PowerPlates: Have you tried this

[LadyV]

just a quick survey amongst maniacs: Have you ever tried this new machine called PowerPlates? They call this 'vibration technology '
I am wondering if this is as good as it claims to be for strenght training (I am always looking for the new gadget )

[MichaelMc]

Honestly? Marketing, marketing, marketing.

They have one study, which is touted all over the place with the same press release but WITHOUT the actual study. After trying some time to find the full text of the study, which is probably in Dutch as it was done in Belgium (Antwerp) by a Flemish Physiotherapist, all I can find is the same news story over and over.

The only way vibration can burn calories or build muscle is by forcing your body to resist (counter) it. This is a fairly feeble effect for healthy muscles, and IMHO would be completely useless for healthy people.

Buyer beware.

[Pat Menzies]

From what I have read about it I can understand how it generates some sort of muscular activity. The only reason I can think of to not go out and do real exercise is because you loathe physical activity or have some form of paralysis where getting the muscles working somehow is of benefit.
They'll probably find out later that it causes nerve damage or uncontrollable muscle twitching.

[MINI-T]

I veered away from them at the Can-Fit conference in the summer, but one of my colleagues tried it. You don't simply stand on them & vibrate (circa 1950's 1960's belt machines.. lol)

You can apparently do some interesting and tough things on them.

I'm still not sold though.