The Power-Plate: Space-age technology offers a wide variety of health benefits
The Power Plate is the favoured exercise machine of so many stars the company’s UK spokesman, Darren Bradley, says he’s lost count. Madonna reportedly attributes her ‘buns of steel’ to it and apparently makes calls while on it. I found it almost impossible to talk during vibration mode.
Power-Plate’s vibration technology isn’t new: developed in Russia in the 1970s for their Space programme, it appeared in the West only when the Iron Curtain fell. Power-Plate is vibration technology’s market leader and is the only system that vibrates in three directions.
Physiotherapist George Nicolaou underwent five years training to achieve his Chartered Physiotherapy qualifications, has specialised more recently in sports medicine and mastered the first of three levels of vibration technology training. He expects to take the other levels this year.
What is it supposed to do
Vibration technology allows you to enjoy intensive training without overloading the body.
For years, people have tried to become stronger/healthier through weight training. Adding extra weight made muscles adapt to heavier loads and become stronger. Instead of increasing the weight, Power-Plate changes the acceleration factor: increasing repetitions per minute, resulting in less strain on ligaments and muscular-skeletal system.
The human body has natural reflexes, like the eye-lid and stretch reflexes. The stretch reflex is what happens when the doctor taps your knee with a hammer, causing the ‘knee-jerk reaction’. The Power-Plate generates a continuous special stretch reflex called the Tonic Vibration Reflex; TVR is activated by the Plate’s special vibrating platform. And, because it vibrates at between 30 and 50 times per second, these involuntary muscle contractions actually happen at that same speed. Not only will your muscles contract and relax at super high speed, but the amount of muscle fibre in every muscle involved is up to 50 per cent more than in conventional training, where most people use a maximum of 40 per cent of each muscle’s fibres.
What benefits does it claim?
Primarily, regular use of the system increases muscle strength, build-up and endurance; it activates the blood circulation, which in turn improves heart muscle function. From a cosmetic point of view, it’s said to work on cellulite, increase the fat burning process, contour muscle and improve collagen production, resulting in improved skin tone.
Most importantly, from my perspective, it increases bone density and improves flexibility and co-ordination.
Is there any science behind it?
Yes! It was first developed to assist Russian cosmonauts in maintaining muscle strength and bone density while travelling weightless in space. American astronauts trained on conventional equipment and their maximum weightless period was about 120 days due to muscle and bone wastage. The Russians were able to stay up three times longer.
Bone mass particularly needs weight-bearing exercise; vibration intensifies the exercise effect and achieves in minutes the outcome of a good long walk.
What is it like?
Interesting! Users stand on the Plate and assume a series of postures that put strain on different muscle groups. Vibrations are delivered in 30 second bursts – in my case – at 30 strength; that’s to say 30 muscle contractions per second. Because the vibrations are transferred throughout the whole body, not just the muscle group targeted, you actually get an all-over body workout with relatively little input. The vibration takes care of the hard work for you.
In theory the Plate can be used by anyone (with some exceptions like diseases and pregnancy) and programmes can be created for individuals from the 18 exercises in the Strength section, six in both the Stretch and Massage sections, and a final six in the Relaxation section of the manual.
Among other exercises, I squatted, lunged, bridged my pelvis and even dipped my Lattisimus. No muscle was left unvibrated! I demonstrated ‘before’ and ‘after’ particularly well with a stretch forward bend before vibration (reaching between knees and ankles) and 30 seconds later when, with legs straight, I touched the floor.
How did I feel afterwards? Wonderful; energised and full of enthusiasm.
Later that day I only began to wilt by 5pm, similar to completing a five-mile morning walk; I slept like a top and woke feeling fantastic, no stiffness. So fantastic, I shall do this again … and again!
Where and how much?
George’s Physiotherapy Clinic is at Andrea Garoudi 10, near the bus terminal, Paphos. He charges £30 for six Power- Plate sessions. He also offers the full range of physiotherapy treatments. Tel: 99 555899, www.power-plateuk.com
