Mikhael et al. reviewed the literature on WBV effects on muscle and bone in older adults and pointed out how weak and poor many of the investigations have been.  The abstract can be read at www.nlm.nih.gov, click on PubMed, and use the search words vibration exercise.  It was published in the Feb 18, 2010 issue of the journal Maturitas.  Keep in mind these are researchers with doctorates conducting and publishing most all of these studies.  It really creates confusion when different equipment, protocols, etc. are used.

John Weatherly

Some forum readers will have read my article “Vibration Training – not just about looking good”

I haven’t been able to follow the regular training program for the past three weeks due to infection.  The result of these just three weeks of not training is serious detraining.  Measured by Body Composition Analyser machine I have lost 2kg of muscle mass and gained 1kg of fat. 

 The net result is weight-loss but it’s not a healthy loss and it totally proves Lloyd’s statement about Vibration Training; "It’s not all about getting a size 8 bikini ass, this is about saving lives”.  I’ll be back to training again tomorrow. (More details of this on my website.)

To qualify my previous statement I do cringe when I see gym trainers allowing people to move in ways that will hurt their spine or neck or other body parts.  Both “academically” trained and “passionate time on the job plus personal study” trained people can be good or bad.

In Vibration Training there is no proper training organisation.  I have been privileged to be trained by Lloyd Shaw of Vibra-Train and I suggest to every trainer to read all the articles on this website for instruction and lots of help.

Another topic here: Lap-band surgery for obese teens.  Watch the video here.

On the Lap-Bandwagon

Then let’s see if we can promote Vibration Training as part of the answer to this crisis. The other part of course is a special diet.

John, the New Zealand situation is worse in some ways.  We have some very careful, dedicated  yet not academically trained coaches and private trainers and to be honest, Id rather use their services than many of the registered trained people. The reason is that the quality of professional training differs by "school" or training institue and the whole system I consider to be corrupt because those at the top who make the rules have vested financial interest in some academic and practical training institutions.

Those who are not "qualified" are often more so, having taken the time to educate themselves by books and internet and working alongside mentors.  So, although I am a registered person, at a certain level I seem to disagree with you about being academically qualified - not that I do disagree BUT that the training has to fit the end job and be controlled by people on the "gym" floor so they know whats needed but not owners of training institutions. Understanding how the body works, bone, muscle, tendon and much more during sportexercise is essential thougn.

The article about personal trainers seems like common sense to me.  The personal training field along with the area of strength and conditioning or performance enhancement for athletes are not professional.  Many of these people have not even had a basic anatomy or physiology class.  Organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association are interest only organizations and not true professional organizations.  There are not any professional requirements to belong to these organizations just as there are not any professional standards enforced to be a personal trainer etc.  Yet, the NSCA calls itself a professional organization.

Additionally, there is not any infrastructure set up for the exercise or sport science fields in the U.S.  Universities award degrees up to the PhD level in these areas.  But, other than being a professor at a university, jobs are scarce for the highly educated person in these fields.  These people often have little hope of meaningful employment.  Many times they are told they are overqualified to be a strength coach or personal trainer.  This is ironic because, as mentioned above, many personal trainers and strength coaches have not had even a basic anatomy or physiology course.  As a general rule, and there are always exceptions to anything, most health clubs or gyms in the U.S. do not seem to care who they hire.  Jobs at hospitals are usually relegated to cardiac rehab types of positions, not primary prevention.  Positions at universities for strength and conditioning coaches are handled within athletic and not academic departments.  At major universities in the U.S., academic and athletic departments have virtually no interaction at all.  The same is true with professional sports in the U.S.  In pro sports, strength and conditioning personnel are hired by sport coaches and management of teams.  Most of these coaches and GMs do not have any education in sport science.  Sport science is about improving sport performance and is related to exercise science, but they are not the same thing.  Most people are not aware of this and do not even know about exercise science let alone sport science.

The Washington Redskins NFL team recently interviewed an ex NFL player, Bill Romanowski, for their head strength and conditioning position.  Romanowski has no formal education in the exercise or sport sciences, has admitted PED use when he played, and in fact tested positive for THG which was THE CLEAR from BALCO in training camp of 03.  I know of an individual who has two degrees in the exercise or sport sciences, worked for peanuts for years as an assistant strength coach with a major university athletic department, and recently has been supporting himself as a personal trainer while VOLUNTEERING as an intern strength coach with the Redskins.  This QUALIFIED person was not even interviewed by the Redskins to my knowledge and his desire is meaningful employment working with athletes and NOT AS A PERSONAL TRAINER.

A similar situation occurred with Boyd Epley who founded the NSCA and was with the U of Nebraska Athletic Department for a long time.  Boyd hired an ex Nebraska and NFL player who had used steroids as COORDINATOR OF PERFORMANCE EDUCATION in the later 90s.  This former player had no education at all in the exercise or sport sciences, other than being an ex player, and was hired instead of a highly qualified applicant.  Additionally, I am almost positive this former player had donated money to the strength booster program at Nebraska.  Complaints were made to the NSCA National Office and an NSCA VP said he would conduct an investigation and that I was entitled to a copy of the investigation from the NSCA National Office.  Well, nothing was done about it.  I still do not have my copy that I was promised in spite of numerous requests.  The most appalling thing was Boyd was on the task force for the NSCA Professional Standards and Guidelines document while the ex player was working for him.  In fact, the ex player was still working for Boyd after the document was published for NSCA members.  Boyd was not following the standards and guidelines himself even though he helped the NSCA make them up.  It was covered up because Boyd founded the NSCA.  In fact, Boyd later resigned from his position at Nebraska to take a position with the NSCA National Office.  I think most reasonable and prudent people would call this hypocritical.  I used to trust people and organizations like the NSCA but do not trust them anymore.

Thus, personal training or performance enhancement for athletes cannot be called a true profession in the U.S.  Contrast this with any type of medicine or other professional field.  The article about personal trainers is right on.  Many of these people will not understand vibration due to a lack of education or intelligence.

Here is a thought to ponder.  The American College of Sports Medicine has published guidelines for many years on the quality and quantity of exercise to maintain or improve health in the adult population.  These guidelines are not followed by most adults in the U.S.  They have been mainly a failure.  Anything like vibration training that may help with this should be strongly considered in my view.

John Weatherly

Thanks

Hi John

Yes it is for circulation he would need it.  Obviously iy wont affect the toxicity of the skin but wearing support stockings and elevation helps so thought this might.  Thanks

Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that can spread.  I am not an MD.  My opinion is improved blood and lymph circulation could help.  This is just a guess.  I do not know about how high an energy machine would be necessary.  If you or anyone else has experience with this, please share it with us.

John Weatherly

Would vibration training be any good for cellulitis.  If so how high energy would the machine need to be.  Thanks very much. 

The intrepid sleuths of academia are at it again.  The Feb 2010 JSCR had studies on vibration exercise.  Marin and Rhea, in a meta analysis, concluded vibration exercise was effective for chronic power adaptations.  Remember, power is force x displacement over time or work over time and is important not only in sports but for health as we age.  Wyon et al. showed WBV increased vertical jump in dancers.  Finally, another study showed a bar called a Flex bar with oscillatory vibration increased EMG and force generating capacity compared to a sham condition.  Abstracts can be read at www.nlm.nih.gov, click on PubMed, and type in vibration exercise as search words.

John Weatherly

Thank you Lloyd.  I have tried to call the GM and part owner of Versaclimber since our falling out in 05 and he will not return my calls.  We were close from 03 to 05.  It is amazing how money and credit influence how people act.  I have tried to reach out and he will not respond.  You are  well informed and do your homework even on topics not directly related to vibration such as your comment about the U.S. Army and a prototype of the Versaclimber.  This impresses me.  Few people do this.

John Weatherly

Thank you for the information.  As far as the misleading marketing, you must be commenting on the true whole body vibration claims at least to an extent.  The Versaclimber is a fine device.  I am just wondering about the claims of more total vibration to the body with the vibrating Versaclimber.  If the vibration is superficial and light, it must not do a whole lot.

John Weatherly

In 2003, while consulting with Versaclimber, I advised them to pursue a broad patent pending to superimpose vibration on wide array of exercise equipment.  The patent pending went through in 2005 and they have been selling the vibrating Versaclimber.  I am curious as to where this may fit in the machine categories Lloyd has listed.  See www.versaclimber.com and click on Exervibe.  As far as I know, the vibrating Versaclimber only operates at 30 Hz.  I got into it with them when the patent pending went through and I was not being compensated appropriately for what I did for them.  This included other things such as their Versapulley and not just vibration.  I felt close to the GM and part owner of this company, and we have not spoken since 2005.  This is sad. 

John Weatherly

Hi, I live in Laval, Canada

Does someone know where I can try this VibraTrain out  

Thanks for your support Sally. Funny Ive been wondering how many of these are going to be in the landfills like many things in our society. Dan and I have often talked about starting a reconditioning program where these machines can be fixed and donated withing communities once we have deemed they are safe to use. I for one as a business owner would by far prefer to invest in a quality piece of equipment than have to replace it every 3 to 6 months.  Doesnt make much business sense.

Meena...the reason to go to a studio or gym is to hopefully learn how to first use the equipment properly, providing you have a good trainer. If not, the information is out there...you just have to read it and start to apply that knowledge. Secondly, a decent machine will give you the results you are looking for if the training and effort are combined. NOTHING WORTH DOING IS EVER EASY. Thats why diets pills never do work. Mass production will only win if we as consumers allow them to by buying their crap. This is exactly the point of this forum. We are collectively trying to stop this one consumer at a time.

Sally

Nobody will,its all controled by mass production which is the winner everytime.

If you can buy a machine for USD200 why would you pay 10K or go to a gym or studio to train

No brainer really