Power Plate

The Power-Plate is a machine that gives the body's muscles a high-speed workout by using vibrations to stimulate them to contract and relax. They generally contract once or twice a second, but by standing on the Power-Plate, its vibrations cause an automatic reflex muscle contraction of 30-60 a second. www.power-plate.com

What's it all about? Power-Plate is a machine that gives the body's muscles a high-speed workout by using vibrations to stimulate them to contract and relax. They generally contract once or twice a second, but by standing on the Power-Plate, its vibrations cause an automatic reflex muscle contraction of 30-50 a second. Power-Plate is a great time-saver due to the effectiveness of training and the fact that many muscle groups are activated at the same time. It's claimed that 10 minutes on the Power-Plate will have the same results as 60 minutes of conventional strenuous training. Better results in less time Power-Plate is like the microwave of fitness - you can do as little as 10 minutes and still achieve a great workout. Start gradually The best way to train is by increasing the frequency gradually. Beginners are advised to start with nine minutes of the resistance programme, followed by nine minutes of the stretch, massage and relaxation programme, both on the lower frequency and amplitude settings Stand correctly In order to develop strength, power, muscle tone and definition, it is essential to adopt a position that puts tension on the muscles. For example, if you're doing the squat position, have your knees bent and lean from the hips, as if you are about to sit on a chair. Keep your workout short Although everyone is different, it's usually enough to start with no more than 30-60 seconds on each exercise. This will reduce the duration of the workout, which is a real bonus for people who are time-short but crave results. Combine your exercises Try to choose a combination of compound exercises (such as squats and push-ups, which use more than one muscle group) and isolation exercises (biceps curls and front raises). You'll get a better training response, as well as increasing potential calorie burn. Keep your knees bent Vibration training stimulates the contraction of the muscle spindles, so it's important to keep your knees slightly bent to avoid jarring through the joints. Drink enough water Your muscles will be contracting 30-50 times more quickly, thereby generating a lot of internal heat, so even if you don't feel thirsty, always drink water while you're working out. Train for other sports Using Power-Plate can help you get far better sport-specific benefits. With skiing, for example, stand in a crouched ski squat position for 30 seconds, and your quads will receive a more appropriate training stimulus than any standing squat against a wall. You can get similar benefits for your golf swing, rugby scrum and so on - just stand in the sport-specific position. Getting started Once on the plate, the beginners' program involves standing in nine different positions, each held for 30 seconds. You can choose your intensity of vibration stimulus from the control panel. Beginners are encouraged to start off at 30 vibrations a second, progressing up to 50. Getting started is easy - simply stand on the machine, select the appropriate vibration level on the control panel, and position yourself in each of the nine positions. Each Power-Plate comes with an instructional manual, booklet and banner showing visual descriptions of each of the positions for resistance, flexibility and massage. Allow up to 20 minutes for a total workout for resistance, flexibility and massage. The instructions are comprehensive and simple to read, while the banner illustrations are easy to follow. If you do want more information, however, the best source is power-plate.com. The gear It is generally good practice to wear protective footwear when you do exercise of any kind. To get the most out of the positions, you do need comfortable clothing. Loose-fitting, stretchy gear is best. The downside No cardiovascular benefits You may get great results in your body's tone and flexibility, but you won't see any significant improvements to the stamina of your heart and lungs.