Posted by
Puti
19 yrs ago
Wondering if anyone can help. Ages ago I read a story on a machine you lie on, it vibrates and you get a 'work out' without changing your clothes. I know the pros and cons, just wondering if anyone has tried this, or if anyone knows where this is done in Hong Kong
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machine is called Power Plates, you can have a free trial at: Hong Kong Studio - Movers & Shapers
1206 The Centrium
12th Floor
60 Wyndham Street
Central
Hong Kong
Email: info.hk@moversandshapers.net
Tel: +852 3621 0180
Fax: +852 3621 0182
It is not a weight loss machine, but a muscle conditionning exercise, taken as such I found it great, helped me get back in the saddle after an injury that stopped me exercising for couple of years.
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Puti
19 yrs ago
Thanks so much. I will look it up. Your circumstance sounds a little similar.
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I saw an ad in a magazine this weekend for the Vibration Therapy Institute on Pottinger st
www.vti.hk
Was thinking about trying them out. I've seen programs on US tele and it seems vibration is great for your joints too.
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Puti
19 yrs ago
Thanks Tidings2, I have booked a free trial as above, but will check out yours as well. let me know if you go/try it out/ impressions.
Sorry to burst your consipracy bubble Joeyho but the question is a genuine one. Nearly every thread on this forum starts with a question: where can I get ..... and a reply: these people are good. Not sure how my question differed from others.
Your jump to the conclusion I am advertising 'is so lame'.
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Puti - the ad I found at vti is also for a free trial but you have to have the clipping and no fotocopy.
It was from a new magazine just out and I cannot remember the name. It's glossier and smaller than HK and published by different people. Will post again when my amnesia goes away.
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The magazine is "BEATS" August
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Hi
I wondered if any of you could recommend me a fitness club equiped with power plate in Seoul?
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To people who are interested in or skeptical about Vibration Training (Part I),
The term "vibration" has caused misunderstanding to this physical training concept. Uncontrolled vibration cannot bring effect on fitness or strengthening.
More appropriate term to describe this training technique should be "Hyper-gravity Stimulation Training" or "Neuro-muscular Mechanical Stimulation". This training relies on a machine to generate hyper-gravity load through vertical vibration. The hyper-gravity load then triggers the exerciser's involuntary reflex to induce muscle activities.
It shares the same principle as conventional physical training - TO OVERLOAD OUR BODY! Only difference is that dynamic movement is not necessarily required in Hyper-gravity Stimulation Training (HGST). Skeptics accuse this training as passive and gimmick for lazy people. It is not true.
Static poses do not mean no active muscle activities. For example, if you get pushed from behind, your body tenses up and reacts to keep yourself in balance. This rapid and systematic neuro-muscular response is an instinct or referred as involuntary reflex. You do not direct those movement but you cannot call it "passive". In HGST, the machine creates a mechanical load to "hit" the exerciser and the exerciser's muscle contract to respond to the impact. The machine hits between 30 and 50 times per second which means exerciser's muscle contract 30 to 50 times per second to respond.
To compare with conventional physical training, HGST is less exertion but not effortless. A workout session of HGST can make exerciser to sweat, a normal person can hardly bear a HGST workout session more than 20 minutes.
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To people who are interested in or skeptical about Vibration Training (Part II),
A good Hyper-gravity Stimulation Training relies on two factors - Good Hardware and Good Software.
In conventional physical training, hardware is less important. All dumbbells, bar-bells are same no matter who makes them as they are just solid weighs. In HGST, hardware plays an important role as exercise relies on it to generate sufficient load for stimulation. Vertical vibration displacement is the optimal way to accelerate gravity load. Randomized vibration or so-called tri-planar vibration are cosmetic terms to cover up manufacturing incapability, which means the machine cannot control its vibration. Manufacturers of these machines of course defend that their machines are made to produce stimulation from various directions instead of single direction. Ask them what is the pattern and how much percent go up & down and how much go side-to-side or back & forth; and why? They can never give direct answer.
Rapid horizontal vibration may create shearing force which can be potentially risky for joints. Some machines even of popular brand names, have big variation between their set vibrative frequency and actual work frequency; especially when they are loaded (exerciser on platform). If the vibration frequency drops below 20 Hz, it reaches the internal organs' resonance frequency which can cause negative effect.
When you are invited to be trained on Vibration Training machine, ask the following questions:
1) What is the weight of the machine? A decent home device should weigh at 50 kg. and a good professional (commercial) device should weigh about 100 kg at least. It is a good indication of the strength of the device. A very powerful motorized system requires a heavy base otherwise the machine will dance on the floor.
2) What is the maximum loading capacity? Most machines claim they can hold 150 Kg. In average, most people weighs less than 150 kg. However, if the exerciser wants to combine dynamic exercises, the actual load is much larger than exerciser's physical weight.
3) Where is the origin of the machine? We are not talking about where is the company from? We are talking about where is the machine actually made.
As a conclusion, I would like to quote a statement from a U.S. exercise physiologist, Dr. Larry Leighs "You do not understand until you feel it!" Enjoy your exercises with Hyper-Gravity Stimulation Training!
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Does anyone know anywhere in Beijing to buy a machine or do this excercise?? I have been looking everywhere with no luck.
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Remember those 'toning tables' back in the early 90s? You sat/laid on a series of six beds/chair-things for ten minutes each, total one hour. ALL your muscles hurt like hell the next day. Not so much vibration, more like resistance. The stomach one was particularly good as you did the equivalent of approx. 1,000 properly-executed sit-ups in those ten minutes without doing your back in. The tables worked really well for me once a week in conjunction with doing some walking on other days, as they toned my abdomen, hips and thighs up far better than I could have done on my own or with other equipment. I wish there was the space and the demand for them here as I'd sign up immediately.
P.S. No impact on breast tissue and I don't think they messed about too much with my internal organs or giblets or whatever either!
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To JanieT,
I just met a H.K. physiotherapy professor who is now working in Beijing. He said China has equipped this kind of training device in the facility for training Olympic Team.
In normal fitness centres or gyms, I think you have to visit more to try your luck. There are two major reasons to explain why you could hardly find it in China. First, most operators and personal trainers are lack of knowledge about this new training modality. Second, there are many cheap China-made copies, these copies although do not deliver the same performance as the decent professional grade devices, they look alike and laymen do not have the knowledge to tell the difference. Therefore fitness clubs / gyms do not think investment on such a device will help to lift their images.
To Niju,
Decent Hyper-gravity Stimulation Training devices are all carefully designed. There are mainly two mechanisms being applied to produce vibration. One is lineal (vibration in vertical displacement - Up & Down movement); the other one is pivotal (tilting sideways). All decent lineal devices are controlled to vibrate between 20 and 60 Hz. The resonant frequency to organs are about 18 Hz to head/eyes; 6~12 Hz to internal organs and 8 Hz to spinal cord. Therefore good quality lineal devices will not interfere or bring harmful side effect to internal organs. For pivotal devices, its vibration energy is mostly counteract by pelvic movement, the vibration transmission to upper body is minimal therefore pivotal devices may go down below 20 Hz.
Comment that suggested Hyper-Gravity Stimulation Training (HGST) may cause female's breat saggy, must be either from the commentor's imagination or they were talking about other kind of vibration machines. All lineal devices for HGST have amplitude (vertical displacement) of maximum 4~5 mm. After the absorption by proper poses and all joints at lower limbs, the vibration transmitted to upper body is minimal.
To Thames,
I have no knowledge about the set of "toning tables" you described but it sounds quite complicated to me as it involved a series of 6 beds & chairs.
The HGST devices are having vibrative training platforms of about 1000 x 660mm, some are smaller in dimensions. Exercisers perform different static poses like squats, lunges, sit-up and push-up on the training platform. A session of HGST is maximum 25 minutes. Most people cannot tolerate longer in a session as it really works your body as conventional physical training eventhough people perform static poses only.
Livinology
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Maybe I can share my experience with you. I have been going to VTI for three months. Initially, I was sceptical -- couldn't see how just standing on a vibrating plate and making no effort could do anything for me. In fact, this is a complete misconception. It is extremely hard work -- and exceptionally effective. For years, I have been going to a traditional gym and doing such things as spin cycling, body-pump, aerobics, circuit training and weight training. None of this has been nearly as effective as VTI. My muscle tone has improved dramatically. The improvement is sustained. I am not trying to build muscle -- merely to tone and firm up. I chose VTI because the machines are German-made -- others are, apparently, Chinese-made and it is very important to make sure that the vertical vibration is accurate and stable.
After three months, my butt is like steel, I no longer have flabby arms, my abs are so tight and my thighs and calves beautifully firm . So I can highly recommend VTI.
No, this is not an advert -- I have just been so surprised by the results
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Hi Foxmulder,
How many times a week have you been using this machine? Also, how much does each session cost? Thanks.
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I go three times a week. Sessions last about 45 mins and are supervised by Timothy - effectively, he is my personal trainer.
Don't normally sweat, but it always feel like a serious workout.
Call Timothy - am sure he will arrange a try-out. 2167 7366
VTI is near Sheung Wan MTR. Use exit B, turn right. Loon Keen Building, 275 De Voeux Road. 11th floor
Am on just about to leave for there now....
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Thanks, Foxmulder, I think I will give it a try. I've got nothing to lose.
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You're welcome, but I got it hopelessly wrong on cost. you need to speak with Timothy because they are about to do a per-session costing.
Just got back from my lower body session - it was tough - legs, abs and butt.
Hope you enjoy it there.
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There's also a place (Movers and Shapers) in Central if that's nearer - I use them and I agree with foxmulders reports about it - it's not a cardio workout (so I'm no better at running for the bus!) but it's great for toning - much more effective than I have ever found a gym, especially as you have someone standing with you to motivate you.
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Movers & Shapers have now two studios, one in Central and another one in Causeway Bay.
One thing disappoints me is that M & S have chosen the wrong machine. Unlike conventional resistance training, e.g. with barbell. Barbell, no matter who and where it is made, it is just a weight. Effect of Hyper-Gravity Stimulation Training relies very much on a machine referred as gravity accelerator to produce hyper-gravity load for stimulation. Quality of the gravity accelerator is therefore critical.
I believe M & S thought they were equipped with the best brand of machines because it is famous. However, well-known does not equal to good quality. It just reflects the manufacturer is good marketer. Their machines are made in China. A few independent researchers had brought this machine for lab test and found its work frequency could vary by 20+%, the variation could be even larger when a load is applied. This variation can cause a difference in training result and safety. Also, this machine cannot control the vibration displacement in up & down movement. As explained in previous post, vertical vibration is the most optimal way to generate hyper-gravity load. The manufacturer cosmetically covered it up by referring it as "Triplanar Vibration" or "Multi-directional Vibration". The horizontal displacement can create a shearing force on the exerciser's joints which is no good in long term.
I trust M & S did not know those information when they started in U.K. As all their U.K. and H.K. studios are now equipped with this brand of machines and they also become distributors of this brand, there is no return for M & S now.
Readers do not have to take my words. If anyone who is interested in exploring more on this new training technique and its history and development, there are a few forums on internet for discussion on vibration training. Read them carefully and you will learn most of what I have learnt.
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Very interested in your findings concerning variation in frequency? Are you referring to amplitude of the vibration or the vertical displacement? I would interested to gain further insights on your analysis of different acceleration machines in the markets.
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Frequency in this form of training means how many times the training platform moves up and down. Amplitude is the range of vertical displacement of the platform.
High quality machines include FITVIBE (German-made); HYPERGRAVITY (USA); VIBROGYM (Dutch and this is the original POWER PLATE); WAVE (Canadian); NEMES (German); GLOBUS (Italy) and VIBRA-TRAIN (New Zealand but they do not sell machines but franchise of studio).
If you are interested to learn more about this training and industry, you can go to search engines like Googles to look for Vibration Training or Whole Body Vibration. There are some interesting forums you can read and join discussion. Sorry that I do not give the addresses of those forums as I think it is probably not allowed by the host here.
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Thank you for your insights and opinions concerning both product and training. Of the above products which ones have you tried and what is your feedback?
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I have practical experience with FITVIBE. Some of my overseas vibration training fraternities use HYPERGRAVITY, some use VIBROGYM and WAVE.
Based on personal experience and collected comments, I would say FITVIBE, HYPERGRAVITY nad VIBROGYM are the high rank more popular commercial units.
NEMES and GLOBUS are less popular globally. WAVE although generates vertical vibration, it does not use oscillators but sonic system to produce vibration; a technology that I do not know and have no experience to make further comment.
For people who are not trained for practicing Hyper-Gravity Stimulation Training (Vibration Training), some machines come with built-in training guide with illustration which may help.
VIBRA-TRAIN is not for everyone as I have friends in New Zealand who tried and described that it could shoot you up to the ceiling, meaning very powerful. However, I am in contact with the owner of VIBRA-TRAIN who is expert/master in this technology and very strict in safety measure. After all, VIBRA-TRAIN do not sell machines.
Livinology
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Okay... lots of info here and I appreciate all of the research and the posts.
MY question is:
Are the Power Plate machines @ Pure Fitness the higher quality machine? I have had several injuries and I'm looking at an alternate form of toning from my regular routine.
Thanks
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Hi Shyloe,
Your one question can be split into two.
In Vibration Training industry, Power Plate is well-known because the U.S. company is so good in marketing and the Industry appreciate their efforts in drawing people's attention in this new form of training. However, the China-made Power Plate machines are also known unreliable. Please read my previous posts under this thread for details.
Unless you know this training thoroughly youself, you need an instructor to design a training program and guide you through. I doubt you can get it from Pure Fitness. Don't misunderstand me, I am not querying the qualification of their physical trainers. I am sure they are all well-qualified as conventional physical trainers; however, do they know Vibration Training well? I doubt. I have physiotherapist friends visited Pure at Langham about half year ago and talked to the trainers there about Vibration Training, my friends' impression were they were lack of knowledge in this particular type of training technique. Well, things can change. You have to talk to their trainers and find it out yourself.
Can you specify briefly what kind of injuries you have had? Let me see if I can give further advice.
Livinology
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