The Effect of Pivotal Machines on Posture
Most Pivotal platforms have a range of 0-10mm amplitude and go up to about 30hz. The amplitude is changed by simply placing your feet closer towards the centre or outside of the plate. This allows for easy use without having to push a button - however - like everything it has its drawbacks.
The simple maths
If the machine is working at 15hz per foot (30hz), and if each foot is traveling 5mm up and 5mm down per second that is a 10mm distance of travel required from each side of the body.
If one foot should be out of place even to a degree of 1mm the difference in distance traveled by each leg will be actually be…
- 1mm x 2 = 2mm (actual distanced traveled)
- 2mm x 15hz = 30mm
- 30mm x 60sec = 1800mm
So the difference traveled between the two halves of the body is 1.8 meters each minute in contact with the plate - and that is with only a 1mm error.
In the reality of running a studio I have to constantly correct my customers’ posture all the time (no matter how long they have been coming). There is no way people are going to do this properly without supervision and in a controlled environment.
Potential problems?
I cannot account for the effect this type of error will have on a person long term, as all my equations work on an energy in = energy out principle.
Now it may also be a leap to say it will do damage but from how I work I do not see how it could be good either (apart from certain physio applications).
Questions to ask
- Why is this not even being discussed?
- Why are there no markers on Pivotal plates for precise foot placement and why have some companies actually removed them making it appear unimportant?
Given the above has not been mentioned in any material released and promoted by pivotal companies - I have to ask if they even understand what they are dealing with.
This potential problem is being ignored by even the best manufacturers that have been at the forefront of safety issues in the past and I am disappointed to see them fall over when it counts. Even if they all disagree with my physics they must at least still acknowledge the issue of “unbalanced” training.
I hope those in the Pivotal sector use this as a opportunity to debate this subject.
Disclosure
I myself made a decision not to introduce my Pivotal units into studios until I can be assured of a certain level of education within the entire industry - as anything we did would be replicated and mis-used if not understood.
46 Comments
Fused backs…
(1) Clearance from Doctor for jogging/impact exercise required.
(2) Lineal
(3) Approx 43Hz / 3mm max ampl
- Jo
June 14th, 2008Hi Lloyd,
I have s question for you as you seem to know about this things. Could you give me your opinion on this vibration machine?
A friend of mine is thinking of starting a training studio with a few of those.
May be you can tell me some pros and cons of it
They are not Commercial machines , which is what to need operate a Vibration Training studio.
Mike Hair can give you good run down on what happens to units like that , as he went through it.
Use the articles on that subject in “topics” to give you the criteria needed.
You also may want to note that they have the basics wrong , like suggesting you can target abdominal body fat only.
So I have zero faith in the either the makers education or ethics.
Hi Jo,
tell your friend not to waste her money. They are not designed for high end commercial use. They will constantly where out the bearings.
If she wants to run a long turn studio then she will have to use proper commercial machines.
April 10th, 2008
question regarding training:
some contraindications are absolute and some are not…
Lloyd, what are your thoughts about clients with fused backs? (lower 3 & 4 vertebrae/ or some rods implants)
-pivotal, no
-lineal, ?
what kind of questions should their doctor be asked before we start training them with a lineal plate?