Why You Should be Concerned About Machine Performance
Why is the stable performance of a Whole Body Vibration unit so important ?
The 4 main reasons for a drop in performance are…
- Incorrect or cheap motors.
- Incorrect materials used in manufacturing of product.
- Electronics.
- Just plain cheap everything.
This leads to the following concerns:
Safety
We have discussed in the past our endeavours to develop safety programs based on the Fq’s (frequencies or speed of vibration) we understand to be safe. We’ve also looked at exposure levels attached to workout timetables, based on an ‘every second day’ principle (although not everyone agrees with this approach - some companies still promote the use of their units every day, others 3 times a day).
We have also discussed the importance of keeping away from Fq that may interfere with organ function. These Fq have been well documented in Civil Engineering tests, and by multiple Armed Forces in different countries, and are implemented in ISO regulations. These tests were based on long term exposure in the workplace. We in the industry do not all agree on applying these restrictions to our industry, but one thing in common is ALL programs from ALL companies are based on the particular Fq the manufacture of the machine recommends.
One problem arises though - what if the unit is not achieving the actual or stipulated Fq or speed? This has been documented in the world’s largest selling unit, with variations of +/- 23% from the figure displayed on the control panel of unloaded machines (no-one on board). When someone actually gets on the machine it will vary even more wildly, depending on the persons weight and position on the machine. The same unit was independently tested at universities in NZ and Australia, and was shown to drop almost all performance at only 80kg. Note that this was not a cheap product (at $NZ18,000) - a good indication that the price paid for a unit is not always a pointer to quality.
Quality
Not withstanding the safety issue, quality is really a problem for businesses looking for a machine from which to earn revenue. A drop in performance is a very good indication that the units are indeed not of commercial quality. Some of the machines I have inspected, which are being sold to businesses, are the equivalent of large disposable razors. The limited lifespan is directed at gaining future sales when the manufacturer releases a ‘new model’ every 3 years or so. Not only does your customer not get what they paid for due to lack of performance in your machinery, but you will also pay at some stage again to fix, upgrade, or totally replace machines just to stay in business.
Program Development
This is a simple one, understood straight away by anyone who has trained with any goal in mind. How do you start a program if you do not know where that starting point is?
I will use an engineering term here called the “Theoretical”. This is a base line that never changes, from which to work as a starting point for everything. For example, if you are learning to run 8 miles, the 8 mile distance will never change but your time will. Or, if you are lifting a 100kg bench press, the 100kg will not vary but your reps will. So in these instances your Theoretical is distance or weight.
In Vibration Training platforms, Fq/speed is one of the Theoreticals you use to follow a program (there are others, but this is the simplest one to measure).
If your theoretical was to change without your knowledge, your results would become random and have little meaning. Can you imagine trying to develop a program not having a stable theoretical to work with?
The reason I have used the term “Theoretical” is that this is the language used by engineers when testing the performance of machines. A near perfect machine will follow the “theoretical line” on a graph as closely as is possible. Anything too far off will not pass the testing procedure. This system is used to test a car for road safety (steering, brakes, etc), and anything too far off the line is not road worthy - it fails.
For a trainer to effectively produce a Vibration Training program, they will need to first be assured that the machinery they are working with follows a straight theoretical line in tests. This will at least allow for some form of safety and progress to be maintained and recorded.
Any health or fitness professional serious about purchasing or using a Vibration Training platform should request that engineering reports be done (unloaded, and loaded with varying weight). This will not cost much in comparison with buying a unit and then finding out you have been ripped off.
Ethics
This one is obvious and will not need further explanation. Imagine being put in the position of saying to a customer,
“I am sorry, you are too heavy to go on my weight-loss machine.”
To even produce a unit with such limitations, and with the errors addressed above, must bring into question the dedication and motives of those involved in the manufacture and sale of Vibration Training machines. I am hoping that in the future the industry agrees to regulate itself with pass and fail percentages of available products.
But until then, education is our best defense.
40 Comments
- Wayne Campbell
June 17th, 2007Lloyd, It will be interesting to see what comes of your article above.
Anyone considering purchasing a unit should get the test done. This should be pushed far and wide so that potential buyers are able make more informed decisions both for safety and performance reasons
Also, anyone not willing to have the tests done on their machines should be avoided.
Groups such as Fitness New Zealand should be keen to promote and endorse this as they claim to be the recognised source of expertise, information and setting the standard in the fitness industry.
This is one way to protect the fitness industry consumer for safety, health and ethical reasons
Fitness New Zealand are endorsing a vibtration training franchise so they should test those machines first dont you think? I will hazard a guess and say Fitness N.Z. will be running so fast in the opposite direction from getting the machines they endorse tested.
But they are getting tested anyway , and the results made public. It will be a good indication of their expertise and standards.
Hello Lloyd,
I tried to souce a measuring instrument and I got a quotation from a US vendor which costs USD9,000.00.
It would be great if you could recommend us a simple and economic device which can measure Frequency, Amplitude and Gravity Load.
Also, looking forward to the news about Vibration Training Association.
TC
Lloyd, where did you buy your accelerometer, and for how much? I purchased one a while ago for $600 (USD), some calculations are necessary though to treat the data.
I havnt picked one out yet, waiting for reports and prices. I get my unitsat present tested by a company called Vibration Consultants Ltd. They have all the heavy duty units with magnetic mounts.
I am only waiting for a reliable Fq tester as I can publish a chart to help give basic guidelines as to what the readings mean in real terms.
I believe the drop in performance due to the weight of the consumer to be the most significant data , as this directly relates to the Consumers Guarantee’s Act . Some units are being sold with MAX weight claims of 140Kg , when in reality the unit stops doing its job at 80kg and sometimes as low as 20kg.
No matter how strong the electric motors are, amplitude will change with the weight.
I think that we should define a percentage level of decrease at certain frequencies, and state the weight level at which this happens. So let’s say that amplitude is 2 mm at 30 Hz with 80 kg on it. It then drops to 1.5 mm with 120 kg on it. The performance specs could state 2 mm and 25% drop at 120 kg at 30 Hz. Two or three frequencies should suffice (i.e. 30 Hz, 40 Hz).
Yes , we will also account for slippage which happens in most motors .
The tests/equations I do would indicate a 10% drop would be acceptable and still allow the trainer to follow a given program.
Just to point out the reason I an focusing on Fq drop rather than Amplitude drop is….
(1) They are directly linked anyway .
(2) A drop in Amplitude is not dangerous.
A severe drop in Fq is.- Mj
June 23rd, 2007I was looking at the latest website about the vibrafit fabloes machine and it was advertising it as the seesaw whole body vibration machine. What does it mean by seesaw?
That means Pivotal. It rocks you from one side to the other.
- Sarah K
October 1st, 2007Hi Lloyd,
I noticed your post above that read:[ Imagine being put in the position of saying to a customer,
“I am sorry, you are too heavy to go on my weight-loss machine.” ]I was at the home show in the weekend and saw a PowerPlate stand (they are about to open up in my town). I was a bit dubious after reading all the info on various sites about them, but went to see what they had to say out of curiosity.
I asked how the plate vibrated and the woman told me “up and down, side to side, and it tilted up and down”. I wasn’t convinced by that statement?? (is that true?) or her lack of knowledge when I asked a few basic questions even I knew the answer to…
So then she asked if I wanted to try it - and she put me on a machine on 35hz on a “massage setting”. I wasn’t asked if I had any health problems which worried me slightly - there was more of a health check / screening at my local gym to get on a treadmill! I didn’t really feel anything much so I asked if I could try it up a bit higher - to which she said to me “when you get a bit skinnier and fitter, then they would turn the machine up some”.
Now I’m not a small girl - I weigh 79kg, but I thought that was incredibly rude and she didn’t really have much information she was basing her statement on when I questioned her statement. What worries me is that I’m not that big!! What does that mean for bigger people who want to do vibration training? And can 35hz on massage actually do anything for my goals to lose weight and tone up?
I go to a vibration training studio that i am very happy with - but this experience has opened up all sorts of questions!
Sarah
- Di Heap
October 1st, 2007Hi Sarah K
Lloyd will be able to explain the Power-plate machine settings to you better than I can but I just want to assure you that you are definitely not too big to use a good quality machine. I weigh the same as you now and have lost 6kg in past few months using Vibration Machine plus some cardio and being a bit more careful with my diet (while typing this I am naughtily eating sweets). 79kg is overweight, not even obese and good quality machines can be used by obese people as a help to losing weight. In fact it’s a good way to start as it’s easy and fun.
My own experience with Power-plate studios (have visited two different ones)was not positive at all. At the first one I visited I experienced similar comment to you, not specifically about my weight but that I would have to work slowly through their program starting with the basics even though I was well experienced in using a Vibration Machine at higher setting and longer time period. I was told it would be a year before I would get to the stage I was already at. Now this would be fair enough if there was some basis for this but the reason was simply, that’s how it’s done.
The second studio I visited was more amenable to individual programs but still insisted on their way of doing things (positions) and their smaller time periods (for me and other family members who are very used to vibration machines - 30seconds). I guess it’s their brand so they can do it their way..and it’s my choice as a consumer to go elsewhere.
(1) She should have at least asked the ” Pacemaker or Pregnancy ? ” question. No excuses for that.
(2) The unit has an uncontrolled vibration axis so her ” it vibrates in every direction ” is actually the right answer . Only problem is that its not meant to move like that for safety reasons.
(3) The machine is built in China ( soon India ) and built of plastic. Tests have shown such units to lose most performance at 80kg. So at 79Kg you would be pushing the machines specs to give decent results. That does not mean it wont, but the odds are stacked against you.
(4) 35Hz I believe is an uneducated/backward Fq to start people on with added risks and little benifits.
- Harvey
October 2nd, 2007Lloyd
i was recently at the LIW in the UK, and at the POwerPLate stand, they admitted that the machines did use plastics - however they were the same plastics as used on F1 cars and therefore were as good if not better than metal construction?!?!?
Your thoughts?
Yes better at “absorbing” vibration , that is why they use it on racing cars.
Not exactly the best material to use on a machine you are trying to “transfer” energy through.
When I brought that up while still at PowerPlate all got was….
” but it makes cars go faster ”
I almost fell over laughing.
What I was told , that was never confirmed, was the guy who designed it used to make car bumpers for Ferrari.
I suppose it sounded like a good idea at the time
- Harvey
October 2nd, 2007Great logic then!
Attention…
Marketing company in Europe claiming Asian made product is made in N.Z.
http://www.world-slim.com/vibration-platforms-pro/fit-x-vibrating-plate-prod-35.html
I would not be surprised if the dodgy guy selling those units here in N.Z. is behind this.
Nick Morris…..
Understanding the engineering principle that I work on that everything physical has limitations.
This question is about the linkage technology used in your units .
This was your statement on Nov. 22, 2006
“The new technology allows for amplitude from 0.35mm to 35mm and with frequency range of 1 to 50 Hz.”
I had doubts as to the “unlimited” nature of the engineering being promoted here , but I have sat back and watched.
Now a straight question…
Does this new linkage technology have a speed and amplitude limitation that means if the speed goes up the amplitude must come down ?
Hi Lloyd,
1. Yes.
2. There are 2 current ranges of unit being promoted. (they have set amplitude)
a.) CORE: 5-30Hz with 1mm
b.) PRO: 1.5-3.5Hz with 30mm3. We also make a number of other models with adjustable frequency and amplitude
a.) 5-20 Hz with 1.5 to 7 mm
b.) 8-35 Hz with 0.4 to 1.75 mm4. There is also a unit with 4-12 Hz with 4 mm
Nick……..
Understanding I want full disclosure for the consumer , so educated choices can be made with all the facts at hand.
Is the marketer of those machines now promoting low Fq training DUE to the low Fq limits of the machines ?
Because thats exactly what another company did when they where faced with this problem. They changed their Vibration Training Theory and advertising to suit the machine.
I understand you have put alot in to this , and I really hope for your sake the Asain manufacturors did not led you astray in regards to the potential on a cam-type-system and it can indeed offer the full range
- Di Heap
January 28th, 2008Hi Nick,
I’ve been looking at the videos on your site and have a few questions:
Will your machines do a higher fq at all, like 40-50hz? What happens if you set to these fq or don’t the machines allow for it?
Does the amplitude drop as you increase the fq on the adjustable units?
Have you personally run any tests on them re fq and amplitude?Other questions. Well more like statements really. Some of the videos scare me - It seems that unless the user is highly athletic there is a high chance of injury doing the gymnastic style exercises shown in the videos while using a vibration machine.
Also using the Orbital handles to push and pull and more would cause injury if the user did not have good guidance.
Why is it necessary to add any extras to the machines? ?? Nick Morris….
Do not take the above questions I have asked as an attack on your company or ideas. I would just like a clarification on what service and the theory behind it.
We in the future will all aim for different markets but I am worried that anything that moves in any direction at any speed will be called “Vibration Training.”
In an article about your machines it says…
” The core and Pro differ from other vibration machines on the market”
My point….
One of your units does 1.5 hz. So only 1 and a half movements a sec. I can do push-ups faster than that , but in no way I would say I am moving fast enough to be seen as ” vibrating”.
I am actually in agreement with you that there is a market for units with very low Fq , but I think you are doing yourself and others that work with much higher Fq an injustice by directly comparing them.
This from the company profile that engineered the units you use ( and I believe you said you where on the team that designed it )……
Employing one-of-a-kind LINKAGE technology, this design produces the unique product characteristics.
– The most extensive frequency : 1 ~ 40 Hz or up.
Hi Lloyd,
1. The technology can achieve a full range of parameters. So a full-range of specification can be executed as desired - ie. complete versatility of specification can be achieved.
2. The philosophy for all product is to provide stimulation to a body with minimum impact or destress
3. Di- The Orbital is a constant-resistance device with 360 degree range of motion. This provides the optimum manner to apply load without impact. It allows a body to move freely in any particular movement pattern it was designed. The design replicates the body with the ball and socket joint, extensor/flexor, rotation ‘pole’
a.) Yes the amplitude self-adjust with frequency on the machines you reference4. I am attempting to re-define these machines (as you indicate)- and do not refer to them as WBV.
a.) The cross-reference to current WBV perhaps needs further definition
b.) Yes, perhaps we need to create more distinct categories of product and industry coding of them.5. To those in the Southern California area - there is a new Pineapple studio open on Melrose Ave in LA, next to the world famous Urth Cafe. All interested parties contact me at nick@pineapple.la
optimize!
- Di Heap
January 29th, 2008Nick, so the pineapple machines are designed to provide a greater level to any regular workout (make it more intense)? Do you work only/mostly with athletes or with other people also - like elderly? Do you use the machines for static position vibration at all? The benefits listed on your site are the same as for other wbv so I’m a little confused as to your target market (which appears to be athletes). Do you see big increases in muscle mass or strength etc in specific muscles (like quads) using specific programs or do you work for all over fitness primarily?
The Orbital looks interesting. I can imagine it being useful for boxing type exercises, maybe.
Your machines are very different, like a motorised, controlled “rebounder”.
So; many dynamic exercises can be performed while on the pineapple and the safety/injury aspect I wrote above would be about the same as performing those exercises w/out the pineapple? Good Nick…
I want to support your right to a different theory and approch to this technology and if I can help you define yourself , I will.
As long as you are advertising the actual specs of your units you are at least giving the public a chance to make an educated decision.
You unfortunatly have come after companies like Powerplate that have not done this .
Hi there Di,
1. The CORE unit (1mm with 5-30Hz specification) makes the activity a little easier initially - through enhanced neuromuscular facilitation.
2. The PRO unit (30mm with 1.5-3.5Hz specification) makes the activity more challenging as the energetic transfer is applied (added) to the activity
3. The dominance of current customers are in the performance market.
a.) Athletes/sportsteams eg. San Antonio Spurs (NBA), USC (College)
b.) Chiropractors, Physical Therapists
c.) Private individuals with Trainers
d.) Therapists, Trainers
They use for the complete range of performance parameters from strength to metabolic to recovery4. Safety-wise
a.) We have found profound effect to “smash the stress shield” - ie. normal activity creates a ’stress shielding effect’ eventually causing connective tissue inflammation and damage. Pineapple allows a “smashing of the stress shield” ensuring even and correct stimulation of connective tissue.
b.) All units are set to below 1G, to ensure safe movement action can be undertaken by all potential population groups5. Stimulation
a.) Pineapple is driven to create a neuromuscular and metabolic effect
b.) hence the use of various tools and actions as auxiliary mechanisms
c.) We use the vibration to optimize the selected neuromuscular and metabolic action.
d.) Hence the “amplify your action” tag6. The Orbital is a very natural extension of this philosophy
a.) As it allows a loading parameter (constant, consistent resistance via friction) to be active in any range that the body can engage.Optimize!
N.- Di Heap
January 30th, 2008Thanks Nick. The only part I don’t understand is 4a. I’d have thought that planned correctly done exercise would strengthen connective tissue as it builds muscle and that any sort of vibration platform would help with this. Sudden jerky movements or accident does damage connective tissue but does regular exercise really do harm?
Connective tissue works to protect the muscle fibres and takes the stress/force of movement and exercise and I realise that it can be harmed but I’d call that accident, not just normal activity causing harm.I’ve used wbv (very different platform to yours) to very much help heal up a connective tissue injury each time it has recurred (due to sudden movement opening up a tear) so yes, I know wbv can help.
Hi There Di, - Some brief background on the Stress-Shield concept.
The Stress-Shielding Concept: Recent biomechanical studies suggest that strain patterns within tendons are not as uniform as first thought. This indicates that certain areas within the tendon transfer more of a load from a muscle than other areas. The portion of the tendon that transmits less force is actually squeezed (compressed) by the portion that transmits more force. Thus a portion of the tendon is actually underused (and prone to atrophy) and compressed by the portion of the tendon that caries more of a load from the muscle to the bone. The underused portion is “stress-shielded” by the part of the tendon that transmits more force.
(An excellent paper on this is by Maganaris CN et al.: “Biomechanics and pathophysiology of overuse tendon injuries: ideas on insertional tendinopathy.” Sports Med. 2004;34(14):1005-17.)We have found Pineapple to distribute the loads placed on the tendon in a more uniform manner and overcome the potential for stress-shielding
- Tim
May 18th, 2008We are considering buying the Hypergravity Gym-O-Vibe from the US. Should the engine break down after one year or more, we have to pay for parts and labour plus transport to the US and back. I am trying to understand the risks involved. Are the machines so good that it is very unlikely we will have any problem? Are the Hypergravity machines much better than those from Vibro-Gym (Gym-O-Vibe vs. Evolution), making it a better idea to import Hypergravity rather than buy Vibro-Gym from the dealer in Sweden?
The machine will be used for heavy training, therapy and massage.
My advice , if you get the HyperGravity go for the extended warranty service. And yes they are very good quality I would be surprised if you had any problems within 5 yrs. I know Mike Hair ( quality-vibes) is looking for a rep in the U.K. so problems can be fixed locally.
The Evolution should be a good machine , and I think will become Vibro-Gyms flagship unit , and I believe will take them to the true Commercial level. For you at least it already has local support.
- Tim
May 19th, 2008Thanks Lloyd! One thing that makes me question Hypergravity is the lack of presented research. Another is the fact that there are too many spelling errors on their website to make it look serious; like “beast” for “best” - twice! However, their machines look like they are high quality and they seem to be very confident in their units.
So, there is no real difference in vibration between Hypergravity and Vibro-Gym? I mean, they both control it perfectly?
Hypergravity let me know that NASA build their own machines and that Power Plate are pure importers. Hypergravity are pure manufacturers.
I will try the Vibro-Gym Professional and Evolution in a few days.
Most companies are not displaying research now due to the unethical nature of how it has been used to get sales in the past. Often using Lineal research to sell Pivotal and vice-verca , or using research from steel machines to sell plastic machines ( Power Plate trick ) etc..
All companies are guilty of this to some degree and unfortunatly this has led to its importance dropping away.
Good example….
Power-Plate/Vibro-Gym released in 1999. They used tests from Bosco ( Nemes ) and Galileo untill 2004 when tests from their actual machine was released. The fact is if any company relied on the academics to release their findings to support growth , the industry would not exist.
And thats not mentioning the dodgy academics out there who will say anything for a dollar/grant.
Note: It will be years before we see independent reports from Evolution and HyperGravity.
I can hardly wait untill all our units can be tested side by side at a respected university . It will be a good day for Vibration Training.
In the mean time you arm yourself with the basic knowledge needed for your particular application/business and you place your bets on the company that best suits your needs.
NASA……
NASA built their own system called the TVIS. Power Plate had nothing to do with it.
HyperGravity’s spelling……
As for mistakes , English is not the owners first language and he didnt use a use a marketer to write his stuff. English is my first language , I write all my own material and I still make mistakes.
I can tell you he is a good engineer , not a good trainer or writer.
Controlled machines…..
Both HyperGravity and Vibro-Gym are lineal. Neither would release a deliberatly uncontrolled unit. I trust Vibro-Gym this one to an acamedic level as they understand the importance of this subject.
I trust HyperGravity due to the fact I threatened to kill Josh if he ever did something to upset me. And I am very sensitive.
- Tim
May 19th, 2008Thanks for your comments, Lloyd.
I now understand more concerning the research issue. I can hardly wait for the tests either, as I realize that I am gettimg more and more interested in this subject.
I agree with you that everyone can make mistakes, also with spelling. However, my thought was this: when you make the effort to produce expensive high quality machines affecting people´s health and you want to sell them, it is strange that you don´t take the time to (and let a few other native speakers) check your own website to make sure it is as good as the machines. It does have a very important function.
I just heard from Swedish Customs. These types of machines are duty-free when imported, which means we “only” have to pay a tax of 25% extra on machine, transport and insurance.
I bet Josh is glad that you are not super-sensitive when it comes to spelling then…:)
I heard from Power Plate Sweden again. They say they cannot comment on what happened in NZ and conveniently don´t comment on your general statements either. This has got to hurt the company in the long run.
Yea, what are they going to say…
” Oh yea we lie to disabled people , sent out machines that dont work properly and use real peoples names and reputation to sell fake machines ”
But thats just business , isnt it ?
- Erik
May 20th, 2008Tim,
I brought a Hypergravity OP to Sweden (Stockholm)last year. No problem with this unit so far. If you want feedback, please write to: bicycleshop@spray.se
- Tim
May 20th, 2008Yes, that is just business for some people and it is displayed here for everyone to see.
- Tim
May 20th, 2008Great Erik! Thanks for writing!
June 17th, 2007
If you were wondering how the above can be policed easily, I can source hand-held accelerometers at a good price , the test will be simple and will come with its own pass or fail graph set for our standards.
My idea for the future is for all V.T.A. members to have one and offer a service , for a small fee , to go out and test units at the consumers request.
This will put the wind up the dodgy dealers and show the public how serious we are about having a clean industry.