I was reminded today of how fortunate I am to use a real, high-energy, lineal machine.  And also that there is almost never a really bad machine, there’s just different quality and types.
 http://www.vibration-training-advice.com/no-such-thing-as-a-bad-machine

 It’s really important to use a machine carefully and deliberately using a safe, effective program and the right settings on the machine (that is, if it has variable frequency, amplitude, time) to get the very best results possible from that particular machine.

Today a customer told me he’d been in Germany for the past week and did a session using a PowerPlate brand machine.  He found it very easy and “weak” feeling so he asked the instructor to change the settings but was told, No, he had to get used to the easiest settings and time first. He also found the positions very different to the IVTRB Safety Program and said even a one legged squat, not a position he does at home, was easy and didn’t feel like real training.

He explained the he used high-energy machines in New Zealand and again asked for the PowerPlate to be set to its hardest setting and for him to do his regular program.  The instructor agreed he could try the hardest setting but expected him to fail; instead he still asked for more. My customer then told the PowerPlate instructor about the machines he uses here in Auckland.  He said he was not believed; it was as though the instructor (who he said was also a salesman) could not imagine any machine more powerful than PowerPlate and what’s more he couldn’t grasp that a higher energy machine was available in a small country far away, and not in Europe (and not his brand maybe).

I smiled at my customer’s experience and once again felt grateful for the machines I use (and instruct others to use).  But the PowerPlate could have been used in a way that would have given my client a reasonably good workout – he’s used to a solid machine so he was capable of the highest setting and the longest time periods. The instructor could have learnt a lot from my customer - but to be fair he would have been following the programs set down by the company he works for. I had a similar experience when I trialled PowerPlate – weak low settings and 30 second positions – even my old 86 year old client does 60 second positions and sneaks in extra (2 minute poses)  if I don’t watch him all the time!

Well, I for one have been on both; I do realize that a Crazy Fit is pretty marginal, but still. I went with my purchase choice (Wave) mostly based on "feel", not too scientific, but it's what I can deal with. To me, the lineal machine felt smoother overall but especially when trying to do any kind of upper body work, which to me the pivotal is too rough by far without using a damping pad. And I felt much greater results on my one exposure to the Wave than to the Crazy Fit, but I just figure that's because it's a better machine, period.

I think you should only avoid a lineal if you can't bend your knees, at all...

Mike

Thanks very much...will probably be down next week.

Here’s a question for the people out there that bash one form of vibration training over the other, ( which by the way i do not agree with as they both have their place in society)

Why is Vibra-Train still open after 6 or 7 years if Lineal is bad for you?

Why do hundreds of people still come back week after week with great results after using lineal machines?

Why am I still in business after 5 years of using lineal machines?

I find it very insulting that people such as Murray Seaton say that what I do is dangerous. Can’t wait to meet this turkey face to face!!!

There is a comment on another site by someone called Elanna. 

She writes “it’s so hard to do research when there’s so much fiction out there. Technical information can be doctored and embellished... About the only thing I've gleaned from all the info is not to buy a linear machine.....  re-distributors that charge huge mark-ups for the machines they buy for next to nothing.  Add to that the Chinese copies that look identical and you have consumes totally confused and frustrated.

..... I have wanted a machine like this for a while but confess I'm ready to GIVE UP without help.  WHO CAN WE TRUST?

My comments on this:

She has fallen into the very trap she wanted to avoid – she says she has learned NOT TO BUY A LINEAR MACHINE – where did she glean this? How is it that she trusts the source of information that tells her this? 

She believes it because the source (website) has a picture of an article and research study and mentions NASA so she thinks it MUST be valid. Its a pity she hasn’t read more websites and she’d find that its total scare-tactics designed to create fear against lineal machines – it’s marketing BS. They simply want people to buy their brand of pivotal machine.

So, WHO CAN WE TRUST?

The only person I’ve found to be completely trustworthy is Lloyd Shaw.  He’s given answers to the questions people ask with no ulterior motives.

Pam

give me a call when you are down this way and i will help you out.

Thankyou Di,yes it is a 1.3000..I appreciate your feedback

I was using 6 so will take it up.

Cheers

Pam

You got the BodyGreen 3000 machine ?

To get maximum benefit you need to use it at the highest setting which equates to about 30Hz.

Follow the IVTRB Safety Program (http://www.vibra-train.com/exercises-bullet.html)

Hi Mike...Body Green on trade me...I am about 1.5 hours from Invercargill

Cheers

Hi Pam

What machine did you buy

Where are you situated again....I am in Invercargill at VibraTrain 032163771

Mike

Hi ..I purchased the vibration platform that you recommended  Lloyd and after initally being a little disappointed as it was a little different to what i was using  I am now quite happy so thankyou very much.

I do have a couple of questions about the Hz I should be using as the machine only has 1 to 8 in numerals and I am unsure what frequency i am using.

Also Mike I would really like to take you up on your invitation at your gym but am unsure which gym you are at..I would really appreciate the chance to see what you do and whether I am on the right track.

Hi any comments on the cardiotech VT looking for weight loss and toning.

Thanks

I have to say, not sure I get the vibrating bike. Why not just ride one on a bumpy road.

Nice website, Franco. I admit I had to resort to google translate.

What's the opinion of the Hypervibe Galaxy that's supposed to be out soon? Is it really worth the $10-15000 rumored price? Is continuously variable amplitude in a pivotal really worth as much as an economy car? Word is it has WiFi and a built in accelerometer too. Inquiring minds want to know...

Hey, my intensity of muscle contraction on the Crazy Fit had gone way down lately. It's just I'm not sure if my legs are stronger or the machine is just wearing down. I resorted to holding the handle and mashing my heel down last time, adding upper arm pulling strength to leg push to increase intensity. Still seems kind of less than before. And it's been making a funny noise for over a month now...

An interesting point concerning adaptation and the choice of frequency and amplitude on lineal machines – Newcomers use level 2 Vibra-Train machines set at 43hz, 3mm and even those who are unfit cope with this setting.  Its hard work but they can do it. 

Then at around 9 or 10 visits they start to complain about the intensity and say that “it hurts” more, the intensity of muscle contraction has increased.  This doesn’t make sense when compared with conventional exercise – but this is also the point at which the client also says they are stronger, have more energy, and for those who need it, start to lose fat and change shape.

This is definitely adaptation yet the machine settings haven’t been changed  - the user’s muscle quality has improved = stronger feel of muscle contraction and there’s even better results ahead. And that’s staying on the same machine, same program, same times.

We use a form of periodisation – we get clients to use a different machine on each session, swapping over two models.  Oh and to upset the “experts” even more – the other machine type is also set at 43hz but at only 0.7mm amplitude.

It's this sort of response that the "experts" on another forum couldn't understand and argued with me that it can’t work - on the face of it, the physics don't support this.

BUT

We always have to remember we are measuring the response of a human body not physics in a vacuum.

It also shows there’s more to the physics of the actual vibration machine than just frequency and amplitude – that is for lineal machines

That makes me wild….It is idiots like Guss that makes our industry hard work. The best thing that could happen to this guy and power plate is to fail miserably

Lloyd

Lloyd..

Mike M

Trust me, just by being on the platform at 2mm then 4mm you will certainly notice the difference

Well I just learned that this (settable amplitude) is a change to the Contour Plus; there was an older model that only did one amplitude but the new model will be doing 2mm on low and 4mm on high. So I would think that this would make its power pretty close to that of the Air Reflex and Pro Elite models, just going by the amplitude/frequency rating. Of course the fact the other two are heavier machines will give them a bit more, but I think this will be pretty close. Any one agree/disagree?

You know, that is interesting and just about exactly mirrors what I experienced on the Wave Pro Elite that I tried out.

Right now I am curious about the model that I have on order. On the website, the spec sheet calls for "highs and lows" being available amplitude settings. However, I found another Contour Plus owner who tells me there's only one amplitude setting available. If that is true, then I am greatly disappointed and would like to know why the spec says what it does. Maybe it is just that the machine does not tell you what the amplitude actually is, but if so, I would like to see it listed somewhere so I know what I am actually getting. Maybe it is 2mm for the "massage" or "stretching" setting and 4mm for the "exercise" setting, but how am I to know that unless someone tells me or I attach a measurement device to the platform once it arrives?

Mike M.,