Heard of the Power Plate?

inspiewriter

Here's a new one gang--walked into a gym equipment store and found this new thing--the Power Plate. It's basically a huge vibrating plate you stand or sit on, and do your work out on.

The saleslady said it helped the water she always retained in her ankles.

What do you guys think? Good for LE?  The theory is as you vibrate and move, more muscles are being moved in your body, making a better work out. (powerplate.com)

Or would all that vibrating bring more blood into the arm, making LE worse? 

Kathleen75

Does anyone have any updated information on the safety of Power Plate use for breast cancer survivors? My sweet chiropracter has offered free use of theirs in their gym but I am hoping for some feedback as to any pros and cons ....  Does it help the lymph system in moving chemo out? Does it have a negative or positive effect on cancer cell growth?  Thank you for any feedback or ideas where I can get information. 

Nordy

You know, I am not too familiar with this, but I think I had read a study somewhere along the line that talked about benefits of vibration for lymphedema. One thing that would be a positive is that I believe it is supposed to help with osteoporosis and osteopenia. I LOVE modalities that are dual purpose!

hymil

My gym just got one. Appparently they are great for general oedema issues and for shifting lymph and sluggish circulation, but I was told there is a specific contra-indication from the manufacturers for cancer people because it seems there's a theoretical risk for moving any lingering bad cells around the body to even worse places.

When i say "cancer people" i am being deliberately vague, as some of us here still have active disease, some of us hope *fingers crossed* we are "over it" but nobody will say cured and it still hangs over us - survivors, living in fear of recurrence or living in hope, whatever. If there could be a stray cancer cell in us, the thinking is that the vibes could move it and cause a distant secondary.  But hey then, what about the people who don't yet know they are growing a tumour, will this spread very early cancers, will we suddenly see lots of early secondaries of noy-yet-diagnosed primary where it has spread as soon as it got half a chance? That's scarey!

How they work, as it was explained to me is, that the extra effort of just staying still against the vibration confuses the stretch receptor cells, so that instead of just enough muscle fibres acting to do the work movement you are asking, they all join in, and so it gets the muscle working much harder than it actually needs to, so you burn more energy and get much stronger etc. than doing the same movement but not on the plate.

AnneW

I don't recall any Power Plate literature related to LE. I don't have LE, but use PPs twice a week for two years now. When done right (i.e. using correct form for exercises) it's like getting an hour of weightlifting/strength training in 15-20 minutes. I don't use weights at all now.

It is proven great for osteoporosis/osteopenia. Not sure that it would be any different from rebounding for lymph flow. For me, it's just one more tool in my exercise arsenal, and much more efficient use of my time.

ainemw

Hi inspiewriter, I'm just wondering what you decided to do..? I have exactly the same question myself - would a power plate be beneficial, or potentially have harmful effects...

Dejaboo

Hmm.  Never heard of this...I will have to go look up a video to see it.

If its what I picture...I think I saw them at a Sports store here a few months ago & laughed at it...Thinking they meant for one to just jiggle off the fat.

Blessings2011

I just Googled "Contraindications to Vibration Plates".

Once I skipped over all the ads and links from manufacturers and other sellers or providers, I found that the list of contraindications (people with certain conditions who should not use this machine - one study specifically mentioned cancer) and risks from use (increased back pain, blood clots, migration of implants) was huge.

No thanks.

purple32

I  am suspicious also , but check this out from PubMed.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19020698

Blessings2011

purple32 - "Deep Oscillation" therapy is a type of physical therapy that uses a hand-held device to provide low level electrical stimulation to specific injured muscles and tissues. As the pubmed article states, it has been useful for LE patients, among others. 

The "Power Plate" is a big machine that you stand on, which vibrates your entire body, promising all sorts of benefits such as weight loss, increased stamina for sports, increased bone density for women, and decreased fatigue after workouts.

Unfortunately, the risks can be life-threatening.

purple32

You dont have to convince me, belssings- I'm not ready to hop on.  Just interested in exploring anything thats out there. NOT trying- exploring!
I was following Carol's advice on checking into the deep oscillation. That one sounds pretty innocuous.  Wonder why they dont offer it in LE therapy for breast LE.  I just might be willing to give that one a whirl!

Blessings2011

You're right, purple,...there seem to be lots of legitimate articles out there about the success of deep oscillation with LE.....I wonder why it isn't mentioned more often?

purple32

It should be blessings !
Check out this post from the LE exercise thread. Two great links:

Purple - that's really interesting.

My brother was in the Phase II study, but here are the findings from the Phase I study by the same person - www.hsj.gr/volume5/issue1/519.... and

www.intldiabetesmellitus.com/a...

carol57

Blessings, I did wonder if the vibrations from deep oscillation were similar in method or impact to what the powerplate does, so thank you for clarifying the differences.