The Platform that makes my Whole Body Vibrate
Written: Aug 28 '06 (Updated May 02 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: May help; portable.
Cons: May be harmful.
The Bottom Line: The verdict is out but I had to rate it. I'm recommending it with a whole lot of caveats. Please talk with your doctor. I think this needs a prescription.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Soloflex Whole Body Vibration (WBV) Platform |
I have been told by the company (see comments) that this is not classified as a medical device by the FDA.
I really hesitated reviewing the Soloflex Whole Body Vibration (WBV) Platform because the benefits and harm from WBV are unclear. The company of course gives positive research on WBV. Other research I found does not and I have found example after example of harm to the spine. However I also noticed that the negative research was older than the newer research. Then again unless I saw the original research I can’t for sure say which is valid and which isn’t. Having said all this I am just going to review the Whole Body Vibration Platform by Soloflex trying to balance the pros and cons in my rating.
What is this?
"Exposure of the whole body to vibration (usually through the feet/buttocks when riding in a vehicle). Whole body vibration may increase the risk for injury, including low back pain and internal organ disruption."
www.ergoweb.com/resources/faq/glossary.cfm
WBV refers to "mechanical energy oscillations which are transferred to the body as a whole (in contrast to specific body regions), usually through a supporting system such as a seat or platform. Typical exposures include driving automobiles and trucks, and operating industrial vehicles."
wisha-training.lni.wa.gov/training/presentations/WholeBodyVibration.ppt
Soloflex says that WBV therapy triggers physical improvements much like a moderate weight training workout. We are told that just standing on a WBV platform will make us sweat.
At www.soloflex.com the company goes on to say that “The ANSI (American National Standards Institute) has established time limits for allowable workplace exposure to whole body vibration (WBV). The Soloflex WBV Platform safe exposure time is approximately 30 minutes a day at all acceleration levels."
About the WBV by Soloflex:
The Soloflex WBV Platform weighs about 35 pounds. It measures 40 inches long by 10” wide. The platform is basically a weightlifting bench. Like a bench I found it to be comfortably padded with foam.
There is no maximum weight uses for the Platform. The motor draws about 5 amps which is equal to about a 60 watt bulb.
You can figure the motor to last for abut 1,000 hours. Soloflex tells us that if I use it 10 minutes a day, 6 days a week the motor will last about 20 years.
It is considered a class 1 Medical Device by the FDA. Those who shouldn’t use this are recovering from surgery, have heart disease, neurological conditions, pre-existing deep vein thrombosis, joint implants or are pregnant.
Soloflex suggests using it not just to vibrate but to vibrate while stretching, weight training, and doing Pilates. “The Journal of Sports Sciences reports that vibrating while training with weights produces better gains than simply lifting weights alone. The Soloflex WBV platform is the perfect size, shape and height to perform most free-weight dumbbell and barbell exercises. It’s high enough off the floor to allow a full range of motion on bench presses, yet low enough to step off safely if balance is lost during standing exercises.”
Soloflex claims that the WBV will increase flexibility, improved mobility, increase circulation and strength, improve balance, elevate my mood and increase my vitality. All this for only $395.
I had done some research on this product because I saw it advertised in Arthritis Today and was considering buying it.
I was really intrigued by the claim that though I could exercise on it I didn’t have to. Low amplitude mechanical vibrations pulsing through my body 28 to 60 times a second do the work to improve circulation, strength, flexibility and balance. As someone with an autoimmune disorder I had to check it out.
Using it:
Although I spent some time doing nothing but standing, sitting and lying on this platform I also incorporated some Yoga and Pilates moves. These included the bridge where I had my feet on the platform and lifted my butt; the spinal twist which had one leg bent over the other, my arm around my knee and I then turned to face around the back; and something called a Triangle Pose which is a Yoga Pose.
I could have done virtually any kind of dumbbell work such as bicep curls and bent over rows. I just would have stood on the platform while it vibrated.
I could control the vibration with a dial. So I could increase and decrease the amount of vibration. I tried it at all different strengths. I mentioned the acceleration levels above. Breaking it down it goes from .3 to .5 to .7, .8, .9, 1 and 1.1.
The WBV has a one-year warranty which in my opinion isn’t all that much for a platform such as this which seems to me could have some technical problems. This concept is fairly new in the United States.
What I really think:
I wanted to love the WBV. I wanted it to cure me. I wanted the little tingling I have in my foot to be gone. I wanted the pain in my fingers to be gone. However none of this happened. I never did sweat on the WBV Platform.
I’m not giving up on this machine. I happen to like Soloflex products and the company. I think they make quality products. I just don’t think people should be running out to buy this. Although a prescription is not needed I’m leaning toward recommending that prescriptions should be needed! I most certainly do not think anyone should be buying the WBV without talking with their doctor.
I think it has a place in rehab facilities, to warm up before a workout or to supplement a workout but not in and of itself unless you have a trained medical person with you. If you are immobile this may increase circulation and stability. I can understand that concept. I don’t understand how it will increase strength but there appears to be some evidence that the vibrations may increase strength and increase bone density but that’s a big may.
My rating:
I know so many people rely on my knowledge but in spite of being a Certified Personal Trainer I cannot recommend this because I don’t think anyone should be using it on their own. As it stands right now anyone can go buy it and I think there is potential for injury. Everything I review can cause injury but I believe there may be potential for some real harm – again this is just based on my research and my own experiences. This is just my opinion.
On the other hand I can recommend it if the situation is correction. You can return it after 90 days so I wouldn’t nix the idea of running it by your doctor, buying it and trying it out. If I were in a state where I couldn’t exercise I would try anything I could get my hands on unless my doctor absolutely said no that it would harm me. So I’m rating this 4 stars because if the circumstances are right it might help you. However if I could give it two ratings I would give it 2 stars for those of you who might go out and buy this without approval.
I hoped this has helped. I have tried to be fair to the whole concept and to Soloflex. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks for reading. jo
The Soloflex Workout
My fitness equipment reviews can be found on my profile page.
Recommended:
Yes
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