My gym have just added a new gadjet
http://www.powerplate.comit seems to be a vibrating platform (oo-err).- which is meant to improve the effectiveness of stretching and strength training.-
I think the principle is sort of similar to swiss balls in that your core is always working.
- And also uses the idea that if you make a muscle work hard to contract, it will fatigue and release much further when it's allowed to relax (physio treatment seems to sometimes use the same principle)
Anyone come across it?- Any thoughts?
Comments
Glad to hear that they might actually be useful.- It sounds far too good to be true.
My gym got one a few weeks ago.
Its ok for stretching, very good infact.
But hubby and I think a side effect for us was It made our arms weak for a while.
I was struggling to do my normal weights.
As soon as I stopped using it, strength returned.
It was any position that tensed the arms.
Very nice for a leg massage tho!
-- Interesting that it may weaken arms.-
Definitely don't want to risk screwing up my legs this close to FLM.- But I'd like to finally have "normal" length hamstrings.-
Going to have to try it.- but only in very small amounts at first I guess.
I did a half marathon on Sunday, very stiff on Monday , jumped on one Monday afternoon - sat on it to massage hamstrings, and was able to run that evening without any soreness at all.
Great machines for stretching but that's about it really, in my opinion. Like you'e all saying, you've just got to do the work, not let a machine do it for you.
Wouldn't a rackety old washing machine give you the same vibrations? Though I suspect some women may then be tempted to sit on the PP instead.
[gets coat...] ;-)