Re: Vibration Platforms

[Guest guest]

Gerald,

I can speak for the range between $2,000 and $11,000. In a nutshell:

- $8,000 and up, are professional platform models;

- $7,000 - $4,000 price range, are residential models;

- $3,000 - $2,000 price range, are less performing models.

- I do not have direct experience with cheaper models.

Within each range, features and different possibilities make the difference

between a higher price and a lower price. Professional models have

mechanical characteristics that maintain uniform vibration across a wide

spectrum of payloads. They keep therefore a particular exercise protocol

within a narrow variation, and with predictably repeatable results:

individuals with very different weights and or additional working weights on

them. The electric motors are industrial-grade strength, and can take the

beating of continuous use without a flinch.

Residential models, i.e. for home use, exhibit a decent uniformity of

vibration, but generally have lower payloads; one will have to see if the

vibration is good enough for the intended use. Electric motors are not the

same industrial grade, are designed less generously, and probably will not

be able to take the beating of a gym for a long time.

Less performing models, may exhibit a vibration that is all over the place:

at one frequency with one payload it may be too strong; at a different

frequency it may be OK, but changing the payload it may become either too

weak or too strong again. It may be OK for a particular individual, but it

has to be tested in the area where it is supposed to work.

Cheaper models in my opinion are not worth the money. Although people may

feel a vibration on their feet when standing on these cheap device, in my

opinion this is too weak to elicit any muscular result. Every study I've

read, showing some results has been done with platforms above a 1-mm

amplitude. Just vibrating the soles of your shoes is not enough to elicit

involuntary muscle contractions: the feet have to move relative to the rest

of the body, enough to cause a movement of the joints (ankle-knee-hip

kinematic chain).

However, there is more than respectable research* showing that

fraction-of-mm vibration may be already enough to counteract osteoporosis

and obtain benefits. Such research has shown that the benefit is much

stronger than simple exercise alone, and has rather than merely arresting

osteoporosis (as simple exercise does), it has the potential to reverse it.

However, may contention is that if you want to counteract age-related

osteoporosis, you may as well kill two birds with one stone and work on

sarcopenia as well with a better performing platform.

Note*:

Rubin C, Judex S, Qin Y. Low-level mechanical signals and their potential as

a non-pharmacological intervention for osteoporosis. Age Ageing. 2006;35

Suppl 2:ii32-ii36.

The abstract for this and other peer-reviewed articles are collected at

http://www.globussht.com/wbv-abstracts.

Giovanni Ciriani - West Hartford, CT - USA

www.GlobusSHT.com

On Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 5:28 PM, Gerald Lafon <glafon@...> wrote

>

>

> On Apr 28, 2010, at 8:48 AM, Giovanni Ciriani wrote:

>

> > ,

> > I'm the importer of the Globus brand, manufactured by Globus Italia,

> Italy,

> > so that's the platform I use.

>

> This subject is new to me so I have done some quick searches to see what's

> available.

>

> One obvious observation is that the price range goes from $200 to thousands

> of $$. Many of the machines seem to have the same adjustments, weight

> capacities, etc., yet the price difference is staggering even for what is

> called home use models. Why pay thousands when I can get something for under

> $500, like this one:

>

> http://www.wholebodyvibrationmachine.com/stadiumplatform.

>

> Can you provide us with a quick why?

>

> Thanks.

>

> _____________________________

> Gerald Lafon

> USMC, RVN 70-71

> Director, Judo America San Diego

> www.judoamerica.com

> www.betterjudo.com

> www.blog.betterjudo.com

> 858 578-7748

>

>

>