Acceleration Training and Power Plate
Power Plate are now selling their machines all across the USA - thanks to a deal with Brookstone. Brookstone have over 300 outlets selling everything from furniture to kitchen appliances.
Specifically, the Powerplate my5 will be sold - retailing at US$4,500.
Acceleration Training?
Power Plate are calling the machine an “Acceleration Training Machine”. The phrase acceleration training has a small “TM” appearing next to it indicating a trademark. A search of the US Trademark database reveals nothing.
The term “acceleration training” is confusing - and implies explosive performance or even plyometric exercises.
Only time will tell whether the phrase will catch on.
50 Comments
I have sent a link that shows “Acceleration Training” has been used by another company in the U.S. for some time to the Trademark Office. So the trademark would have been an automatic decline .
And the U.S. based company has also applied for a block.If any units are sold with the TM attached to it and found to be untrue , they can be returned as it is considered part of the ” goodwill” attached to the product.
A very detailed letter of PowerPlates past behaviour has been sent to Brookstones. Fortunatly for us they have a code of ethics for their suppliers, and they fall well short.
These things take time but hopefully it has an effect.
- Seb
May 29th, 2007I read some blogs from last year.
Do you still endorse the Hypergravity?
Are there other cost effecting WBV “training” platforms that are more cost effective?
Do you have contacts in Washington,DC area where i can try out the Hypergravity?
I personally still endorse the HyperGravity. But you would need to contact them directly regarding a rep in Washington. I dont have business ties with them.
- KG
May 30th, 2007Here is a link from MSNBC in the States.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18923291/I’ve provided it for community comment.
I think it to be a bit overcooked. The media loves this sort of sky is falling type scenario.
Just look at the articles on dangers of other benign everyday items.
- Wayne Campbell
May 30th, 2007Hi KG,
I agree with your overcooked . It mentions some possible side effects with out any conclusive evidence or research to back it up.
A couple of points it highlights to me are:
1.Another example of PowerPlate shameless use of someone elses work to promote thier own brand name:
…….”Clinton Rubin, a biomedical engineering professor at State University of New York at Stony Brook, said he has asked Power Plate to stop citing his research in its promotional materials. His work has led to a vibration device before the Food and Drug Administration approval for prevention and reversal of bone loss from osteoporosis, but that device uses much gentler vibrations than Power Plate, Rubin said.”
2.. Endorsement of Lloyd Shaws safety before sales policy. Most of the issues mentioned would be attributed to poorly designed machines and programmes, including the time spent on the machines and the rest in between workouts, lack of proper supervision at studios, no supervision on home units
Cheers
Wayne Campbell
- Nick Morris
May 30th, 2007Thank-you Wayne for your poignant input.
Rubin’s main cause of concern with regards PowerPlate is the high g-force loading associated with the unit. He has written many articles with regards this, and referencing the OSHA tables. He is associated with a product, so in your eyes no doubt just another sales-person.
- Harvey
May 31st, 2007http://www.fitnessform.co.uk/detail.php?srno=57
Cheap imprts from china - ripping off the dodgy marketing blurb from Power plate!
- Di
May 31st, 2007I’m not suprised that Clinton Rubin asked Power-Plate to stop citing his research.
I have a copy of a paper where he very definately states his belief in low g-force use, as in the machines of the company he is a consultant for, and owns stock in; and he slams many other companies by name (the well known brands that user above 1g acceleration)
News on the Juvent site say it will soon be available for sale in Australia and New Zealand.
This could create confusion for end users of Vibration Training but it will also enhance overall interest.So, yes, Clinton Rubin is “another sales-person” but so are you Nick, and Lloyd, and TC and others. While obviously all wanting to promote your own product, but I see a lot of concern and discussion about the safety of various machine specs and use, and user positions on the platforms, on this site. Thanks for this.
I hope you guys will soon come out with some sort of joint statement that covers all of this and gives some guidance to end users.
- Harvey
June 5th, 2007I agree Di!
Dr. Rubin I believe is the most serious of the researchers on WBV. I’ve read a few of his research articles, and the science in there has better quality than many other studies.
His research has demonstrated that osteoporosis benefits can be obtained from very low g acceleration (0.3). However, other studies have found that the same benefits can be obtained at g above 1. Therefore one can infer from both points of view that:
1) if one is only concerned about osteoporosis, a low-g machine can be used is enough;
2) if one wants is both concerned about osteoporosis and exercise, a higher-g machine should be used.Because fractures in the elderlies are caused by both bone fragility, and low muscular tone (i.e. inability to catch oneself with a quick leg movement), I would prefer strategy number 2).
Yes Dr. Rubin may be serious. Serious about marketing. His timely slamming of other brands just as he releases his own stinks of very un-scientist like behaviour.
To see this in context.
Note:
The original NEMES unit designed by Dr. Bosco exceeds the g-force markers given by Rubin and has been around for years. Rubin says nothing , not a single paper or article untill now ?We have a saying in N.Z. YEA RIGHT !!
He just undone all respect I had for him.
- Wayne Campbell
June 7th, 2007Giovani, can you be more specific?
How are the studies better quality?
And better quality than many other studies? Which ones? and which other studies are of the same quality or better?
Very vague statements that if you cant be more specific lead me to suspicious about your motives.
The articles that I’ve read from dr. Rubin have a more scientific approach than most other authors I’ve read. Of course this is only my opinion, which however comes from the following considerations. Dr. Rubin has a better understanding of the physics of vibration. In one study for example he meticulously measured the vibration in the bones by inserting accelerometers in the bones themselves. With this study he was able to measure the transmissibility of the vibration to the hips and the back. For sure I have not read all the research that there is around, but his approach I have not read in other papers.
Torvinen, perhaps had the other most comprehensive study I had read, (a doctoral study dissertation) but he was almost exclusively concerned with tilting platforms.
By reading subsequent articles by Rubin, I see that he concentrated on benefit for osteoporosis, and did not involve himself with uses of the platform for fitness and exercise. So the results in his studies, claiming that sub-g vibration is effective to fight osteoporosis, do not go against the consensus in the fitness training community that one needs a good platform with robust multiple-g vibration.
Thus I based my statement only on the research I’ve read. I may stand to be corrected by you, and I’m going to change my opinion after I read other research, or statements that show otherwise.
As a matter of fact I tried to market locally one of my platforms to a hospital and they stated that if it didn’t correspond to the specifications given by dr. Rubin for the Juvena, I couldn’t make the claims of osteoporosis benefits. My reply was that although I respected Rubin for his research, there was other research showing benefits at my machines’s g levels. Rubin I responded to the hospital deserves the credit that osteoporosis benefits can be obtained at sub-g levels. I also added that all one has to do to go down to the desired g level, is adding mats, until the desired transmissibility factor is attained.
- Di
June 7th, 2007I’m concerned about this report as it is clearly against brands other than Juvent
this redirects to an article titled “safety of vibration for osteoporosis”
This is still up on PowerPlates website.
“Our organization includes a distinguished Scientific Medical Advisory Board, made up of 10 MDs and PhDs from around the world. The advisory board, and our team of education and training experts, reflect our commitment to advancing the science of health and wellness through vibration technology. ”
Maybe they should change the end part to….
” The fact we still claim to have a medical advisory board , despite being forced to take it down due to complaints from those listed , reflects our commitment to advancing our own brand of dishonesty “
I may be wrong on this one , but you may see “ptonthenet” pulling it’s name from Power-Plates website. It is listed as a partner , but this may not be true.
We will see.
Di, June 7th,
I wouldn’t be concerned, because the article clearly states in the second sentence:Just because some vibration may be beneficial, however, does not mean that a lot is better.
The key seems to be “a lot”. Every guideline from people or companies involved with vibration recommend to limit exposure to 10-20 minutes a day. Lloyd, I believe even posted warnings about hyperthyroidism if the WBV training is overdone.
I believe that most vibration platforms in the market, if used for a limited time, fall in the safe area of the chart shown in the article you reported.
Yes but ” ALOT” is a very ambiguous statement to make in such a report.
- Di
June 13th, 2007Giovanni
It’s the blatant bias in article that I don’t like: statements made against those brands that use higher than 1g, calling them unsafe, while promoting a very different product, the Juvent. Now either all the other named machines are unsafe or they are not - or is this report just simple advertising?
The Juvent has a place on the market. It is so different that comparing it in any way to Galileo etc seems ludicrous to me (and I am only a partly knowledgeable user of this equipment). That the report has Clinton Rubin’s name on it when he, as you say above and as I have read in his other studies, “did not involve himself with uses of the platform for fitness and exercise” makes it a farce.
This is of grave concern….
ptonthenet which is included in Power-Plates website sent me an e-mail after I inquired about if they understood what Power-Plate had done in the past.
The message I got back was very clear. They have seen the proof , they understand , they do not and never will care what Power-Plate does. No matter how bad. It is just business .
A quote from the e-mail…
“and we are not in a position at this point to say
anything publicly or would ever anyway ”Got to love their dedication to lack of ethics.
- Debbie
June 19th, 2007can anyone help with a store in Melbourne where I can check out and purchase a vibration plateform.
- Mike Hair
June 19th, 2007Hi Debbie,
Are you wanting a machine for home or studio use? From reports so far , unfortunatly the only operators I know of in Melbourne are dodgy. Be carefull Debbie.
- Debbie
June 19th, 2007Thanks for your responds but I would like to talk to someone face to face and check the equipment, you never know what you’ll get on the net. I’m after one for home use.
- Debbie
June 21st, 2007Help, has anyone heard of a Body & Soul Vibration Machine. Are they any good.
A link to the actual unit would be needed. As they change the stuck on name regularly.
- Di
June 21st, 2007possibly this one Lloyd
http://www.ipi.com.tw/ugC_ShowroomItem.asp?hidKINDID=2&hidTYPEID=18 Debbie….
It is a domestic pivotal unit , not the best quality around but should give limited results if used properly , you may want to come onto here for advice on that though as the material that comes with such units is useless.
- JD
June 30th, 2007Dear all
I am so grateful for all your comments and forthright advice. So much so, my intentions of buying a Powerplate My3 model are now shelved. I have to say , however that I am now so confused and will have to go back to the drawing board! Wondered why PP were selling their My3 model for £995.JD
Did anyone see the show on TV where PowerPlate was letting a woman with a known eating disorder use its machine in full view of one of its “Qualified” instructors.
I would like to put the record straight on behalf of my industry as I have recieved a number of calls already about what was screened. I and no other responsable trainer would ever allow someone with such an obvious condition to come into contact with a Vibration Training device . The energy expended alone during a workout could lead to a number of medical conditions that could eventually take her life.
A normally weighted person would be looking to cause an anaerobic response to increase their BMR ( resting metabolic rate ) and hence lose a body-fat % , but in this case it would cause atrophy of vital cells that this person can not afford to lose. Maybe used under strict medical supervision could this be kept in check and used to gain weight but this does not seem to be the case here.
Again PowerPlate disgust me with their lack of knowledge in this area of science.
- MikeyB
August 1st, 2007I agree with you here Lloyd. Myself , my partner (a Physio) and my flatmate (elite athlete, fitness instructor) were all appalled by this. When I was still competing I used to train at the Millienuim Institute on the Shore and there was a Lady with Anorexia that was Banned from their Gym for the safety Reasons you have mentioned.
I believe this is very irrosponsible of Power Plate and did say to my Flatmate “apparently their is no such thing as bad publicity, but I think that this time it was very bad for their name”
I think they could also be held Liable the same way that the Dunedin Casino was shut down for allowing gambling addicts to keep spending money.
I was targeted by individuals with these kinds of problems almost immediately after opening in 2004. As they are always looking for the latest way to help them lose weight they come out of the woodwork very quickly.
I told them I wanted to speak to their Doctor before it would be considered. None ever came back.- mike Hair
August 1st, 2007What the hell was the trainer from power plate thinking? I guess the almighty dollar is more important than somebodys health and well being. Just goes to show how unethical PP really is!!
What next maybe Lloyd could shove a few dead people on his machine with the hope of reserecting them and just charge the relatives in the mean time.
- Di Heap
August 2nd, 2007
oh pleeeze! I don’t think Lloyd would want to be compared with Benny Hinn! I wish I’d seen that TV show. Did anyone make a copy of it?
“Praise be to the name of the Lloyd”
Whats wrong , am I asking too much ?
what is a power plate? i have start using it, how often should i use it? is it any good? do i loose weight? do i drop dress size? when will start noticing any changes?
The PowerPlate is a cheaper version of a Vibration Training platform used at commercial studios.
Read the articles under “topics” on this site to give you a better understanding of what to expect.
May 17th, 2007
I will pay to block any generic term potentially treademarked by a large manufacturor.
With “Vibration Training” I simply applied for the trademark , then abandoned it the next day claiming it was already in use. This will automatically bar anyone from applying again.
These terms should be available for everyone to use.
Power-Plate are only trying to change the wording of what they do now because 130 odd other companies use the term and hence make sales off their advertising.
For this reason they wont win the name change.
Note: They used to use ” Vibration Therapy ” up until 2004 when I was still their product manager. I only suggested Vibration Training because ” Therapy” implied you have to be sick to use it.