Power Plate versus the imitations?

randomer

I was listening to the radio today and there was a woman being interviewed. She is the woman responsible for bringing in the Power Plate. I remeber seeing one of these about four or five years ago in Westwood Leopardstown, and I thought it was a bit of a gimic.

I did a search on the web, and I found quite a few power plate copies on ebay, at a fraction of the cost. I assume they are using a similar technology.

The power plate my5 (http://ie.powerplate.com/EN/products/personal/my5.aspx) costs more than €5,000.

The "crazy fit massage" (appaling name) (http://cgi.ebay.ie/VIBRATION-POWER-MASSAGE-PLATE-GET-YOUR-DREAM-BODY_W0QQitemZ180178074586QQihZ008QQcategoryZ1521QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting) costs about €420 including delivery to Ireland.

Two questions:

1) Is the power plate any good?

2) Would the cheaper alternative be any use?

Cheers,
Randomer

Boru.

Hmm...that's interesting especially considered it was me and the company I managed at the time that introduced them to the Irish Market...oh well.

The Power Plate was brought up quite recently in a previous thread and you can read my original comments there - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055159350 as well as the objections to the training method.

For my two cents, the Power Plate works, and works very well. I train several clients solely on the plate and consider it an invaluable tool in rehab. That said, it's a very expensive piece of equipment and you can get results in a far cheaper manner - I personally am a big fan of bodyweight and isometric training, which cost's nothing and works just as well.

As for the imitation pieces - they're crap. They don;t work and they break down. The reason they don't work is because the amplitude and speed of vibration is poorly calibrated and not fast enough - they provide NO benefits what so ever. If you are going to get one spend your money on the real deal, or on a weights set or gym membership etc.

randomer

Boru. wrote: »

Hmm...that's interesting especially considered it was me and the company I managed at the time that introduced them to the Irish Market...oh well.

The Power Plate was brought up quite recently in a previous thread and you can read my original comments there - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055159350 as well as the objections to the training method.

For my two cents, the Power Plate works, and works very well. I train several clients solely on the plate and consider it an invaluable tool in rehab. That said, it's a very expensive piece of equipment and you can get results in a far cheaper manner - I personally am a big fan of bodyweight and isometric training, which cost's nothing and works just as well.

As for the imitation pieces - they're crap. They don;t work and they break down. The reason they don't work is because the amplitude and speed of vibration is poorly calibrated and not fast enough - they provide NO benefits what so ever. If you are going to get one spend your money on the real deal, or on a weights set or gym membership etc.

Thanks Boru. I did do Body Pump for a couple of years and had great results. I havent been able to get to the classes for the last 8 months because of work commitments. The classes were great, but at the moment I am not in a position to go to the classes, although I am still paying my membership :eek:

I have a few of the body pump classes on DVD and while they are very good, it is quite easy to quit when nobody is watching you!

I suppose I was looking for a shortcut!

I might go and do a trial with the Power Plate and if it is good I might get the MY3. It is 2k, but my Gym membership is over 900 and if I cancel that ...

randomer

The one thing that annoys me is the difference in price between Ireland and the UK. It is 2k in Ireland, but £1195 (just over €1700) in the uk.

mack1

randomer wrote: »

I might go and do a trial with the Power Plate and if it is good I might get the MY3. It is 2k, but my Gym membership is over 900 and if I cancel that ...

Why would you do that? You KNOW use of the gym works but instead you would rather spend 2k on a machine that you had to post here and ask if it did? and even when the guy who advocates the machine offered you cheaper alternatives you still think it's better to buy one that use the gym?

randomer wrote: »

I suppose I was looking for a shortcut!

what do you mean was?

randomer

mack1 wrote: »

Why would you do that? You KNOW use of the gym works but instead you would rather spend 2k on a machine that you had to post here and ask if it did? and even when the guy who advocates the machine offered you cheaper alternatives you still think it's better to buy one that use the gym?


what do you mean was?

I know going to the gym works, but at the moment I am not in a position to do that. I am short on time.

I have tried following body pump classes from home, but find it much more difficult that when I was going to the gym. The time element is also a factor. If I can do a the equivalent of a 60 minute workout in 15 minutes, that is much more important to me at the present time.

I have done research on the power plate, and my questions here were to get the opinions of some other people who have an interest in the area of fitness.

Boru said "the Power Plate works, and works very well".

He then when on to say that "If you are going to get one spend your money on the real deal, or on a weights set or gym membership etc".

The time element of the exercise is more important to me than the cost. I know of much cheaper ways to exercise too, but at the moment I am looking for a way to buy more time and this could be the solution.

Colm_OReilly

1) Is the power plate any good?

Good for what? I presume you mean good for muscle development and/or core stability.

Do elite level athletes, who's bodies depend on muscle development and core stability use them, no.

If you want core strength, do overhead squats, perfect push ups, shoulder presses, l-sits. Buy some rings (less than €100!) and see how much they help your balance!

Boru.

randomer, you're more than welcome. If you have any specific questions or queries feel free to pm me.

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

Do elite level athletes, who's bodies depend on muscle development and core stability use them, no.

Actually Yes. Yes they do, including Manchester United and Chelsea, the Green Bay Packers, the NBA Chicago Bulls, and a whole lot more as well as being endorsed by the United States Olympic Committee. See Charter 1 - get your facts straight.:p;)

As for a list of what it's good for you know that answer to that it's in the original thread.

At the end of the day there are lots of ways to get fit and be healthy. Some of them are bodyweight, some use weights, some use cross fit and some use a Power Plate. Rather than perhaps constantly attacking people (and Colm this isn't directed at you, it's a general observation of the recent attitude here) we should be celebrating and encouraging people to exercise - to find creative and effective ways of doing so that they find beneficial and fun. Instead people seem bent on gratifying thier own egos by justifying thier own training methods and running down anything that disagrees.

I've said it a dozen times here - there's more than one way to get fit and strong and healthy. Some like crossfit, some like olympic lifting, I like Iso's and randomer seems to like the Power Plate. And you know what the great thing is -we're all right - you're right for you, I'm right for me, and maybe we should let randomer find out if this is right for him.

How about rather then attacking people with different concepts and idea's why don't we ask intelligent questions, ask how it works and how it has benefited that person. We'd all learn a whole lot more and it would be far better than just stroking our own ego's and satisfying ourselves that we do in fact know everything and what's best for other people. And you never know it might, just might benefit us and our training too. /End Rant.

YogiDirra

Do you know of any gym in Ireland that have these Power Plates Boru?

Thanks...I'm looking into them for my gym.

Superstrong

I have to agree with Colm.Where were people before power plates came along?The reason they are in gyms is for the easy way out for people.If most average gym users had the choice of using the power plate or squatting they will obviously take the easy way out.Thats whats wrong with so many modern gyms.They are to busy looking for gimmicks to attract clients.Will the power plate replace physios for rehab aswell Boru?

The FitnessDock

Superstrong wrote: »

Where were people before power plates came along?

Where were people before the Internet came along? Well they were actually doing fine. That doesn't mean that the Internet isn't a brilliant addition to what they already have.

The same goes for supplements. There were supremely healthy people before they came along. You can get fantastic results by eating regular whole foods. Likewise you can also add supplements to your diet to get fantastic results too.

Superstrong wrote: »

Will the power plate replace physios for rehab as well Boru?

Likewise, will supplements replace whole foods? The answer to both questions is NO.

The key point here is choice. If you're happy doing 20 set squats, great - keep it up. If you're getting great results with a Powerplate, all power to you.

As Boru says, there are many different ways to get fit, lose weight and get strong. Find which one suits you best, train hard and get the results you want.

Roper

I believe Bolton Wanderers were the first ones to use them in England when Fat Sam was in charge, they were a fit strong bunch before that though.

I'm always wary of the "next big thing" in exercise and fitness. To be honest, I'm "for" anything that gets people off the couch but I'm also "for" the continued progress of people so they don't go back to the couch! I just think that people get bored of machines, and would be better off being involved in a sport or activity. Maybe then they would use machines to supplement that activity but their interest in a sport or the motivation of their team mates would keep them coming back.

So usually when I see someone say "I'm looking to buy a rowing machine cos I want to get fit" I'd say "go join a canoe club, et fit, meet people, learn a sport, challenge yourself".

dontdoit

YogiDirra wrote: »

Do you know of any gym in Ireland that have these Power Plates Boru?

Thanks...I'm looking into them for my gym.

David Lloyd in Dublin4 have them and think westwood have a few too

Hanley

AFAIK SV Fitness in the IFSC has (had at least) one too.

Vegeta

Roper wrote: »

So usually when I see someone say "I'm looking to buy a rowing machine cos I want to get fit" I'd say "go join a canoe club, et fit, meet people, learn a sport, challenge yourself".

What if people don't want to travel all the way to the canoe club, have enough friends in their lives and are already busy enough without adding the need to learn a sport.

It aint so black and white.

I will also add as someone who trains at home it is much easier to stay motivated. Driving 40 minutes to the gym or walking up stairs. Its a no brainer for me anyway

rubadub

Vegeta wrote: »

What if people don't want to travel all the way to the canoe club, have enough friends in their lives and are already busy enough without adding the need to learn a sport.

It aint so black and white.

Yes, my take on it is that I have no need for cardio specific training machines or time set aside for it. I walk to the shops/mates/pub etc. I cycle to work & back everyday, I have access to a car sometimes but never use it as it takes longer to drive or go by bus. So by getting in actual functional cardio work I end up with even more free time than if I did not cardio at all.

And the motivation is getting to work on time!, if you skip the gym or homeworkout there is no penalty, can't ditch the cycle to work on a rainy day.

I also train at home so if I get the urge to scoff a lot I can get a bit of training in before I do it, so at least some of the excess calories will go to some use.

Vegeta

I envy anyone close enough to work that it allows them to cycle in. At 23 miles its not really an option for me

I live a nice bit away from any gym or sports team so home training is the way for me and i much prefer it to the gym. I was a member of a gym last year but didn't renew my membership this year as it was a waste of money and instead bought all the equipment.

Haven't looked back since

Boru.

Hi YogiDirra,

As the guys have mentioned the above gyms have them and so does Westwood last time I was upper there. There is also a Power Plate Studio out in Star Fitness in Bray, and of course my studio .

Paul, thanks again for saving me the trouble of having to explain myself, it's very much appreciated and I couldn't do a better job. It also has the added benefit of sounding sane, when you say it.

At the end of the day, the Power Plate is a tool, use it or not it's up to you. There are loads of ways to train and each to his own. If you're happy doing what you are doing and getting the results you want in a safe and effective manner, then you're doing the right thing by you and that is what is most important.

Roper

Vegeta wrote: »

What if people don't want to travel all the way to the canoe club, have enough friends in their lives and are already busy enough without adding the need to learn a sport.

It aint so black and white.

I will also add as someone who trains at home it is much easier to stay motivated. Driving 40 minutes to the gym or walking up stairs. Its a no brainer for me anyway

Never said it was black and white, never said "make new friends", said "meet people" which is entirely different, and as for being "busy enough", thats fine, I can relate but we're talking about getting fit so I'd make time for that if I could. The canoe club is an example, everyone has a sports club near them.

But if you're happy enough at home and you can motivate yourself from there, cool. But look at this link
I don't think a treadmill, power plate or any other piece of apparatus for the home is as good as the benefit of sport. The fact that you can train at home does not negate the fact that most people can't or won't.

Vegeta

Roper wrote: »

I don't think a treadmill, power plate or any other piece of apparatus for the home is as good as the benefit of sport.

Why do you think that?

I would not agree at all. In most sports you rely on the person training you for the effectiveness of the session and at best you only become fit for that specific sport.

At home you can train how you want for what you want.

EDIT: I do agree though that a trainer at a sport will usually push you that bit harder than you might push yourself

rubadub

What ever suits the person I suppose. Almost every person I know who does sport has an injury, nearly always some ongoing one, or permanent one, like guys with bad knees who say they cannot do squats. Lads with bad shoulders or hands etc. I avoid running since all I hear about is complaints from mates, and posts here of people with various problems.

Some sports might be less accident prone, like rowing, but I have no such club near me. I also prefer to do it on my own time and terms and not disappoint a team if I cannot turn up. I can stay motivated, as I said I have to cycle to work, or lose my job!

I also might not agree with a trainers methods, I know realise my old PE teacher didnt have a clue, and I wouldnt want to do half the stuff I see the lads doing in my local GAA/Rugby pitch during training.

As for the buyandsell ads- all the better selection for people who will work at home! there will a fresh batch of equipment in feb once the new year resolutionites give up!

BossArky

Vegeta wrote: »

I envy anyone close enough to work that it allows them to cycle in. At 23 miles its not really an option for me

Yes it is an option.

I used to cycled 35km each way to work, which is just about the same as your 23 miles. That was 350km each week, taking under an hour each way in the morning / evening --> about the same as if I went via public transport.

It was a great way to fresher up in the morning and get your cardio in, plus a stress relief at the end of the day.

Vegeta

BossArky wrote: »

Yes it is an option.

I used to cycled 35km each way to work, which is just about the same as your 23 miles. That was 350km each week, taking under an hour each way in the morning / evening --> about the same as if I went via public transport.

It was a great way to fresher up in the morning and get your cardio in, plus a stress relief at the end of the day.

What country was this in?

I'd also definitely need a shower after that type of a cycle and change my clothes. This turns a 30 minute drive into an hour and a half commute each way. That's 3 hours getting to and from work a day. No thanks, I'd rather spend those 2 hours (3 hours to cycle but 1 hour to drive, so 2 hours net) lifting weights, jogging and/or rowing.

rubadub

BossArky wrote: »

Yes it is an option.

I used to cycled 35km each way to work, which is just about the same as your 23 miles. That was 350km each week, taking under an hour each way in the morning / evening --> about the same as if I went via public transport.

It was a great way to fresher up in the morning and get your cardio in, plus a stress relief at the end of the day.

Or just cycle in on a monday, bus home, leave the bike there and cycle home friday evening. Somebody starting out would find it rough, until the fitness level increases. Or else cycle/walk to a train/bus stop (with a good lock!) and once fitness improves go to the next stop.

Roper

Vegeta wrote: »

Why do you think that?

I would not agree at all. In most sports you rely on the person training you for the effectiveness of the session and at best you only become fit for that specific sport.

At home you can train how you want for what you want.

EDIT: I do agree though that a trainer at a sport will usually push you that bit harder than you might push yourself

Yeah being in your living room watching CSI on a cross trainer is far healthier than being with other people in a sports environment.

I love this, suddenly it's "oh no all coaches are rubbish anyway I don't want to rely on them and what about the INJURIES!" Sure there's bad coaching but I would say that even though methods differ and I would disagree with some coaching methods, the majority are good. Injuries come with the territory and I'd sooner be pushing myself to the point where I might get injured than playing it safe in my garage.

Rubadub,

The reason casual runners get injuries is:
Bad footwear,
Poor technique
Running on concrete with bad footwear and poor technique

My bro-in-law runs marathons and says he'd never seen so many Dunnes Stores trainers in one place as in the Dublin Marathon. Either those or Nike Shox! Wear the right shoes, get someone to look at your stride and you'll avoid most of the common running injuries and you'll get something you can do for life, get outdoors, and get fit.

Vegeta

Roper wrote: »

Yeah being in your living room watching CSI on a cross trainer is far healthier than being with other people in a sports environment.

I love this, suddenly it's "oh no all coaches are rubbish anyway I don't want to rely on them and what about the INJURIES!" Sure there's bad coaching but I would say that even though methods differ and I would disagree with some coaching methods, the majority are good. Injuries come with the territory and I'd sooner be pushing myself to the point where I might get injured than playing it safe in my garage.

Rubadub,

The reason casual runners get injuries is:
Bad footwear,
Poor technique
Running on concrete with bad footwear and poor technique

My bro-in-law runs marathons and says he'd never seen so many Dunnes Stores trainers in one place as in the Dublin Marathon. Either those or Nike Shox! Wear the right shoes, get someone to look at your stride and you'll avoid most of the common running injuries and you'll get something you can do for life, get outdoors, and get fit.

Whoa where is this rant coming from, you addressed none of the points I raised dude. Why quote my post and then criticise points I never even made

I never even brought up injuries at all.

You seem to think training for a sport is better than training at home yet have nothing to back it up bar opinion. That's a very narrow minded view. All you have to do is look at some of the crossfit guys and see the potential for training at home.

Roper

Pah...
rather than getting into an I said you said discussion I'll simplify.

• If you are training at home and it suits you, great.
• I would say that for every 1 of you there is 100 people selling the ab-worker 3000 this week
• Of those 100 people, how many would benefit from having coach or a team instead of a credit card and an instructional DVD?
• Sport is good
• Crossfit is fine and dandy, but I bet when someone says they have a "Home Gym", they're talking about the Bodypumpin Automatico Machinerama. (soon to be in a free ads paper near you) not an O-Set and a chinning bar.
• Sport is healthy in more ways than one. It gets you socialising, which people just don't do anymore outside of the pub.

Vegeta

well to avoid a quote-fest starting here, all I'll say is that bad training is exactly that, bad training. This can happen at home on your own and in a hall or pitch with a team.

There is no reason why a sport can make you any fitter than training on your own

BossArky

Vegeta wrote: »

What country was this in?

France (Strasbourg to Haguenau)

Vegeta wrote: »

I'd also definitely need a shower after that type of a cycle and change my clothes. This turns a 30 minute drive into an hour and a half commute each way. That's 3 hours getting to and from work a day. No thanks, I'd rather spend those 2 hours (3 hours to cycle but 1 hour to drive, so 2 hours net) lifting weights, jogging and/or rowing.

Yeah a shower for definite! You don't have to do it every day. Twice a week would be a good aim for the first few months. You can then take a day off in between the cycle and gym.

Hanley

Vegeta wrote: »

There is no reason why a sport can make you any fitter than training on your own

Look at the best in the world. Do they train on their own or as part of a team?

In any sport.

YogiDirra

Boru. wrote: »

Hi YogiDirra,

As the guys have mentioned the above gyms have them and so does Westwood last time I was upper there. There is also a Power Plate Studio out in Star Fitness in Bray, and of course my studio .

Paul, thanks again for saving me the trouble of having to explain myself, it's very much appreciated and I couldn't do a better job. It also has the added benefit of sounding sane, when you say it.

At the end of the day, the Power Plate is a tool, use it or not it's up to you. There are loads of ways to train and each to his own. If you're happy doing what you are doing and getting the results you want in a safe and effective manner, then you're doing the right thing by you and that is what is most important.

Thanks a lot...looking forward to using one and seeing what all the fuss is about! Gonna have to travel up to Portlaoise and Dublin to see some....thanks again.