I’ve been sitting on this post for two weeks…
Not literally “sitting”.
A client of mine told me about an ad that was placed in the New York Times by Soloflex. They were advertising their new version of a Whole Body Vibration machine, the SoloflexWBV. Advertised as a less expensive version of the institutional models (the Power Plate), the WBV platform is available for 1/3 of the cost ($395 vs. $12,000).
I’m about done with this New Wave of Whole Body Vibrating Machines. This is an exercise fad I’m surprised took off, and can’t wait for it to subside.
Not to mention that the whole idea of a vibrating platform to do exercise on is bogus anyways. The ads state as much – “If you’re not training with weights regularly, here’s the next best thing.” Well, at least they see the value of weight training.
Soloflex apparently likes this thing so much, they’ve placed pdf files of the WBV’s advertisments on the webpage – now that’s devotion. Alas, the list is conspiciously missing the original ad that my client saw that sparked this entire post topic altogether.
She brought it in for me today. The headline reads:
*ahem*
“OUR NEW CONTRAPTION BEATS YOU INTO SHAPE!”
This is not a joke. I’d scan it and post it if I wasn’t worried I’d get sued by Soloflex Corp.
Well, I guess I’d seen bad ad copy for exercise machines, but this one is my current favorite.
I think I’ll have to pick apart the research for vibrating machines one study at a time. Not that I can access any of the research from their citations page – heh.
Filed under: Gizmos
Not all WBV devices are alike. Go to http://www.wavexercise.com and check out the research section. Pick it apart if you can!
Larry Leigh
Director of Research and Training
Wavexercise Inc.
Sure, I’ll bite.
Paper #1 – The paper concludes that the responses from WBV appear to be similar to those derived from strength training.
First off, all the studies detailed in the paper occur over a period of ONE DAY, except the study mentioned below, which was carried out for 10 days. Not too great if you’re looking for adaptive responses, or continued adaptation. It’s akin to designing a study that shows eliminating water intake for one whole day creates short-term weight loss in humans – sure it does, but what happens on day 5? Day 10? Does the weight loss continue? Does it continue at the same rate as the first day (actually, it dramatically accelerates, because the subject dies!)?
Forgive me for being glib but I trust you get my point.
Are these specific adaptations that occur due to neural response? This is important, as the literature for these machines advertise them as a “viable alternative to strength training”, which is NOT the case if the only adaptations are neural.
All the studies looked at improvement of performance. That’s fine if you’re an elite level sprinter or team sport player. But they’ll get to use these machines for free:) The average Joe or Jane on the street is NOT looking for “performance enhancement,” rather, physical enhancement.
These cited studies do nothing to establish WBV as a viable modality to increase lean body mass (muscle), decrease body fat, or improve serum markers for health (HDL, VLDL, TG, etc.). They just illustrate WBV as a means to “improve performance.”
Study #2 – If you shake the crap out of someone for 10 days and compare their leg strength to someone who has NOT strength trained OR jumped, then you will definitely see greater adaptation. No doubt. I mean, your controls didn’t do anything!
I don’t doubt that WBV machines will improve athletic performance, or are viable to cause some kind of adaptation to occur. But a “viable alternative” to strength training?
Would someone please explain the MHZ to me. Most of the machines out there are set at 35 Mhz, so why would you need one that can be adjusted from 35-60? Do you have to change the Mhz for different muscle groups?
What should I be looking for in a WBV machine? I want something that is going to do the job, not just hype. Please help.
Becki July 23, 2006 05:32 PM
On another blog site someone said that they boycotted the power plate – why? What didn’t it do that it said it would? What brand do you recommend? Is it necessary to have one that has adjustable Mhz?
Being just shy of 70 years old, I was interested in the SoloflexWBV as a way of improving my health. Their ad said you get increased circulation, flexibility, mobility and strength. It would be nice to have all these things again. I’m not interested in sprinting, jumping, racing or weight lifting, just improving my physical being. Someone please tell me if this contraption is a waste of money for an old lady!
Sorry for the lagtime on this comment.
Becki:
The different mHz settings are for oscillations per second (number of vibrations per second). The more vibrations per second, the more muscle contractions per second you get. In essence, you are increasing the “workload” that your muscles get – so 60 mHz would be a tougher workout than 30 mHz.
I do not recommend whole body vibration machines because the current body of research on WBV effects on the body do not indicate that WBV provides benefits that strength training cannot (at a fraction of the price, and a greater magnitude).
Buy some weights and learn how to use them (Stuart McRobert has an awesome book – check it out on Amazon.com). You’ll get a ton more benefit without shaking the shit out of yourself.
And pissing off the neighbors.
To the anonymous old lady:
Congratulations on making the decision to do something positive for your health!
Here’s my advice: Don’t buy a WBV machine. Will they do what they advertise? Possibly, but at the expense of a lot of noise and joint discomfort. If you’ve never been on one of these things, let me tell you, they are NOT gentle!!! Even on lower settings just standing on one would be a feat for a 70 year old non-exerciser.
A much safer, more controlled alternative would be to find a qualified personal trainer in your area and retain them for a short period of time to have them teach you the basics of strength training (NOT weight lifting!). Have them put you on a whole-body program of 8-12 exercises that consist mostly of multi-joint movements, done in accordance to muscle/joint function. Learn proper form and technique from them. All you ask for (improved circulation, flexibility, mobility, and strength) will return to you within a few weeks, and all without you ever having to step foot on a WBV machine.
Feel free to email me for more clarification if you require. I currently work with several clients 65 and older and it makes me cringe whenever they tell me about how their health was before they started strength training! Strength is the primary attribute to sustain; once it’s gone, body deterioration (in the form of illness, joint disease, etc) is imminent.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the advise. Will follow it!
Anonymous Old Lady
I have the Soloflex WBV attached to the Soloflex and another one to the Rockit.
Compared to other vibration units, this is an economical way to get the benefits of vibration while using it with strength training. I have no specific way of measuring the benefits received from using the WBV over the last 6 months. However, I noticed that the pain in my lower back is dramatically reduced when using the Rockit with the WBV turned on for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. I intend on doing this more frequently as a stretching and pain preventive technique.
I have also found it relaxing to turn the vibration on while laying on the Rockit and just reading a book. I do use it for various stretching exercises on the Soloflex and find that it assists in the stretch. Even without substantial evidence of health benefits, the novelty of using the WBV keeps me interested enough to do various exercises on both machines.
Any concern about the noise that it makes, as was mentioned earlier, is irrelevant and would not disturb others in the same room for the 10 to 20 minutes of use. Of course, the Soloflex WBV is a motor attached to a bench. I have read of a person that built his own WBV by buying a motor and other material and invested about $1,000. That’s too much effort and money, specially when this WBV could be bought for a reasonable price.
If you already have a Soloflex, I would recommend getting the WBV attachment without buying the unit with the bench. This lowers the price and it complements the equipment that existing Soloflex users already have.
Rocky Romero
I was reading up on the Soloflex WBV and the only real positive review on every site that I went to was written by the same person, Rocky, and his reviews are basically word for word. He sounds like an advertisement so I kept researching. Seems he’s everywhere, even here. I still can’t figure out if the WBV is really worth the bucks.
I left Rocky’s comment up because I think it’s important not to censure opposing viewpoints just because I don’t agree with them. But just about everyone I’ve spoken to (and in particular, those who have actually tried the wbvs) agreed with the main points I made in my original article on the subject:
-It is too loud.
-It is NOT gentle, unless you consider a 4.0 earthquake gentle.
-It is not a viable alternative to strength training in terms of delivering health benefits.
That being said, the pros to such a device are:
-If one is incapable of doing anything else, the WBV will deliver some benefit to the end user, i.e., some strength improvement, pain relief, etc.
-It doesn’t require a whole lot of expertise and instruction. “Plug and Play”, so to speak.
-It’s not very painful or difficult to perform 2 or 3 times a week (unlike, say, strength training).
Worth it? In my humble opinion (heh) I think the $495 is better invested in a package of “lessons” from a qualified personal trainer on how to strength train properly.
Of course, pain relief is better obtained through soft-tissue manipulation, such as trigger point/myofascial therapy or ART, but that’s a topic for a different discussion.
e.
You might like to take a look at http://www.vibrationtraining.net (under the section headed ‘experiences’
I realize this post is older now, but I came to do some research for my mom who has been sick for over a month since going to a WAVExercise center. The tremendous shaking has left her with horrendous head pains. The head pains of course cause naseau. The naseau causes vomitting and diarrhea, which then causes dehydration.
Sure she felt great for a short bit with some relief from her arthritis pain, til the other sympotms settled in. Two sessions, thats all it takes folks, and then perhaps it takes your life…
Give it some serious thought, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is.
Kelly
:e
You mentioned to look into a book by Stuart McRobert at Amazon. He easily has close to 30 books. What’s title would you recommend?
The Insider’s Tell-All Handbook on Weight Training Technique is the book I was referring to. Although Stuart has written other great books on strength and weight training (most notably Beyond Brawn), I maintain that this one, which is solely decided to technique, is his best work.
I mean, not too many authors would go into such detail on exercises. He devotes 16 pages (90% text) to the squat and a whopping 18 pages (again, mostly text) to explaining the ins and outs of the deadlift. The book is literally the next best thing to having someone actually show you how to perform and progress the exercises properly.
I meant to say “dedicated”, not “decided” in the previous post.
I get really hyped up when talking about squats and deadlifts.
Hi – I purchased a vibration trainer several weeks ago; after just 3 uses (with one day in-between) I came down with what I thought was a stomach flu (bad diarrhea, fatigue, etc). I rested for almost a week, and then got back on the vibration trainer again this week; my diarrhea is back, but I do not feel fatigued or sick. Is the vibration trainer causing my diarrhea? I do have colitis, but a very mild form of it (chronic inflammation of the lower intestine). I was soooo excited to buy my vibration unit, and now I am wondering if I have to sell it? I can’t live with chronic runs! It wakes me up in the middle of the night, and I assume I will become dehydrated eventually. Is the vibration trainer causing this? Have you ever heard of anyhting like this happening?