those weird vibrating platforms..?

[wolffish]

so a gym i go to has just got one of those vibration machine things (kinda like this: http://www.otobodycare.com/sg/englis...1041ADB5D93F94) and i've previously seen all the hype and everything about them, but i'm totally sceptical. do they actually do anything? all these promises of burning xx calories by just standing on them for xx long seems stupid..

more importantly tho (and more believably), i have heard they are good for improving bone density - important cause i am a female who doesn't eat dairy n worries i dont get enough calcium.. and i'm wondering (prolly a long shot) if they would assist me with strengthening my deep core as i am trying to rehab from a disc herniation without having to go the surgery route. regarding the herniation, i've been doing a bunch of physio and have a set routine of techniques to work on given to me by physio to improve my back, recovery is just too slow for my liking!!

anyone shed some light on what (if anything) these machines may be good for...?

stats if relevant to anyone:
28yo
160cm
55kg
no cycles
no 'lifting' experience, just 4-5 yrs of various fitness and strength training

[Nooomoto]

I wouldn't trust something sold on late night TV as an alternative to something that requires surgery to be properly corrected.

[yarite]

We bought the power plate and the wife loves it.

[wolffish]

yarite - what does your wife get out of it?

it's at my gym, i assume it has legitimate purposes, i'm just not sure what they are =)

[Twist]

You should definitely be using calcium supplements. Everyone should. I have no idea what that machine is but it looks like all of the other lazy machines that do nothing. start with core balance exercises and some self myofascial release. stretch and ease into some back training. pilates and cobra exercises are good. I don't know how serious your condition is though, so always follow advice given by a doctor.

[wolffish]

just to reassure everyone who's concerned about my injury, i am receiving regular physio, doing the prescribed exercises, plus yoga and slowly working back up to training again.

i am just really curious about what these things do..

[Times Roman]

...if it sounds to good to be true.....

from all my reading, those machines basically do nothing, or so little it's almost nothing. Increasing bone density comes from stressing it structurally, which means resistance training and cardio. If you don't stress your bone, you lose density. Some jiggly machine aint gonna change these basic rules. If it were true, the astronauts would be using them. They don't. That's why when they come back from a long mission, they can lose 1/3 of their bone mass, or more.

[Twist]

To increase bone density you need to put stress on your musculoskeletal system in a powerlifting type of lifting. heavy ass weight. oh and a good diet with calcium supplements. not a shake weight or anything like that.