Discussion
Are these things any good?
There's one in my gym and I've used it a couple of times, usually just doing squats and calf raises.
I was in last night, rowing, and there was a fairly fit looking girl who spent 45 minutes on it, going through 30 or 40 different exercises.
Are they any good or just a gimmick?
There's one in my gym and I've used it a couple of times, usually just doing squats and calf raises.
I was in last night, rowing, and there was a fairly fit looking girl who spent 45 minutes on it, going through 30 or 40 different exercises.
Are they any good or just a gimmick?
I'm not officially trained on these, but from other PT's I've spoken to the principle is to cause micro concentric and eccentric contractions in muscle sarcomeres (a tiny active unit of a muscle fibre, rather than entire muscle fibres like regular exercise).
You do this by actually performing movements at best - do some exercise whilst vibrating. Holding a position is kinda half-way between isoemetric (tensed) and isotonic (moving) muscular contractions.
The theory? I guess to promote micro tears like any other exercise and also to help promote blood flow, so good for pre and post workout stuff.
Does it work? Probably far too soon to tell with these. And a successful test would mean someone would have to ONLY use powerplates to see what it does for them. Any other sort of exercise would corrupt the results.
As a gimmick? Certainly feels like it. They're expensive so no doubt there's a money-making marketing exercise involved to sell these to the rich and rich gyms, like David Lloyd where I work. The rich always like to waste their money on shortcuts to hard work.
But there's no replacement for pure natural exercise that your body evolved to do.
Solution? Give it a go and see if it makes a difference.
You do this by actually performing movements at best - do some exercise whilst vibrating. Holding a position is kinda half-way between isoemetric (tensed) and isotonic (moving) muscular contractions.
The theory? I guess to promote micro tears like any other exercise and also to help promote blood flow, so good for pre and post workout stuff.
Does it work? Probably far too soon to tell with these. And a successful test would mean someone would have to ONLY use powerplates to see what it does for them. Any other sort of exercise would corrupt the results.
As a gimmick? Certainly feels like it. They're expensive so no doubt there's a money-making marketing exercise involved to sell these to the rich and rich gyms, like David Lloyd where I work. The rich always like to waste their money on shortcuts to hard work.
But there's no replacement for pure natural exercise that your body evolved to do.Solution? Give it a go and see if it makes a difference.
The Major said:
tbh how can a plate vibrating that you stand on do anything for muscles.
its just for people who think that its an easy way of exorsising, but in reality its just a load of crap.
The thinking behind them is that they create a rapid and ongoing movement in the body's stability, effectively the body is constantly moving and uses it's muscles to maintain balance. All this is happening in micro-seconds and so the muscles are expanding and contracting in rapid succession. The movement is burning calories and intended to tone muscle.its just for people who think that its an easy way of exorsising, but in reality its just a load of crap.
Allegedly they were designed for NASA crew, to aid/accelerate recovery after long spells in space.
Whether this is fact or not I don't know but it makes sense. However, I cannot see how this will ever replicate natural movement of joints/muscles. After all, the point of exercise is to train our bodies to move in ways that relate to everyday life/sport so unless your sport is to hold on for grim death whilst being shaken to s
t e.g. downhill mountian biking, then I can't see much benefit.
Whether this is fact or not I don't know but it makes sense. However, I cannot see how this will ever replicate natural movement of joints/muscles. After all, the point of exercise is to train our bodies to move in ways that relate to everyday life/sport so unless your sport is to hold on for grim death whilst being shaken to s
t e.g. downhill mountian biking, then I can't see much benefit.I am curious.
So, if I sit on a washing machine, I should lose weight (in addition to the couple of fluid ounces that the vibration may "accidentally" make me lose).
I understand the theory but if it's moving so fast and with very small movements, isn't it a case of your body not having to do anything to regain its original position... assuming it doesn't have the power to shake you off the thing if you cannot hold on. I guess I'll have to try one. Can you see a person shaking? Can you feel the movements? Would they shake a book off the platform? Why don't they invent Power Plate chairs for people to use while watching TV for hours?
And should London Underground charge fat people more because they're providing a Power Plate training session to help them lose weight?
So, if I sit on a washing machine, I should lose weight (in addition to the couple of fluid ounces that the vibration may "accidentally" make me lose).
I understand the theory but if it's moving so fast and with very small movements, isn't it a case of your body not having to do anything to regain its original position... assuming it doesn't have the power to shake you off the thing if you cannot hold on. I guess I'll have to try one. Can you see a person shaking? Can you feel the movements? Would they shake a book off the platform? Why don't they invent Power Plate chairs for people to use while watching TV for hours?
And should London Underground charge fat people more because they're providing a Power Plate training session to help them lose weight?
Been using one of these as a regualr (i.e. not sole) part of my weekly routine. I was trying to rebuild the strength in my legs and have to say, that with a series of about 6 exercises in addition to more tried and tested activities, the result shave been quite staggering.
Don't expect to get huge muscles from them but from a toning, endurance and recovery point of view its been astonishing.
I was chatting to a friend the ptehr day and he says he uses them for ab work - not something I've tried but seen the classses run on them. I asked how he found it...
It's like someone has taken a machete to your guts was his response.
Don't expect to get huge muscles from them but from a toning, endurance and recovery point of view its been astonishing.
I was chatting to a friend the ptehr day and he says he uses them for ab work - not something I've tried but seen the classses run on them. I asked how he found it...
It's like someone has taken a machete to your guts was his response.
XMG5 said:
The thinking behind them is that they create a rapid and ongoing movement in the body's stability, effectively the body is constantly moving and uses it's muscles to maintain balance. All this is happening in micro-seconds and so the muscles are expanding and contracting in rapid succession. The movement is burning calories and intended to tone muscle.
WTF did I just say? Agree, mostly."Muscle tone" is a misnomer. Tone is a muscle in a slight state of tension. Low fat is was makes them stick out. Two different things.
Fatman2 said:
^^ LOL, I think you really need to try one as they are well funny
Set up incorrectly, they will fling you off like a bucking bronco and I've seen a fair few first time women doing exactly that. Best to start of gently and to build it up slowly!
I guess it can happen on that machine, too.Set up incorrectly, they will fling you off like a bucking bronco and I've seen a fair few first time women doing exactly that. Best to start of gently and to build it up slowly!
RemainAllHoof said:
I am curious.
So, if I sit on a washing machine, I should lose weight (in addition to the couple of fluid ounces that the vibration may "accidentally" make me lose).
I understand the theory but if it's moving so fast and with very small movements, isn't it a case of your body not having to do anything to regain its original position... assuming it doesn't have the power to shake you off the thing if you cannot hold on. I guess I'll have to try one. Can you see a person shaking? Can you feel the movements? Would they shake a book off the platform? Why don't they invent Power Plate chairs for people to use while watching TV for hours?
And should London Underground charge fat people more because they're providing a Power Plate training session to help them lose weight?
Heh! Good post!So, if I sit on a washing machine, I should lose weight (in addition to the couple of fluid ounces that the vibration may "accidentally" make me lose).
I understand the theory but if it's moving so fast and with very small movements, isn't it a case of your body not having to do anything to regain its original position... assuming it doesn't have the power to shake you off the thing if you cannot hold on. I guess I'll have to try one. Can you see a person shaking? Can you feel the movements? Would they shake a book off the platform? Why don't they invent Power Plate chairs for people to use while watching TV for hours?
And should London Underground charge fat people more because they're providing a Power Plate training session to help them lose weight?
I'm going with latest rubbishy faddy junk which won't be around for long. I've got to say I've watched folk with great amusement on them though, just a shame it's usually the fatties... (Sorry I know I'm going to hell)
I'm not convinced that you'll get anything out of it without being in some form of class, or at least having someone show you a good few exercises on one that will work.
I presumed it was a load of nonsense, but 10 minutes of squats, press-ups, lunges, etc. on one and you'll be sweating buckets! The claim is that your muscles are constantly having to fire to keep you in place and balanced, so doing each exercise is more effective on the plate than just doing them stood on the floor.
I've only used them as part of a "class", and they are pretty damn good at toning up the midriff. Whether they're any better or worse than another "core focussed" class I can't say though.
I presumed it was a load of nonsense, but 10 minutes of squats, press-ups, lunges, etc. on one and you'll be sweating buckets! The claim is that your muscles are constantly having to fire to keep you in place and balanced, so doing each exercise is more effective on the plate than just doing them stood on the floor.
I've only used them as part of a "class", and they are pretty damn good at toning up the midriff. Whether they're any better or worse than another "core focussed" class I can't say though.
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