Standing on a vibrating platform gives heart a workout?

thor · 31 October 2012 at 9:03PM

I was watching the ideal world shopping channel(well not watching, just came across this while channel hopping - honest) and saw that they were selling something called the 'vibrapower disc' system which is supposedly an exercise machine and was stunned by an outrageous claim they came out with. Apparently by standing on a rapidly vibrating platform you will get a cardiovascular workout! No need to run or move about for an extended period to exercise your heart - you only need to stand and get jiggled around a bit.
As skeptical as I am, they are broadcasting this on tv so must have passed the relevant advertising regulations so does this that their claims are true?

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Fire_Fox · 31 October 2012 at 11:14PM

Half truth - true vibration technology destabilises the body causing a large amount of muscle mass to switch on and off rapidly in order to maintain balance. The heart would have to feed those muscles with oxygen so works harder. The actual effect depends on the power and frequency - whether the specific product you saw causes the heart rate to increase sufficiently to make any difference to your fitness at all you would need to research carefully. Check again what claims the shopping channel are making for vibration technology and what for that specific product with a full sized adult stood on it, some of them slow down as soon as any weight is applied! :eek:

If you want vibration technology that is reasonably priced, safe and effective try one of these http://www.flexi-bar.co.uk/
I was so impressed by my first few sessions I got qualified, it really does work and there is published research in rehab. You need to be using the bar and moving at the same time to get the heart rate up decently unless you are very unfit. American version is the BodyBlade http://www.bodyblade.com/en/
Don't buy a knock off, I've tried a couple and they don't do the same thing at all.

tin143 · 21 November 2012 at 12:40PM

Hi
I have been using a powerplate at my local gym and have found a difference, not in fitness but the tone of my muscles/flab

.
If used correctly they do a good job, the instructions come with it, but just standing there being jiggled about does nothing.
But please be wary! If you have any form of arthritis or rheumatism, or have artificial joints it can be harmful. For example, I have had to stop doing certain exercises because it was causing my very slight osteoarthritis in my hip to flare up.

Tina

dacouch · 21 November 2012 at 12:50PM

Would get better fitness by going for a 1 mile walk and every 300m sprinting as fast as you can for 50m to 100m then walk and repeat

adamb89 · 14 December 2012 at 10:30AM

not sure how much I would trust these things, cant be doing any cardiovascular work standing while your body wobbles, unfortunately i believe a bit of hard work is the best way

MasterPoo · 23 December 2012 at 1:21PM

I see ALOT of women in my gym working out on these, and I think to myself SUCKERS!!!!!!!! Nothing beats, good ol hard work! If you are going to spend money, buy some weights, learn a few routines properly and train consistently and you will see results!

Like Dacouch, I'm a huge fan of HIIT (google it) it has worked wonders for my body. I mix that with weight training and have lost over 4st and dropped 5 dress sizes!

Merz_First · 14 January 2013 at 12:35PM

I use the powerplates more as a cool down from a session rather than a workout in itself.

Robin_TBW · 14 January 2013 at 1:17PM

These were on the "50 shocking facts about fitness" (title might be something slightly different) that I saw on Saturday evening. Seems most/all fitness instructors say to avoid.