ever do. And last time I checked hard work always pays off.
You will find no one who has gotten off their rear end and tried it say different. Only the lazy who stay home and look out the window living vicariously through others will of course say different. But they wont do anything until the rest of the world has done it already a thousand times and told them it works well. The opposite of inventors, designers and researchers who make the world go around and forward.
The nay-saying cave dweller, a shy species that only comes out when things are new. If proven wrong they will scurry away never to explain their lack of foresight. Quickly moving on to something else they don't understand.
P.S. I read that report too, the tests that only gave short term results was a jump test. They already knew WBV gave athletes a boost trackside for speed, strength and flexibility, they just wanted to know how long for. Cooling down time is important for safety reasons to understand for an athlete.
337 - Anomo
Even though I said it seems to be hard for some people to understand how VT works, it is not hard if you think outside the square for just a second.
To anyone who has done weights. If I was lying down in a bench press position, and someone dropped a bar loaded with some weight from just above my outstretched hands, I would catch it, or it would land on my chest. I would do this without really thinking about it, so its called an involuntary reflex, a survival reflex. Quite the opposite of trying to lift the weight up, but still hard work. Especially if done over and over again quickly.
Everyone should agree to that in principle.
This is what educated people call an eccentric contraction ie. the muscle is forced to absorb energy, in this case how heavy the weight was x how far/fast it fell. And it equals the load automatically down to the last gram. And it produces only exactly what it needs to, it is very precise.
You do exactly the same thing if you jump off a chair. But there you catch your own weight with your legs.
Some body builders call this the "negative" and you will hear them say "fast positive, slow negative" is a good way to train (I always did) Some use that powerful involuntary reflex to "cheat" by letting it drop down to help get it back up. All depends on their training beliefs.
VT?
Those reactions are built into every muscle and are influenced by the heavy vibrational plate fooling your body into catching its own weight x speed x gravity, over and over again. The muscle gets lots of pressure and movement and reaches fatigue very quickly.
So unless it's the word vibration that some people cant see past. It really is a no brainer if you have ever had to catch anything even slightly heavy before.
I also hope no one is saying it is the only way to train, because it is not, but it is training that is suited well for people who are not motivated enough to lift, all the way to someone who wants to add to their existing program.
All I know is my legs were too tired to run after my first try.
Critics have to get over the fact it has taken years to get the formula of vibration/load right, and look past the cheap fakes and incomplete models that were released years too soon by greedy people, to see the science is real and understandable if you just think about it for 1 minute.
Then the next minute try one and only then make up your mind.
338 - Di Heap - VibePlus
I used to work in a gym so I see the above post is right. Many of the guys who worked-out to max were so settled in routine, they'd laugh when I suggested Vibration Training. When they stopped getting results or were looking for a new challenge they were more open to "give it a go!"
When I'm in a Vibra-Train Studio I see some of these "hard-out" people pushing themselves to the limit on the big sports models. Some specifically as they work toward an event.
But I see a higher percentage of "regular" people - people who would never, no-way, ever walk through the door of a gym but admit their need to exercise. Some others are older and don't want or wont lift weights. Others have health or weight/size issues. It differs by Studio and Suburb. The studio I go to in the evenings has many "30-Something" busy people - "regular" people in every way, some who do weeekend sport, some who do come in after sessions at the local gym up the road.
Lately I've been in, in the mornings and I've seen althletes, business people (very well dressed), moms with babes, church pastors (very funny watching Instructors tone down their language), journos and editorial writers, a well-known fashion designer, an airline steward and more. Apart from athletes, and even some of them, most of these would not go to a gym. Vibration Training definitely has a place in getting and keeping these people fit.
339 - Di Heap - VibePlus
Dropping a loaded bar onto someone lying on a bench, with hands in position ready to press, would cause a very rapid involuntary reflex action. Thinking about it, the person would have to catch the falling bar while remaining in a very good position for it to have benefits (I hope the illustration above isn't a real Guys exercise - sounds dangerous). Same with jumping off a box or even jumping on the spot, angles are all important when landing to disperse impact load.
Those principles are used in the design of vibration training programs. It's interesting that one of the best brands of machine and the safety program of Vibra-Train was not designed by a Scientist but by a Mortician, Lloyd Shaw, who also was a serious Gym goer, who pushed and pulled the whole stack and then added on more where he could. He also trained hard on Track and can still win challenges of 100m. He knows exactly how the body works.
Guppy, Lloyd is also ex N.Z. Navy so you have factors in common. He isn't into credentials. I've found him to be no-nonsense, intelligent and extremely hard working. If you re-read the comments on these anti-vibration training articles you will see Lloyd setting the standard for all other vibration machine manufacturers, studios and retail sellers to follow. I hope you can see past the failures/poor quality and, as has been admitted before, quick-money schemes of lesser brands of machine, and that you will try out a heavy steel vibration platform, made in U.S.A. (I can arrange it for you) before you judge further. What have you got to lose?
340 - Anomo
Talking of qualifications.
When explained how Vibration training effects the involuntary reflex system CEDRIC BRYANT PhD., FACSM , Chief Science Officer for the American Council on Exercise said.
"Conceptually, it has merit," he went on to say,
"This is not a magic bullet that helps people lose weight without doing anything,"
"If you are a healthy individual, wbv training should be a supplement to a sensible diet and exercise program."
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting active, healthy lifestyles. ACE pledges to protect the public against unsafe or ineffective fitness products, programs and trends.
Now why would he say that if it was not true or he felt it was all a waste of time? Why is he instead saying what others on here have said.
How can that be right if Sal says it has NO merit. ”the fantasy of WBV.” is that not he has said a few times now?
Maybe Sal could write an article abusing and accusing Mr Cedric Bryant of living in a fantasy world and also being a huckster. I would love to see that, but I think he would prefer to abuse those who can not strike back.
WE ALL AGREE there currently isn't sufficient high-quality scientific research to say exactly what vibration training does and how well it does it, but that is a far cry from Sal's opposite comments that it can't work so don't bother trying.
341 - Anomo
Another study Sal is welcome to debunk...
Context: Several groups have undertaken studies to evaluate the physiologic effects of whole-body vibration (WBV). However, the value of WBV in a training program remains unknown.
Objective: To investigate whether a WBV program results in a better strength and postural control performance than an equivalent exercise program performed without vibration.
Design: Randomized, controlled trial.
Setting: Laboratory.
Patients or Other Participants: Thirty-three Belgian competitive skiers (ages = 9-15 years).
Intervention(s): Subjects were assigned to either the WBV group or the equivalent resistance (ER) group for 6 weeks of training at 3 times per week.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Isokinetic plantar and dorsiflexion peak torque, isokinetic knee flexion and extension peak torque, explosive strength (high box test), and postural control were assessed before and after the training period.
Results: Both training programs significantly improved isokinetic ankle and knee muscle strength and explosive strength. Moreover, the increases in explosive strength and in plantar-flexor strength at low speed were SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER in the WBV group than in the ER group after 6 weeks. However, neither WBV training nor ER training seemed to have an effect on postural control.
Conclusions: A strength training program that includes WBV appears to have additive effects in young skiers compared with an equivalent program that does not include WBV. Therefore, our findings support the hypothesis that WBV training may be a beneficial supplementary training technique in strength programs for young athletes.
So Sal, this study was done on a Fit-Vibe which is still a light platform compared to the sports models. And it still did the same as weight training PLUS MORE.
But how could that be if your USELESS FOR ATHLETES stance is true?
342 - Anomo
The starting sentence of an abstract from a research paper from Dr. Baum ,Institute for Physiology and Anatomy, Germany ....
Although it is well documented that persons suffering from diabetes type 2 profit from muscular activities, just a negligible amount of patients take advantage of physical exercises.
MMMMM where have we heard that kind of talk before? Maybe right before Sal told us that people who suffer from these types of problems deserve to suffer from them, and other options apart from standard exercise prescription should not be looked into.
Sal M comments #12 & #13
"the answer to obesity is lies in the concept of individual choice, and not in a vibrating platform."
" dealing with the efficacy of WBV as it pertains to any member of the population, making the statement that WBV is somehow the answer to the obesity problem is pure folly."
" in case you didn't get the message, fat people are fat because they choose to be fat."
"they ignore the advice of society and the medical community and they are the ones who are responsible for their sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles."
Sal I see no one claiming it as THE answer here, but according to research it sure is looking like a PARTIAL solution to an issue you claim to understand. How in good conscience can you continue to abuse those doing the work in this area of science whom seem to be allot smarter and years ahead of you.
343 - Anomo
Oh yes, conclusion to the research.
The findings suggest that vibration exercise may be an effective and low time consuming tool to enhance glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients.
Conflict of interest: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.
The usual cautious statement from researchers naturally, but I keep looking for the COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME conclusion SAL swore it all was.
And they only did 3 workout poses for 30 secs, some stretches and silly arm ones with the straps. This is not even a warm up compared to a standard program and they still got results?
344 - Di Heap
The above studies can't be said to be "subjective". They show proofs. Sadly because they are couched in the usual research qualifiers of "might" and "may be" Sal just wont accept them but thinks his "judgement without trial" is superior.
and Phillip Winn says "On the one hand we have the science that everybody accepts, all of which says that WBV is useless"
Looks like he got that wrong!
345 - Anomo
It is clear, the people that were not smart enough to visualize the physics and physiology are being slowly proven wrong.
The people smart enough to see the unrealized potential, which was obvious to me after my first try, are slowly being proven right.
Someone was always going to be proven wrong or right on this one and with both sides being so vocal about their opinion at least their will be a clear winner.
USEFUL VS USELESS
I read the prediction that when better machines are used, even better results will follow. And with the last 2 tests done on medium range products as opposed to look-alike but highly polished and marketed fakes, that is also starting to come true.
I think that is the way of things with most new technology. It is a shame we still have people that are afraid of new things they cant understand, and are more than willing to get in the way of progress.
End note: Academic papers ALWAYS use words like "might" and "maybe". It is an academic safeguard against inconsistencies in others real life results. I have seen them on $100 million dollar drug trial results that passed FDA approval.
For Sal to use this as some kind of proof he is right is lame, lame, lame.
346 - Anomo
I will admit though, it is quite brave for some people to come online sticking to their guns and putting their intellectual reputations on the line by making such definitive remarks.
No one wants to be publically humiliated but here we have both sides putting themselves out there to be judged, because this is not like an opinion where you can say "I like blue" and never be proven wrong.
Science never stays opinion for long.
347 - Giovanni Ciriani
Hello Brian aka Guppusmaximus,
I think you misinterpreted the results of the Bosco study you referred to :-)
First, I don't think that any short-duration exercise, either voluntary or involuntary, can cause permanent results (adaptation). So if you lift weight for 2 minutes or run for for 2 minutes or work on a platform for 2 minutes, your won't have any sort of physiological adaptation that produces long-lasting effects. So I wouldn't conclude from such a study that WBV isn't effective.
Second, I think the study concentrated on purpose on the acute effects (i.e. short term) of WBV. This a different effect on which more recent research has focused: it seems that WBV has a potentiation effect.
I'll try to explain what potentiation means. There is a category of exercises that go under the label of potentiation, that help increase for a short time physical output. The generic warm up is in this category, as well as stretching. If you observe a 100-m sprint competition, the athletes perform short run bursts of few meters, to improve their race outcome. Strength and conditioning specialists are very keen in studying this phenomenon, because it has an impact on the outcome of a competition.
Now it seems that WBV has potentiation effects too, and there are several recent studies in this direction.
348 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Hey Giovanni,
It doesn't state anywhere in the Bosco study that the WBV training was in potentiation or that it was performed for 2 minutes. So, NO, I did not misinterpret the results. This is what it says:
"These effects were recorded 2 min after the intervention but disappeared in the next 60 min."
Which still leads me to believe that this is a hoax...Thanks:)
...if you lift weight for 2 minutes or run for for 2 minutes or work on a platform for 2 minutes, your won't have any sort of physiological adaptation that produces long-lasting effects.
It totally depends on how vigorous the exercise is. Put yer money where your mouth is: I bet you that if you were to do proper curls with dumbbells of 30+Lbs for 2 minutes straight, you would see a definite long lasting effect on your strength.The proof: You'd be one sore futhamucka the next day!
If you observe a 100-m sprint competition, the athletes perform short run bursts of few meters, to improve their race outcome.
Only track specific training besides basic physical fitness can improve their racing performance! Sure, warming up the muscles is key to reducing the chance of injury while running at your peak capability and doing short "bursts" could give the trainer insight about any conditions that may weaken the runner's performance as well as acting as a practice session to tweak his/her form,BUT, there is no science to suggest that those "warm-up" routines,in an of themselves, would catapult a racer above his known limit. AND, there is no science proving that Warming Up & Stretching does any good to begin with!
349 - Anomo
Dear Brian
By your amazing logic if I did " proper curls with dumbbells of 30+Lbs for 2 minutes straight"
And then got tested for strength gains IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, I would have lost strength not gained it.
It would show a negative in that particular tests.
So that means someone somewhere like yourself would interpret the research that weights don't work at all?
Please God help us.
350 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Anomo,
Spare me your BS. Anybody with half a brain would realize that a "burn out" does not equate to the disappearance of progression that WBV boasts.
Nice Try...
351 - Anomo
I think it is hard to argue with someone who has already made up their mind, not through logic or experience, but just an opinion.
Now I know how the guys that started up proper progressive resistance training on mass in the 1960s felt, no real research had been done at that point so people like Brian would have said their was no PROOF it worked, but about 2000yrs of anecdotal evidence showed it did work. But that doesn't count right Brian?
Because you can't have it both ways.
Every [Edited] had an opinion back then too, and it was pointed out constantly that it can cause injury, because it had injured people before.
History is full of this repeat nay-saying. But those who practice and perfect the science always win.
The others just follow.
352 - Anomo
"Anybody with half a brain would realize that a "burn out" does not equate to the disappearance of progression that WBV boasts."
This statement is INCORRECT and not well thought out. Only someone who has experienced burnout would understand. Only then it can be envisioned in other circumstances. You seem to underestimate how EXPERIENCE forms our logic from the day we are born, not always the other way around.
You seem to miss allot I think is logical. But you lack experience so I suppose it is a good enough excuse.
353 - Anomo
Try and get your head around this please. I understand you are at a disadvantage due to certain limitations, but WBV is like the term WEIGHT.
It has little or no meaning without attaching all appropriate specifications.
Here is an example: Lifting 500grams is not the same as lifting 5kg. But it is all WEIGHT.
Similar example: Putting one tests from one type of machine up as the "WBV industry" shows your lack of, well pretty much lack of everything in this debate.
354 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Ahha...Pretty typical! People that don't have all their facts straight usually get upset and start name calling. Unfortunately for you, Anomo, my "opinion" is based on fact.
Now I know how the guys that started up proper progressive resistance training on mass in the 1960s felt, no real research had been done at that point so people like Brian would have said their was no PROOF it worked, but about 2000yrs of anecdotal evidence showed it did work.
Your anecdotal evidence reference doesn't support your argument about the technology used in these machines. 2000 years ago progressive resistance training was done with halteres(dumbbells). I believe you are referring to resistance machines,such as Hammer Strength,which were gradually introduced in the 60's. Yes, these machines can build strength but because they utilize some sort of leverage, you are not really lifting the weight that has been selected. In essence, you are cheating. Plus, they only focus on one muscle at a time, so, you are not working efficiently nor are you building up your stabilizers(the little muscles). This does not translate well if & when you choose to use free weights to perform real Progressive Resistance training.
355 - Anomo
Brian, My advice is go away get some experience, some education can be gained from the net about the difference in machines. You should not have to try them all to start to understand. Then we can converse on even ground and you have a chance of holding your own.
A little hint: "I can not figure out how it can work, so it can't"
Is not really the best position to come from and it's boring.
356 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Only someone who has experienced burnout would understand.
Yes, this is true,but, you can experience "burn out" by doing manual labor. You don't need to buy some over-priced floor buffer or buy any kind of product whatsoever! Find some heavy rocks in your local environment....
Sure, you can keep on insulting me about my supposed lack of logic or intelligence but that still doesn't prove that your WBV training isn't a hoax!
Good Night...
357 - Anomo
Brian I know my history well, I was referring to written programs for Progressive Resistance Training which was only introduced to the public through the very few gyms back in the 60s.
I did not call you names, I pointed out your lack of experience and inability to perceive what we are discussing.
Both which you have admitted freely to here in front of everybody.
I was only asking to to TRY even though it may be hard. If are are unable or unwilling, I can not help you.
358 - Anomo
Only someone who has experienced burnout would understand.
"Yes, this is true,."
Then why did I have to point it out to you, it was logical for me all along?
I AT NO TIME told you to BUY a machine at any cost, I told you to TRY ONE so you are not at such a disadvantage. Concentrate next time will you.
359 - Di Heap
On the wall of the Vibra-Train Sports Studio is a framed pic of a Speed Skier on a mountainside. It's been on the wall for a few years now. Above the pic the caption reads:
"Thanks for the generous support of Lloyd Shaw and the team at Vibra-Train City Studio. I was in the best condition of my career when competing in the New Zealand National Speed Skiing Competition. I believe my Vibra-Training was the deciding edge that helped me to secure the National title two years running.
I would highly recommend Vibra-Training without hesitation." 125.9km/hr Janelle Hinch
360 - Giovanni Ciriani
Hey Brian aka Guppusmaximus,
I want to re-read the Bosco study in question. What's the title of the article, or the one that references it please?
361 - Ian Robinson
Well now, I have just bought a Vibro trainer and I thought I would look up the various opinions on the Pros and Cons of the use of this unit. Wow! Try to read 2.5 years of blogs in an afternoon - its quite entertaining!
The positive side of it is that through this lightening read I am now convinced that there are definite benefits to be gained from the unit, but be assured that I don't believe that any training unit is the beginning and end of life on its own.
It will suppliment your training utilising other equipment, and most definitely NOTHING replaces good old physical exercise.
The most influential blogs which convinced me to keep on reading were from good old SAL!
His(or her?) continued absolute negative comments with absolutely no backup suggest to me he is actually in the business of selling the stuff and is using reverse psychology to keep the interest up. Good marketing strategy!
If that is not the case then I have to sympathise with Lloyd. If I had spent 2.5 years banging MY head against a brick wall I would also get personal.
Ed sorry if this is getting close to 'personal' but YOU try and go back over all the blogs.........you will also start to get a headache.
362 - larry leigh
Ian:
I hate to keep repeating the same mantra, but what about the millions of people around the world who CANNOT exercise conventionally due to various neuromuscular disorders and other health complications??
WBV is a practical and effective alternative for them. What about the frail elderly? Where do they go to exercise? Certainly not to the local gym.
Look at the BIG picture, not just the 14% of North Americans who join health clubs.
363 - Wayne
Ian, you bought a machine before checking out the pros and cons?
364 - Di Heap
Ian
Some more reading for you. Click on the link on my name.
There's lots more info and a Safety Program for you to follow so that you get the best results from using your new machine.
I've personally proven the benefits of using a high quality vibration training machine over the past 2 1/2years; so much that I've become an Instructor and now work in a Vibration Training Studio. It's great! Now I get to help others make a positive difference in their lives.
365 - Di Heap
Wayne, Excellent comment. I had that thought also.
Ian, there are, as you probably now know from reading the blogs, different types and qualities of machines. I hope you bought one suited to your needs. If it's not what you expected or not suitable you might be able to return it (depending on what the store told you it would do). More help is available on the site linked to my name.
366 - Anomo
I think Ian's main point was that SalM seems to be operating a kind of anti-marketing strategy scheme to keep interest in the product or himself up, as it is the only logical conclusion to his illogical ongoing skepticism for 2 years+. It would also explain his refusal to tests a machine in public as then the game would be up.
He is the opposite of, but the same as a salesman pushing a product he knows does not work. There are always people around naive enough to believe Sal and the Salesmen if they speak loud enough for long enough.
But any educated person and see they are both clearly unbalanced.
367 - Shawn DeLater MD
I am a physician with both personal and professional experience in fitness nutrition and weight loss. I realize this is hard to believe as many Docs are obese, smoke, and have little, if any actual training in nutrition. Although this is finally changing. I have read what "research" I could find on the WBV machines. Yes they are flawed especially with respect to sample size. The results are intriguing but leave me with more questions than answers. For example what level of oscillations are best, how much time per session, how many sessions per week, and more. However, for those people for reasons of age, disease, or obesity who are not able to participate in traditionally accepted routines this may offer benefits. My mother who has a severe autoimmune disease that includes severe post exercise pain found the machine to be beneficial in both pain relief and increased strength. These results were not so spectacular that she ran out and bought one or even continued the sessions beyond the free trial period. She did suggest that I buy one. (economically more feasible in her words) I have Lupus and have found it impossible to continue to do triathlons. I still stretch, lift, swim and walk, but believe me, pain can overcome even the most dedicated. So am I going to buy a machine? Not at this time. I would like to try it. i think time will give us many more answers. There is also the newer oscillating machines to consider. Bottom line it's important to have an open mind but good science trumps all for me. I am hopeful that this could be of benefit to so many who need more than we have to offer.
368 - larry leigh
Dr. DeLater:
You are correct that good science is required. However, clinical judgement and results tend to be very important as well. What do patients feel and say about a modality?
The science is coming. The problem has been that there are many devices of greatly differing quality which have been used for research, all utilizing various protocols and subject demographics.
There is little doubt that vibration training has applications for the frail elderly, those with neuromuscular conditions, and possibly as an adjunct to conventional power training.
Time will tell.
369 - Tsc Tempest
You know? I read your tretise, I brings up valid points. Unfortunately, like the WBV industry you also fail to provide adequate reason NOT to believe the research "Hype." You point out the pilot research and consider it irrelevant, yet not in any one paper mentioned here did you comment that you've actually read them and that either their methodology, statistical analysis, or premiss is flawed and for what reason. I'm all for peer review, it's what 'keeps the bastards honest' especially when theire is no apparent self-interest, yet like the site/wbv proponets you are criticising for referencing abstracts on Pubmed, you too are making the same error of debunking based on the abstract rather than the full paper. If you're fair dinkum' put your money where your mouth is and "READ" the papers then show us where they are truly in error. Becuase otherwise, this is just looks like so much grandstanding by just one more, barely convincing voice. You have your moments, and they're interesting moments at that, but they are far from compelling.
[Note: I have no interest in this other than purely the validity of argument and pursuasion. I'm not finanically, ethically, morally, connected to the WBV industry or fitness industry and certainly do not consider myself an 'expert' in anything. ;-D Cheers.]
370 - Trainer Girl
I am an exercise specialist. And I am currently doing some research on vibration platforms. I found this blog very interesting and entertaining.
I am neither for or against the use of the platforms since I am only now really looking into all of the information. I do agree with some of you on that a product would not be selling really well if there were no positives to the use of that product. However the question for all of us, "do the pros out-weigh the cons?" And this might be different for everyone.
Also the hard part about most products, exercises, and lifestyles is what are the effects years from now (studies that are peformed over 10+ years); which these are the hardest to do; therefore not easy to come by especially on equipment such as vibration platforms.
Something for everyone when buying a product to keep in mind is that if you do not do it correctly you could have adverse effcts or just not as efficient results. I see this all the time with clients/new clients who think they are doing well with their workout routine; but falling short.
Also, in regards to products such as these and weight loss. Most individuals have weight issues due to multiple reasons [diet, lack of physical activity, metabolism/hormones out of control, sleep disorders or problems, etc]. So to claim any one treatment or product can save the day is absurd.
I will keep checking out this blog - and I look forward to continuing to learn.
371 - Jon H
It's truly amazing to see that some of us have spent almost 3 years on these blogs right? If you look at the blogs in 2006 and the blogs now, we have come a long way. Hundreds of studies have come out from various Universities and research institutes since then. Grant money has been issued to do medical research using WBV, and future studies are expected to show more promise.
This year alone both a Pivotal and Vertical vibration machine received class 2 Durable Medical Certifications. I'm not sure how many of you know this but getting those certs requires a lot of testing and significantly legitimizes WBV as a training/rehab tool.
As of now, Orthometrix( Makers of Galileo/Vibraflex pivotal viobration platforms) has a class 2 DME cert in Canada. I also recently found out that Powerplate's line of Triplannar/vertical vibration machine got Class 2 DME certs in the UK.
We are woking on doing the same with the NitroFit line here in the U.S. We expect to see several studies from some larger research universities this fall which should help us in our endeavors.
372 - Jo Jensen
I have been using the Soloflex wave unit for 2 months, not as a workout stimulator/accelerator but for vinrational healing on a chronic case of plantar fascitis.
This was done totally on a hunch. Let me explain.
I had been getting acupuncture (after a year and a half of physical therapy and massage, stretching and yoga, and an expensive orthotic). The acupuncturist could get me two maybe three days of relief. One day, he suggested we try a tuning fork...far out man, right? Well, it worked, much like acupuncture...but again only temporary relief. If I could afford to go weekly, I think it would have turned this thing around. But I don't have the time to drive across town for the treatment, nor the money.
Eventually, I caved in and got the dang steroid shot the podiatrist recommended. And just as he predicted, it did the trick for three months"then the pain came back with a vengeance.
When my neighbor, who had been using the soloflex waveboard for osteo, died, the board was passed on to me. On a hunch, I decided to see what would happen if I just put my foot on it every day at low frequency.
Within one week, my foot no longer hurt and I could walk on my heal without pain. Within two weeks, it felt completely healed. For more than two months now, I have continued to use the board every other day for 10 minutes (I don't stand on it, I just put my foot on it), and the PT has never come back.
What this tells me is that the frequency does have an effect at the cellular level, and for some reason, this is an excellent tool for stimulating healing via vibrational energy. I don't know why this works, I just know it did.
373 - Jo Jensen
I just saw Dr Delater's post, re lupus. You're absolutely right that this has some good application for people suffering from autoimmune disorders who can't necessarily exercise/train like the mainstream athlete. I was told that part of the reason that the plantar fascitis I suffered was resistant to healing was very much related to the Lupus SLE I suffer. The whole reason I caved in and got the steroid shot was so I could do a long planned backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon, which I would never have been able to successfully do without the damn shot. Now I plan to do it again, hike the GC, again, I am feeling pretty confident that the waveboard is going to help make this possible sans steroids.
374 - George
I own a WBV machine and it is one of the best investments I ever made. I am not associated with manufacturers not do I sell these machines. But I have an experience of using it (contrary to many of people on here) and I can honestly say that the machines do what they is claimed they do. I am very happy, have much more toned and flexible body and I attribute that to my use of this machine. Would never traded for anything else ...