Comments on: Stay Away From Gimmicks Like Whole Body Vibration Machines

By: Sal Marinello

Sal Marinello — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:17:15 +0000

Thet research titled, “The Effect of Whole-Body Vibration Training and Conventional Strength Training on Performance Measures in Female Athletes,” published in the September 2011 edition of the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research concludes, “These results indicate that the inclusion of WBV as part of an off-season strength and conditioning program has no apparent benefit over conventional strength training methods for college softball players.”

In a research paper titled, “Effects of a 6-Week Periodized Squat Training With or Without Whole-Body Vibration Upon Short-Term Adaptations in Squat Strength and Body Composition,” in the July 2001 edition of the same research journal concludes, “The study found that WBV did not enhance 1RM squat strength above squat training alone; however, trends were seen favoring WBV application during the first three weeks…These large increases after only 3 weeks of training (4 workouts) are considerable but not uncommon. The application of WBV after week 3 may have partially impeded natural strength improvement.”

By: John Woolner

John Woolner — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:12:12 +0000

Sal is obviously not an expert in sports training.
Also he has not tried WBV. A good platform can be purchased for under $1000.
Only 1 person can use it at a time, of course. How many people can use a barbell at the same time? WBV can be used by anyone to get your body active without any stress to the joints, heart, ligaments, tendons or bones. Inactive and injured can exersise without worry and anyone can get a full workout in 10 minutes a day. The majority of us don’t have 1 -2 hours a day to workout. I, personally have been using WBV platforms, 10 minutes a day for 3 years. I have lost 20 lbs. and 2 inches off my waist and kept it off. I haven’t been sick in the 3 yrs. I am flexible, lean and can do any sports( windsurf, kiteboard, snowboard, surf) without exhaustion. I use WBV before a sport to warm up and right after to cool down and get the lachtic acid out.
Sal would have been one of the fitness experts in the 1930’s who tried to have indoor exersise banded because it did not work.

By: Di Heap

Di Heap — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:19:28 +0000

For readers who want to know more: Go to http://www.vibration-training-advice.com/ to read articles about vibration training, the real machines versus the cheap copies, the safety program, industry news and advice for trainers, and a forum for any topic that needs further clarification

By: jerry

jerry — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:43:33 +0000

I used a WBV machine in an exercise program offered at a gym and it resolved a frozen shoulder so I didn’t have to have the surgery recommended by my orthopedic dr.

By: Sal Marinello

Sal Marinello — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:11:30 +0000

I back my arguments not with the NSCA website but with legit research that is published in the NSCA – and other legitimate – publications. Proponents of WBV can make all the claims that they want regarding WBV’s efficacy, and even gain the support of visible and high-ranking individuals. However, this is no substitute for research that shows WBV to provide less than stellar results. There’s no research to indicate WBV provides benefits not offered by other, less expensive and proven methods of exercise.

Perhaps at the Division 1 collegiate level where money is no object, programs can afford to invest time and money in suspect methods. However, for people who are interested in expending money and effort wisely WBV is a loser. Spending thousands of dollars on a single machine that one person can use at a time is not a wise investment in money, time or effort.

By: Jon H.

Jon H. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:31:18 +0000

Sal,
I have written this once before and will write it again. Cal State Fullerton has one of the NitroFit Deluxe WBV machines. The program director is none other than the President of the NSCA who’s website you mention earlier refutes WBV claims. We have no ties to the school other than we gave them a machine to test the effects on athletic performance. I am confident that we will se positve results as they are due late in November. Here in Arizona, the State director for NSCA has our machine in his pro-training facility in Tempe,AZ. He has incorporated the machine into most of his training programs and loves the results. It seems odd that you back your argument with the NSCA website when some members of that organization support the technology and are more experienced than you are.

By: Guest User

Guest User — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:41:30 +0000

Have you tried it? Oh and, where is your proofs of your accusations? Not your opinion…

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:40:56 +0000

I am no professional athlete but work out a lot and am reasonably fit. I tried this powerplate thing and despite the best efforts of the salesman er sorry make that “fitness consultant” at the gym I was not convinced. The whole experience was unpleasant and afterwards I felt exhausted but that kind of exhaustion you feel after having driven for 5 hours in a car… I enjoy my exercise and the 45 minutes or so I spend in the gym every day is not just to lose weight etc but also gives me time to think and focus on myself. The dodgy scientific evidence aside – the powerplate thing is not my idea of a good workout.

By: sal m

sal m — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:39:52 +0000

if you visit the nsca-lift.org site you can access the feature to search the research journals. however, unless you are a member you will only get the abstracts. unlike the positive research touted by WBV hucksters, these researchers actually provide details of their studies and conducted studies with valid controls. the four studies mentioned were all published in the May 2007 edition.

the three studies that showed WBV to have no effect were conducted by independent researchers. The study based on subjects’ Perceived Exertion and Energy Expenditure is flawed in that the researchers did not include a control group that involved subjects performing squats on another type of unstable platform, such as a balance board. this blatent exclusion of a logical control group is illustrative of how studies are constructed to produce a desired conclusion.

By: Guest User

Guest User — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:39:26 +0000

Can you point me to some original research….