powerplate - ever heard of it? - Training

ip(FeS2)

pirate

15/03/2007 at 11:58

My gym have just added a new gadjet
http://www.powerplate.com
it seems to be a vibrating platform (oo-err).- which is meant to improve the effectiveness of stretching and strength training.-
I think the principle is sort of similar to swiss balls in that your core is always working.
- And also uses the idea that if you make a muscle work hard to contract, it will fatigue and release much further when it's allowed to relax (physio treatment seems to sometimes use the same principle)

Anyone come across it?- Any thoughts?

rach2005

15/03/2007 at 13:45

haven't used one yet but it seems to be very popular at my gym - there's always someone on it. Think its quite versatile and can be used for pretty much any muscle group.

ip(FeS2)

pirate

15/03/2007 at 13:53

We're not allowed to use them yet, they're just sat taking up stretching space.- But I'm fascinated...

Glad to hear that they might actually be useful.- It sounds far too good to be true.

straitjacket

17/03/2007 at 13:48

I work at John Lewis and we sell them. I never understand how if a machine is doing the work for you, how can you lose weight(one of the claims of the power plate). The ones in JL are situated at the top of the escalator and I bet the person selling them that if he went up and down on the escalators and I went up and down the stairs, I would lose more weight than him.

Stuck in the middle?!(www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/thegallaghergirls)

17/03/2007 at 13:51

Yep...
My gym got one a few weeks ago.
Its ok for stretching, very good infact.

But hubby and I think a side effect for us was It made our arms weak for a while.
I was struggling to do my normal weights.
As soon as I stopped using it, strength returned.
It was any position that tensed the arms.

Very nice for a leg massage tho!

ip(FeS2)

pirate

19/03/2007 at 08:47

The marketing bumf seems to say that it's the effort your body has to make to keep stable on an unstable thing that will burn the cals.-
-- Interesting that it may weaken arms.-
Definitely don't want to risk screwing up my legs this close to FLM.- But I'd like to finally have "normal" length hamstrings.-

Going to have to try it.- but only in very small amounts at first I guess.

DAVID STRINGER

22/03/2007 at 17:44

I work with a guy whose dad has the fanchise in Sweden and he reckons they are sh1t hot. Mind you, he would say that I suppose.

Treebump Pickles

23/03/2007 at 08:30

I used to work in a David Lloyd club - they were the first chain of gyms to install them. Last year I was training for a marathon but had hamstrings problems - after using them every day for a week (they recommend only 3 times a week really, I think) I stretched out my hamstring and was able to run again.

I did a half marathon on Sunday, very stiff on Monday , jumped on one Monday afternoon - sat on it to massage hamstrings, and was able to run that evening without any soreness at all.

Great machines for stretching but that's about it really, in my opinion. Like you'e all saying, you've just got to do the work, not let a machine do it for you.

nrg-b

23/03/2007 at 08:48

I tried the Power-plate at a demo. When I was a kid I'm almost certain I tried something similar at an amusement park or funfair to relax any tired feet from all the walking???

Wouldn't a rackety old washing machine give you the same vibrations? Though I suspect some women may then be tempted to sit on the PP instead.

[gets coat...] ;-)

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