Understanding the Movement of Lineal Vibration Platforms
Lineal Platforms
Pure Lineal is in fact not a physics possibility. All units must have some sideways motion but a designer of Lineal machines will work hard to keep this to a minimum. This is so a pose can be held in any direction on the platform and the movement accounted for. This also means no energy from the motors are lost.
Some engineering methods are more lineal than others, but all have their pros and cons.
Elliptical
These units are designed to move up and down with a slight front to back motion. Useful for certain sports training. I will be releasing more information on this practice in the future.
Three Dimensional (3D, uncontrolled vibration )
This is where a large percentage of energy takes the platform in all directions. Usually an engineering mistake or lack of skill involved in the original design.
The theory why Lineal is better than 3D
The reason the platform is vibrated upwards is to work directly against gravity , which only pulls down. This is called hyper-gravity and is why you will see on the specs of machines things like 6.2G , this means the platform is making you just over 6 times your own weight in the upward part of the vibration. This overloads your muscles just as though you where carrying a weight; essentially doing weight training with your own body.
Note: With your joints only really working well at one angle, the poses are very important.
But if the machines is moving deliberately sideways as well…
Pushing someone sideways does not cause hyper-gravity as you are only pushing them sideways. For example: Dropping down quickly in a lift would make you feel weightless for a second, going up makes you feel heavy, going sideways makes you feel… well… nothing.
Not only that but joints don’t like rapid random sideways movement. A small amount can be tolerated but some companies are not even trying to control the vibrations produced by their machines and instead try to pretend it’s meant to be like that (kind of like the cool kid in school tripping up and acting like they did it on purpose).
It is important to note that companies producing Vibration Training platforms with a medical equipment background or ones that apply for MDD certification spend lots of resources perfecting their machines and all promote controlled vibration.
The ones promoting 3D have a long history of unsafe/unethical practices that would be at odds with any Doctor or Health Specialist.
Written by Lloyd Shaw on March 3rd, 2008
14 Comments
Hello Dr. Leigh,
I would sometimes quote your name and one of your comment on this training modality - “You don’t understand it until you feel it.”
Hope you don’t mind.
TC
- Kim Bothwell
April 3rd, 2008I have very limited experience with these machines (I have been on a WBV machine made by “King Kong” 4 times (about $900 US) and like the effect) but your theory about vertical vibration does not quite fly right either. True motion against gravity will require more muscle response than motion in the say “out of gravity” plane because of “G force” but the the body and nervous system will react to ANY MOTION! and the fact that perhaps better muscle co-ordination will result from more 3-d vibration than a more “pure” vertical vibration. Muscle groups of the body are seldom purely vertically aligned. That is just my take on the matter but is would be interesting to see actual studies. Something that is lacking in this young techo/industry. I wish to get a machine for myself but don’t have the megabucks that is being asked. I think it was on another blog somebody said “a washing machine is much more complex a cost 1/10 as much these machines” so I think there is some extra padding of the profit margins going on not to mention the hype
- Kim Bothwell
April 3rd, 2008Oh one more very important thing
Thanks for the this blogsite, Lloyd
Kim Kim,
short bursts of sideways vibration would be fine, but some companies are selling it to use every day , forever.The muscles can handle this , but in the joints its called “shearing” and is generally considered an unwanted movement pattern in exercise equipment.
Which machine would you recommend for home use that isn’t as expensive as the Power Plate? Thanks, Penny
Lloyd, Must agree with you regarding pure vertical vibration, we have been in the vibration business for 3 years and have just designed and manufactured a new WBV machine which is pure vertical, low impact vibration. Manufactured with a liner motor and calibrates one’s weight prior to starting. The HZ range from 1 to 100 and the intensity ranges from 1% to 100% and can be controlled though all programs.
I under stand also what the lady Kim said about price of the machines, unfortunately when you understand that we spent between one and two million dollars to prefect this technology so that people are safe.The claims made by the $900 dollar machines who have never spent one dollar to do any testing. What is your life and health worth.
Thanks for the good work your doing.
John
- Di Heap
April 11th, 2008John, Do you have a program of positions for use with your machine or as I read on your website - Usage consists of standing upright on the Evolution™ platform.
Can you please explain Power-balance technology use in your machine platform. Is this additional to the usual vibrational effects?
What are your gym bars? are they the bars that show on the machine or extra?
I hope you don’t mind my questions. They are just a few I have after a very quick read of your website.
My advice John , and please take this in the vain is intended and really consider my recommendation.
(1) So you have fixed Turbo-Sonics engineering problems.
(2) Do not repeat their mistakes regarding programs/poses. Or it all could be for nothing.
Lloyd, I would like to add a few lines on the Vertical movement of platforms, I will refrain from any marketing and stick the the facts. The main problem that is causing 3D movement is synchronisation of motors. To get vertical vibration you need to have two motors working together in perfect sync. This is already a science on itself. Many companies promoting 3D movement are saying this because they can not get their synchronisation under control. One motor systems can work but you need a special construction that is patented by VibroGym. A fixed one motor system will create a circular vertical movement that can be harmfull due to a partly sideways movement, it will create some G’s but generally no more than 5 or 6 at the Highest Hz and amplitude levels. I do agree with Lloyd when he says there is always some horizontal movement, however this can be very little when your sync is under control.
LLoyd,
Arizona State University came out with the first study on the Medvibe MVPro WBV machine– It tested warmup on Pivotal WBV vs Cycle ergometry. More studies on the way. What did you think about the results here? They may not be proving that WBV training is wildy effective but it defeintely shows that the technology is just as good if not a bit better than some traditional excercises. Im just happy I have some research to shut people up who think WBV is a gimmik.- Tim
May 20th, 2008Is there any point in using more than 50Hz? Training? Massage?
Not much , you may still get effects but they will reduce outside certain Fq.
Hi Jan, There are ways of achieving lineal, reciprocating motion of the plate without using synchronized motors. eg: linear motor.
March 25th, 2008
Lloyd:
The WAVE (lineal)will be undergoing extensive safety testing as part of a research grant at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Preliminary tests demonstrated that it meets ISO vibration standards when used appropriately (10-15 minutes of vibration exposure, 3 times per week).
We will update you as the study progresses.