Good Vibrations

That paper was written purely as a marketing tool for the Juvent DMT . No concern has ever been raised by the author before now , even though he has been involved in the industry since its early days. You will find the author has a vested interest in Juvent .

I wrote a paper on this subject back in 2004 and it was rubbished by everybody , and now they are concerned ?

The fact is , yes certain Fq should be kept away from during long term exposure. But the G-forces exerted during normal running is well above the ' extremes " talked about in that paper.

Here is a point to note , their are plenty of machines producing very low vibratory levels ( about 30 worldwide ) . So why did the author only mention the Juvent ? If it was a real research paper , this would not be allowed.
Very unethical and in no way should be viewed as anything other than marketing.

Thanks for your response regarding the "safety" issue, Lloyd.
I still have a problem regarding the price issue, however. I am not willing to spend $1000+ USD but I also do not want to waste any amount of money on worthless junk. So I must this ask again. With the understanding that the soloflex WBV is far from ideal,yet considering its low price does it have any value as a WBV at all?
Regards,
Frank

Yes as a Vibration Therapy pad it would be ideal ( incontinance , osteo , pelvic-stability etc.... But not for Training ,

I guess then there's nothing for home use training that I could afford now-maybe someday?
But you got me thinking. You said the soloflex would be OK for therapy for say osteoporosis,arthritis, sciatica, etc. I have an aunt with those problems plus a balance problem- would the vibra-fit, which has handles for support also work as well for therapy purposes? And is it safe?
Thanks for all your help,
Frank

Yes any of the lighter models , especially the ones with support, are safe for therapy.

I have a question for Lloyd Shaw,I go to a gym here in Aucklnad,that has 4 'vibration training',not 'vb therapy' machines... 3 of which machines I can't remmember the names of,but they look quite old,you have to manualy turn the times and intensity,and type of vibration them press the button for it to go.. and now they just got in a new machine called Fit-x.. and Iam wondering how it compares to your machines.
http://www.vibex.co.nz/
I do exersices on it like the ab crunches and some pilates moves..but I find I am not sore at all the next day and can go again the enxt day.I have only done it for a free week.

I mean I have only done it for a few weeks..not a free week.

The Fit-X is a therapy machine built in Korea. It should not be compared to a training model.

This is an exact transcript of a news letter sent to people who had visited a Power-Plate studio . I will raise my concerns over its contents after you have read their statement.

Dear Valued Customer

Our Power-Plate Vibration Training Machine is the best in the world. Power-Plate International created the Power-Plate over 8 years ago being the first produced in this type of Vibration Training.

Power-Plate is successful and has research to back up it achieves and has ongoing research to ensure safe and effective results. Copy cats with no proven research have possibility to cause injury and the effectiveness of the machine is questioned , but more importantly could jeopardize safety of the clients using it. For example , did you know that if the calibration is not correct or the mega-hurts per second is not perfect or is not calibrated to the timing it can blow your eyeballs out !!! . This is just one example of danger using a vibration machine that has not been researched or tested accurately and correctly.

Now i dont know if i should laugh or cry at this latest tactic , so i will keep my emotions in check and just stick to the facts.

The Power-Plate Next Generation was not released until March 2004 not 8 years ago.
The machine they refer to as 8 years old , is made of metal in Europe.
It was not the first of its type.
The new version is made of plastic and made in China.
Power-Plate is the only company i know of "caught" red handed copying a machine.
I have yet to see research from the new model.
I have never heard of anyones eyeballs been blown out , ever . ( even on some of the earlier test units )
The only two engineering tests on the Power-Plate Next Generation machines i have seen. Were both massive failures.

I hope this shows how desperate Power-Plate is now to get customers. It is now using fear and straight out lies to convince people to use its product.

If i am wrong , they will supply the public details of this eyeball incident .

And this was sent through the post , addressed to an individual. With Power-Plates registerd trademark mentioned a number of times. So it is not a joke , it is a legally binding statement.

I hope for their sake they can support these statements, or they will be the laughing stock of Vibration Training.

Power-Plate was right , i was on a machine today and my eyeballs popped right out. Unfortunatly i put them in the wrong way aroung and now i have dyslexia.

But strangely now all of Power-Plate double crossing is clear to me now.

Oh ok the gym claims its a 'trainig model"..they also have a few other macines called 'body pulse'.What do you think of these?

http://bodypulse.co.nz/

All the gyms i have spoken to think they have "training models" until they come in and try a workout machine for themselves. Then they either act embarrassed or get angry. Usually some dodgy salesman has told them something along the lines of " they all do the same thing ".

The Body-Pulse unit is good , but what i would call a Therapy model. It was built by Medi-Flex , a medical equipment supply company.

Does anyone know where to buy a hypergravity machine in England ???

C'mon Frank.
In the UK you've got musch more basic things to concern your discretionary income with...Whole Body Vibration Training machines being far down on your list.
SPEND YOUR MONEY ON A GOOD DENTIST...then purchase a Power Plate.

Hi Frank,

I'm the sales manager for Hypergravity. If you'd like to order a machine, you can email me directly: christopher (AT) wholebodyvibes (DOT) com

And for Mr. Dean: you've got much more basic things to concern your discretionary time with than regurgitating worn-out stereotypes.

Regards,
Christopher

Lloyd, can you explain negative response pad? I hate the idea that my machine has limited use. Being in Europe what other option do I have?

Ok thanks Lloyd i will deffinetly have to visit one of your studios to compare the difference.At the moment Iam using Faradic current,we have just started learning that at course today.different to vibra train. passive form f exercise,abit complicated at the moment,easy tho once you know the points of origin and insertion of different muscles.My tutor was asking about the vibra train to I will put her onto your site.
There's a rumour going around tho that it is really bad for your joints..but your site and hypergravity site talks about how it's actually good for the joints?

You're right about being hard on your joints Anna. If you don't believe get a friend...uhh, better make that an enemy and have them perform squats dynamically on the platform(as with the full motion up and down) the swelling that will ensue is very evident. It should'nt be done yet try getting that info from the manufacturers...all you'll get is"you can perform movements dynamically" VERY vague direction and detail as they would'nt want to be on the hook for injury.
I urge caution sweets...caution.

Ronny,

Unfortunately there are people out there who misuse machines and then want to blame the machine. This is why gyms around the world have members sign liability releases. People are often misinformed.

If you really studied this issue--and I have, personally training hundreds of people--you would come to see that it is a matter of proper form. The squat is the most commonly botched exercise, and can carry some serious consequences. When performed poorly it can be just as detrimental in conventional training as with vibration training.

Additionally, the phrase "perform dynamically" is not intended to serve as legal mumbo jumbo. It is simply there to differentiate from the static poses we also recommend. I'm afraid your suspicions are misplaced this time.

Christopher

And yes, Whole Body Vibration is GREAT for joints! We even offer a special program designed to help those with arthritis.

Again Power-Plate are to blame for this problem. The higher energy plates only had static programs attached.
Dynamic movements where originally designed for Physio reasons ( 3mm ampl. and under ) , and joints would still never be locked or past the 90 degree mark.
When Power-Plate switched to plastic the machine was so under-performing dynamic movements where placed in the program to make up for the lack of energy produced .

Unfortunatly other companies , even the ones with decent workout models , have followed their lead.

This situation is being clean up quickly.

ok LLoyd, let me see if I understand your post.
Essentially you are saying that doing dynamic exercises while on the platform (squat moving up and down as as you would do normally without a vibration plate) is NOT necessary on a higher powered all steel plate such as the one you manufacture.

Is it your opinion that the notion of dynamic exercises on a vibration platform came about due to the lesser intensity of some of the plastic hulled designs(the point being to truly get a good workout you'd practically have to do exercise dynamically)that you've spoken of prior?

And finally....I'm not so sure. So I'd like your comment on the following....
IF YOU ONLY DO STATIC POSITIONS even on the high powered commercial machines you mfg., would you not get stronger(agreed) however explosive power such as with sprinters would be relatively unaffected?

That is after all one of the Vibration Exercise Industry's claims that where the rubber really meets the road with their devices is with "explosive power/speed" training of muscles.

I've got a really hard time believing doing just static poses on these machines will affect positively sprinters results..but I'm open to hearing your comments as you do seem very well versed.

Ronny your hunch IMHO is correct...explosive improvement i.e. fast twitch muscle enhancement is dead and buried on a vibration platform MINUS dynamic movement.
That's why Power Plate, you know the name that started this whole discourse, the name that pro sports teams and their trainers use etc....reccommends it. I'll answer you as I've noticed Lloyd likes to responds to questions by answering his own. Point by point..the ones you bring up, he will sidestep. Just my take.
Best,
KG

Yes you are correct , my statement is you DO NOT need to move dynamically on the plates to get a positive response.
Dynamic mevement can be allowed but for SAFETY reasons this should not be general public practice.

The "positive response " you are looking for though must be clarified before you start training. What are you looking for , just speed and power , combined with injury prevention ?
If so you want to get on a machine designed for that purpose. Getting on a begginers weight lose machine such as the Power-Plate Next Generation or any other light unit will not achieve those results. And it is not fair to ask it to.
This is where your " as they claim it does " remark comes into play. Even Power-Plate uses the old tests done on the metal units ( Vibro-Gym , all tests done pre 2004 ) to show performance benifits. Of course " forgetting " to mention they dont have the rights to that unit any longer.
But what do you expect from marketers ? (If you need an example , just check out KGs response above.)

And the testing to date has only touched on the potential . And has been done on very basic units. So any claims should be taken with that knowledge in mind.

Always remember there is no such thing as ' Vibration Training " it is a generic term used to describe a bio-mechanical function. Just like "running" . Running what fast ? slow ? In my experience so far, only those companies with poor performing equipment never bring this up.

There are 3 main reasons why people use Vibration Therapy/Training.

Rehab ( small % )
Body Composition change ( large % )
Sports performance.( small % )

So yes the sports performance programs do have FULL dynamic movements involved. But only make up part of the program. But you are only dealing with a small % of the population using these machines. It should not just be added to make up for the lack of quality in a machine. Its just not worth the risk.

Has anyone heard of Maxuvibe? I was told that tilting vibration platforms where the way to go? Seems to make some biomechanical sense but I was curious to see if anyone had any comments with regards to this form of vibration.

Here's the site: maxuvibe.com

I'm trying to find the best platform to use in my clinic for rehab, training, etc.

Thanks in advance for any advice you may have.

Best Regards,
RJ

Hi,

I hope you are well and healthy.

I have some new studies that may interest you: these where done on the VibroGym when it was called the Powerplate (please note the Powerplate is now a completely different machine). The studies are on an ACL injury repair and Fibromyalgia. The Powerplate now has have the G-force of the VibroGym, so half the results are achieved.

These studies show that Vibration Therapy/Training is valid way of exercising and has many benefits.

Some more studies are available on

http://www.vibrogym.com.au/vibrogym-research.htm

The research on this page also shows that the VibroGym is gaining credibility and is very superior to its many copies and imitations. I am keen to read about your thoughts about these studies.

The VibroGym is now available in over 70 locations in Australia and NZ!

Our certified trainers at these locations are helping clients define goals and are creating programs that will help them achieve those goals. The VibroGym is available at Gyms, Personal Training Studios, Physio's, Chiropractors, Beauty Salons, Day Spa's and Weight Loss Centres.

A VibroGym session takes just 15 minutes, three times a week to strengthen, tone and revitalize your body. And at only $10-20 per session, VibroGym is affordable and it works. Some of these centres are seeing over 30 people a day on their machine!

The VibroGym is helping people lose weight, tone up, increasing their flexibility, lose cellulite, recover from an injury, decreasing back pain, increasing balance and stability and gain strength. Users include people who are over 100kg, MS sufferers, wheelchair users, Cystic Fibrosis sufferers, athletes, celebs, sports teams, Parkinsons sufferers, diabetics, fibromyalgia sufferers, the elderly and overweight children.

In Australia we have Olympic Athletes, AFL players, Soccer players, Professional Cyclists and Rugby players all benefiting from specific sport exercises on the VibroGym.

The VibroGym has appeared in UltraFit Magazine, Womens Health and Fitness, Inside Sport, Alpha Magazine, The Age, The Sun Herald and will feature in Womens Weekly, Cleo and Cosmo soon.

Some new exciting studies will be coming from Universities in Australia and NZ in the future, they have just started and we expect the results to be very promising.

I have new testimonials you may like to read and I hope you enjoy reading the studies and I am keen to read about your thoughts about these studies.

Kind regards

Dan Fivey
+61407025960

http://www.vibrogym.com.au/vibrogym-testimonials.htm

Please be aware that the saleman above ( Mr. Dan Fivey ) has been banned fron all Vibra-Train and Fitness Lounges studios globally for unethical business/marketing tactics.

I myself was responsable for bringing the Vibro-Gyms into N.Z. and Australia first ( about 50 ). But decided to stop in favour of a new up-grade.
It does have alot if good research attached ( most of it European or repeats from England ) , but was also very limited in its Kg rating and warranties.

Good for quite studio or Gym.

I have just recently had a free trial on a vibrogym. I am very impressed particulally with the amazing flexibility increase in my hips and the wonderful warm and relaxed feeling which lasted for some hours afterwards. I would love to buy one but they are very expensive. I am also confused about which model I should buy as the Power Plate seems to be the one, I am told, that ALL the celebrities and football clubs are buying. I understand that the two companies were one to begin with but have gone their separate ways. So therefore they are basically the same machine only the vibrogym is £2,000 cheaper and made in Holland. Which one do you recommend, honesty appreciated.

Hi Lloyd, I am interested in setting up a vibration studio. Can you help me?

HH , E-mail me on lloyd@vibra-train.co.nz re the studio.

The Older Power-Plate ( Vibro-Gym ) is the machine used and endorsed by celebs and sports teams. Not the new Power-Plate model. I have NEVER seen or heard of a team or individual going for a plastic model over the metal version.

Once you try a Vibro-Gym or Hypergravity type model, you cant go backwards to anything "cheaper".

Lloyd,

Just a general question. The Hypergravity class we are speaking of here - are there 2 versions; heavier version for gym vs a smaller one for home? Or are you speaking of same for both? Also, I've found that exercise machines are made for average heights. Our family members are all 6' or taller. Often the hand grip heights are lower and call for bending of the shoulders/back. Do any come with adjustable handlebars? Also, is the platform itself of a size for good support for taller persons? And since we haven't mentioned price - what is the price range for the Hypergravity?

There are two versions of the Hypergravity. Pro and home. Both are good , and the funny thing is , their home version is of better quality and power than most other Pro-versions.

Now the height issue, no the handlebars dont adjust , unless they add that feature. The reason is probably due to noises that may come from the moving part. Which vibrations tend to do.

Most pads are about the same size , but www.wavexercise.com has a larger pad available you may want to look at if you feel other versions are not big enough.

Sorry dont keep up to date with prices. Rather keep out of the sales side of things.

Lloyd:

I appreciate the vote of confidence. Coming from you it certainly means a lot, and it is encouraging to see other people in this industry really trying to distill and disseminate the truth in spite of all the hype that is swirling around. As you say in the southern half of the world, "good on ya mate"!

Kris:

A football coach in San Diego recently purchased one of our Personal units. He is about 6'4" by my estimation, still looks like he could line up in the NFL, and height was not an issue for him. Even the tallest people who have purchased our units have never requested adjustable handles, so we have never felt a real need to add them.

Besides, the handles should be used for reference, not relied upon for balance. You should allow your muscles' involuntary reflexes to compensate for any imbalances--that builds your neuromuscular connections to improve balance.

While our Personal machine is rated to 300 lbs and offers plenty of room for most people, we find that those who are very tall or weigh in the neighborhood of 250 and up are generally more pleased with our Pro model. (Although, let's not forget the football coach in San Diego who is very happy with his Personal model)

As far as prices go, our Personal model is $3499 and our Pro is $7499--a relative bargain when compared to either the Wave or TurboSonic or the Power Plate (or any other brand, really). And as a final note, we don't play car salesman games with our prices to try and make you feel like you got a better deal. We know people are smarter than that and we don't want to insult your intelligence or waste your time. You'll always know you got the rock bottom price for a Hypergravity machine because you are buying it straight from the factory with no middlemen.

Hope that helps! More info can be found on our updated Hypergravity website at www.wholebodyvibes.com.

Christopher

hi i am very insteted in the new machine vibrogym they say 15 minutes on the vibrogym, is like a 90 m gym workout can you please help me find a place that has one so i can try it out i live in the melbourne australia it would be a great help i live in the north of melbourne thanks emmy

Lloyd,

Thank you for the info. What do you think about the WAVE? Is its construction also as reliable as the hypergravity? It's a lot bigger (am assuming more expensive as well) and has some kind of aluminum floating platform top or something.

I did check out the "wave" exercise and spoke with the rep. They are currently working on the personal model which will have the larger plate and apparently some other things not now available. It should be out in Dec. Because it has the floating top portion the vibration doesn't walk or need outside cushioning. But the price is going to be higher (under $5000!!). Apparently also many people are looking for a larger plate to help with the stability for various movements. She mentioned though that everything in the exercise area is tending toward adding the vibration to it - so we will probably see exercise machines/vibration combos. She told me to check into the "versaclimber" for this! And she happened to mention Lloyd as someone who has been very good for expertise on the comparisons of various machines. Thanks all for your inputs.

P.S. Checked out the Versaclimber - from the website:

Whole Body Vibration
"It is important to understand that when standing on a vibrating platform, the major vibration effect is at the feet. The effect diminishes as the vibration waves move upward through the body. In contrast, the ExerVibe VersaClimber combines the known advantages of vibrating platforms with the additional capability to target either the total body or specific body parts during both static and dynamic exercises. It applies vibration stimulation to the user through foot pedals, handgrips, handrails and a seat with selectable on and off vibration cycle time."

The climber is 7'10"!

They have a versastepper too which works up to about the waist. Wondering, Lloyd, if you know of any other whole body vibrating exercise equipment that's out there yet. It's something like 5'6" height if I remember.

Yes have read full tests done by military on proto-type unit. The results where promising , if not incomplete due to the limited knowledge of what effect it should be causing, missed by its testers.
N.A.S.A.s TVIS works on a similar principle.

I hope to see much more of this type or cross-training in the future. It is proof that someone out there has their thinking cap on. All good.