Good Vibrations
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Making waves in the research community is a new exercise technique called WBV – whole body vibration. Recent experiments have demonstrated the potential of WBV to increase both bone density and muscle power. The results are maximized for older women, but young and fit people are testing out vibrating platforms as well. Experts suggest that simply standing on a vibrating platform with no other weight will not benefit people who are in shape as it does people who are sedentary and/or older. However, by pairing WBV with weight training, you could improve muscle performance. One study showed that squats on a WBV platform increased muscle power and jump height as compared to standard squats performed on a stationary surface.
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Power Plate
My gym has this new piece of equipment that incidentally has been hyped up big time my non other than Madonna.
Being of an open mind, I've tried this however in combination with resistance training. I'd been using this machine for maybe nigh on 3 weeks-3 sessions per week.
I tried pretty much most of the exercises on the chart statically and dynamically.
Bottom line is, that nothing beats 'dynamic' movements with time under tension (using weights!) however I can see the application for people recovering from injury or looking for some variety in their workouts which will offer some benefits.
It does seem to provide a different type of stimulus but I think it would only be more effective when combined with resistance. I tried a superset of bench press combined with the plate on a low vibration with about 40 waves (resistance) whereby I would set the time at 60secs, do 3 reps with a slow tempo then hold it at the bottom (negative) for 20secs, emphasizing the stretch, then complete another 3 reps in slow fashion then holding it at the bottom again for the remainder of that minute.
My chest next day had a really solid deep ache which indicates to me that both fast and slow twich fibres were stimulated.
(this could be just because I added a new movement maybe? Even so 3 weeks in and I still had that mad ache!)
however..
The strap line of doing a workout in 10 minutes is dubious at best and the retail price (the pro machines cost in excess of £1000 with the top machine maxing at £9,000) is even more so. I personally would invest in a good gym or even better a good gym and personal trainer.
If your gym already has one of the powerplates then try it for yourself but don't forget to combine it with some resistance movements.