Looking for input on vibrational machines

BlueSky · #1 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 12:23 PM

I hadn't heard of these vibrational machines until very recently. Anybody used one? Vibrational machines are apparently very good for losing weight and building muscle. According to the blurb, spending 15 minutes on one of these things is like doing a 1.5 hour resistance training workout. And I am interested to know how it might affect insulin sensitivity.

Below is a picture of a vibrational machine. The plate vibrates at up to 50 herz. So the muscles contract up to 50 times a second. And doing exercises while standing on the base works the muscles involved intensively. Apparently, you use 1,000 calories during a 15 minute session. I don't know if I can believe that. But I would be really interested to hear from people who have used them.

Evermont · #2 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 12:46 PM

I'll just be polite and say that uh... I'm skeptical. I suspect this machine will make you lighter in the wallet only.

BlueSky · #3 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evermont

I'll just be polite and say that uh... I'm skeptical. I suspect this machine will make you lighter in the wallet only.

I have heard good things about them, but I guess the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I bought my wife a 10 session concession card for Xmas to try it out. She is training for the Oxfam 100km Trailwalk and needs to get into shape quickly. So we will see. She has only done one session so far and, after 15 minutes, she felt like she had had a major workout. But whether it takes off the weight and tones the muscles remains to be seen ...

Evermont · #4 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 06:37 PM

Well, I'm certainly interested in what your wife thinks of it. I looked it up and read about these things. Still skeptical. I'll ask my daughter (personal trainer) what she knows about them.

I'm also trying to figure out why they cost so much.

volleyball · #5 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 07:05 PM

Gave me a good laugh. It reminds me of one of the belt things that women put around their behind as it shook it way back in the 50's and 60's. The only way you lose calories is by upchucking it

ant hill · #6 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSky

I hadn't heard of these vibrational machines until very recently. Anybody used one? Vibrational machines are apparently very good for losing weight and building muscle. According to the blurb, spending 15 minutes on one of these things is like doing a 1.5 hour resistance training workout. And I am interested to know how it might affect insulin sensitivity.

I think that it's just a shaking machine and because you are not moving or putting your body in pressure is not losing weight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evermont

I'll just be polite and say that uh... I'm skeptical. I suspect this machine will make you lighter in the wallet only.

Yeah That's a good point, I'd rather pay for some high quality food than a hunk of metal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by volleyball

Gave me a good laugh. It reminds me of one of the belt things that women put around their behind as it shook it way back in the 50's and 60's. The only way you lose calories is by upchucking it

LOL Volleyball, So buy throwing up is a good idea. If you don't put it in there in the first place is another good idea too.

volleyball · #7 (**permalink**) 01-18-2008, 06:57 AM

Never said it was a good idea. I am not even fond of machines for exercise anyways.

xMenace · #8 (**permalink**) 01-18-2008, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volleyball

Gave me a good laugh. It reminds me of one of the belt things that women put around their behind as it shook it way back in the 50's and 60's. The only way you lose calories is by upchucking it

They had one of those at the hotel where we had the party the eve before my wedding. My friends hooked Mike, who was stinking drunk, to one and held him there

------

These things sound similar to the Dynaflex Gyro balls Dyna Flex International, for sports and fitness, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, tendonitis, wrist pain and grip strength The ball moves in random¿ directions at high speeds and you use every muscle from your shoulders to fingertips to work it. It's a great product.

Scratch · #9 (**permalink**) 01-18-2008, 07:12 AM

I suppose the question that needs to be answered first off is does the machine somehow create an environment in which the muscles must perform work?

That's always the basic question of exercise -- how do I make the muscles do work? Work can come in the form of intense resistance like weight training or work can come in the form of prolonged lighter resistance making aerobic demands and bringing muscular endurance into play.

Will this machine make the muscles sufficiently stressed that some sort of microtrauma occurs where in the subsequent recovery period muscular fiber is rebuilt to handle the demands of the workload?

KCP · #10 (**permalink**) 01-21-2008, 01:20 PM

I know that this has become a huge craze in Nz.. And they do work to build muscle mass and tone up, but dont actually help lose the fat. Only cardio work can do that!

BlueSky · #11 (**permalink**) 01-21-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

..... Will this machine make the muscles sufficiently stressed that some sort of microtrauma occurs where in the subsequent recovery period muscular fiber is rebuilt to handle the demands of the workload?

Apparently it does. The muscles are worked intensively. One exercise is to stand on the plate with bent knees for a minute - this is about as much as most people can handle. The vibrations cause 300 contractions of the tense leg muscles in this time. And this creates microtrauma, big time. By all accounts, it tones and builds muscle very effectively. It should also help with weight loss as calories are burned very quickly. But it doesn't help with cardio vascular fitness.

I am really interested in whether it improves insulin sensitivity. I would think that anything that works muscles should have this effect. I don't go to the gym every day, and skipping days plays havoc with my insulin sensitivity. If doing a 15 minute session on one of these gadgets every day would sort out that problem, it would be marvelous.

Fawkes · #12 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 06:16 PM

Some strength & conditioning coaches are using this technology, although it is still highly suspect. Frankly, I'm skeptical.

susique333 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 06:54 PM

Looking for input on vibrational machines

Found something similar online and it reminded me of something from my childhood. My mother had one of those butt jiggler belt machines. Us kids got a kick out of it, we'd turn it on and sing like munchkins. But you could only stand the jiggling for a minute or so cause it caused your skin to ITCH like heck.

Emm · #14 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008, 02:12 AM

Try this one...
YouTube - Hawaii Chair Infomercial
Could you use this with a straight face? OMG!

Alice · #15 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008, 12:39 PM

I broke my elbow back in the 80's...I remember the physical therapist hooked my arm up to some kind of mild "shock" machine to stimulate muscle impulses.

I always went home exactly the same...didn't feel like those expensive (and ortho prescribed) treatments did any thing...

But, let us know how your wife feels about it!