As you are in Ireland, I would suggest you FITVIBE or VIBROGYM.

TC

vibrogym Professional – voltage: 115/230VA, power consumption: 350W, frequency settings:30/35/40/50Hz, force: 2.1kN/3.9kN

vibrocoach – voltage: 220/240V – 0,55Kw*-50Hz frequency settings: 30-35-40-50Hz, time settings: 30′-45′-60′, Amps: 2mm-4mm,

hypergravity Elite Professional – power: 115VAC 60Hz or 220VAC 50Hz/500W,(what does this or mean), vibration control 10-60Hz, amps: 2-5mm, time settings: up 99 minutes.

regards,
Anna

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/08/07/060206.php

TC

I don’t believe that it is solely the researcher’s task to be the watchdog of manufacturers. But I do agree that the manufacturers should provide all specifications to consumers if requested. I also feel that there are some researchers (myself included) that would like to perform product testing so that consumers can be informed of the true specs.

We are currently in the stages of testing it for consistency in its vibration and to see how much compression the plate can take before it becomes ineffective. Since I know we used a Power Plate, I will say that I do feel that it has some flaws but since it is the most recognized platform available, it must be tested. I am in no way married to Power Plate; they were just the only manufacturer that would give me a plate 3 years ago (the industry has literally exploded since then). I am actually willing to provide my lab as a testing center for WBV equipment for any manufacturer that wants to have the product independently tested. Or, if anyone else want vibration research performed on their machine, we are planning studies at 3 different sites across the US. We will test all machines before using and will only use what we feel are the most consistent in quality. (Sorry to market my lab but I am very interested in this stuff).

2) Yes, the repeatability is necessary in quality research and is all too often overlooked. This is especially true in some of the initial WBV research. That is why I believe that research should be very descriptive the settings that they are using. In addition, the vibration acceleration *should* be measured independent of the manufacturer’s report (my idealism). Also, product testing must be done by independent laboratories to give both the research community and consumers the knowledge to be able to choose quality machines that will give consistent results. We can only learn from our past mistakes. This is not isolated to the WBV field (many have died in medical studies).

As far as having “engineering reports” done on machines, I would argue that it is the ethical responsibility of the manufacturer to do this testing and report the results. The blame is not on the researchers but the manufactures. Research done at universities is already very cumbersome. What are the standard items that need to be in a engineering report? Slippage %? Is this even an engineering term? I am a fair amount of exposure to engineering and I have never heard this term. Also, no one knows for sure which variable is the most important; amplitude, frequency, acceleration (g-force), etc. How can we be expected to understand the importance of construction (above common sense) when we don’t have an understanding of the mechanism(s). An example of this would be stretching; based on theory we thought stretching helped performance when the truth is that it hurts strength & power performance because we lack understanding of its mechanism. Trust me when I say that researchers are also interested in the advancement of knowledge in regard to WBV. I believe that WBV will be around for a very long time and aid in the treatment of many disorders/diseases. This is a gradual process and everyone must be patient.

3) I must clarify that there is no such thing as a voluntary reflex. The definition of a reflex is “noting or pertaining to an involuntary response to a stimulus (dictionary.com).” I think you will find a lack of understanding common among the manufacturers in the fitness industry (e.g. cheap treadmills vs good ones). But this is the responsibility of the manufactures and not of the researchers. Also, I agree with your unwillingness to sell to individuals. I do not think these machines present the same risk as a treadmill since over-exposure can cause a multitude of negative effects (the industrial vibration field has established this very well). However, that is not my decision and I will work with the world of WBV in the state it is in. I agree that there as some very good machines out there and that there are some very bad ones. As these things go, the good ones stick around and the bad ones go bankrupt.

As far as your theories and equations, I am not knocking them. I am actually very interested to hear them and see them and analyze them. I only want to improve WBV. My only reservation is that equations do not mean proof that those equations are correct. If you are confident, why leave it up to history to see if you are right? Why not work with a/some researcher(s) to see if you are correct. Keeping these to yourself does not advance the general knowledge of WBV.

My comment on doctors performing surgery was only to show that we should put as much trust in WBV research as we do in medical research (since they are becoming intertwined). Every idea and theory must be proven (via research), even when it begins as theory (at least for inventions that may effect humans). And actually, many inventors are also academics and researchers since innovation is a very profitable aspect of research (example in WBV is Bosco developing the NEMES).