Using Power Plate to Increase Your Movement:

Does using the Power Plate increase your movement or your ability to move your joints? Yes, very much so. The Power Plate is a whole body vibration platform that causes reflex muscle contractions of 25-50 contractions per second, depending on the setting.

When first using a vibration platform, most of the positions are stationary. For example, you would step on to the platform and squat down to a comfortable position and hold this position for 30 seconds. If you have balance issues you can grip the handles for support.

In this squat exercise your muscles are contracting as they hold you in this position. When vibration goes through a contracted muscle you cause reflex muscle contractions to occur. These reflex contractions are where the strengthening occurs, along with increasing your circulation and creating an endorphin release.

Athletes use the Power Plate as part of their warmup because of this increased circulation to the muscles and joints. It also stimulates the nervous system, preparing your body for the movements to follow, as well as creating heat in the muscles from all the contractions. Basically, it shortens the time needed for a good warmup, prior to exercise.

So while it may seem strange that a stationary position on this platform can increase your movement, it does, because of the reasons just mentioned. Depending on your goals, you can use it by itself for your exercise program or as part of a workout, where you include other "normal" exercises. I like to use it to stretch, either prior to exercise or in between sessions to help recover faster.

When I use it this way, I will also use it to massage different muscles prior to stretching. A relaxed muscle stretches much easier than a tense muscle does. The results will also last longer. I have found that this combination of massage and stretching with the Power Plate gets much faster results than traditional stretching. Combine this with other forms of stretching and joint mobility movements and you can increase your ability to move easily and efficiently.

After using it for a while you can add more movement while on the platform, such as squatting up and down, with or without any additional weight such as a dumbbell. Most of these exercises occur without moving very far, however. As you attempt to stand up straight you take tension off the working muscle.

When you remove tension from the muscle you take away the reflex muscle contractions. If you were to stand completely upright on the platform, all the vibrations would pass by the muscles and go straight to your head, feeling uncomfortable and a little bit dizzy. When I see some of the other platforms on the internet and the people are standing completely upright, it tells me that these platforms don't have as much power as the Power Plate, or that the manufacturer doesn't know the science behind it.

Either that or their machine works on a very different mechanical property. I have clients do these stationary positions on the platform and then go right to another exercise, such as pushups, lunges, bridges, or resistance band exercises while standing(off the platform). By combining all these different exercises and movements, they get a lot of done in a short amount of time. We make the workout more efficient this way by using exercises that use several muscles and joints at the same time.

In this manner you can use the Power Plate for fat loss. If you aren't able to do a lot of exercise because of physical limitations, many of you can use the platform for your exercise and movement needs. Those with pacemakers and certain illnesses, such as uncontrolled diabetes would not be candidates for this type of routine.

When you add up all the reflex contractions that occur on the platform with other exercises done off the platform, that is a lot of muscle contraction, which is why you can get results without spending an hour or more to exercise. For those with limited time this is an ideal way to exercise.

You can see results by only doing exercises on the platform. If you've got more than 20 pounds to lose, its doubtful that you will accomplish this just through the vibrations, but you would see some increase in your metabolism, losing some weight.



For more information on Power Plate stretching, click here.