Power Plate Review • Will It Increase Bone Density?

Will the Power Plate Vibration Machine alone increase your bone density? Is the Power Plate a good exercise routine for people with osteoporosis?

I recently wrote an article on Whole Body Vibration (WBV) platforms. Recent research indicates that using a low intensity vibration will improve the health and quality of your bone, while high intensity whole body vibration platforms like the Power Plate are a risk to bone health.

 

The PPVP is a high intensity Whole Body Vibration (WBV) platform. I assumed that using it, like all other WBV platforms, would not improve the density or quality of the user’s bone and potentially cause health risks.

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Power Plate and Bone Density

However, the company claims on its website that “Power Plate training leads to a significant increase in hip area bone density”. They refer to a study (1) published in 2004 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research to support this statement.

Ninety postmenopausal women participated in the study.

During the 24-week study period, the researchers created three groups of people for the tests.

• The Power Plate (PP) group that performed exercises on the PP.
• The Resistance group that performed aerobic exercises and resistance exercises without the PP.
• The Control group that did no exercise.

The study claims that Power Plate training resulted in a 1.5% net improvement in bone density in the hip for the PP group compared with the Resistance and control groups.

Does the Power Plate Vibration Machine Possess Special Powers?

Either the PPVP possesses some special capabilities that allow it to increase bone density or the exercises (and intensity of exercises) performed by the PP group were different from those performed by the Resistance group.

I reviewed the published study in detail and found that the researchers gave the resistance group a substantially different exercise program than the PP group.

Is the Power Plate Safe for People with Osteoporosis?

I recently interviewed Dr. Clinton Rubin, the SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York. Dr. Clinton is the most cited researcher in the area of vibration therapy and bone health and a recognized world authority on the topic.

He has done studies looking at high intensity vibration and its affects on bone health. Dr. Rubin provides his perspective here:

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Different Exercise Programs Yield Different Results

The exercise program that they gave the Power Plate group was more favorable for bone-building compared to the exercise program that they gave to the Resistance group.

The reason the Power Plate group showed an increase in hip are bone density over the study period — compared to the other groups — was not due to the benefits of the PPVP. It was a result of the exercise program that they followed.

The Exercise Program for the Power Plate Group

The Power Plate group was assigned an exercise program that involved progressive weight-bearing exercises.

• The study did not specify the precise number of sets or repetitions involved but they did mention that the PP group, unlike the Resistance group, was encouraged to consistently increase their load. Progressively increasing exercise load promotes bone-density improvement. This was not done for the Resistance group.
• Exercises for the PP group included a variety of weight-bearing exercises such as lunges and squats. The Resistance group did not perform weight-bearing exercises.
• Training load for the PP group was increased by changing the execution form of the exercises from predominantly two-legged to one-legged exercises. By making the PP participant stand on one leg, the researchers doubled the load through that leg. This was not done with the Resistance group participants.
• The training program for the PP group included a wider variety of exercises. By introducing variety to the exercise program for the PP participants they stimulated bone development. Variety was not included for the Resistance group participants

The Exercise Program for the Resistance Group

The Resistance group did not follow the same exercise program as the PP group. The exercise program for the Resistance group consisted mostly of endurance training and non-weight-bearing exercises.

• Endurance sets were used for more than half the duration of the study. Endurance training and, specifically, high-intensity endurance training, has not been shown to build bone.
• Unlike the PP group, there was no variety in the type of exercises used. Studies have shown that bone and muscle need to be surprised with variety in order to build.
• Seated strength exercises were employed. Seated exercises are not considered weight-bearing exercises.

I have summarized the exercise programs below (in as much detail as the researchers provided in the published study).

Resistance Group Exercise Program

• A 20 minute warmup of stepping, running or cycling.
• Knee extensions on a leg extension machine and leg press machine.
• The first 14 weeks of the program progressed as follows:
  • 2 sets of 20 reps to
  • 2 sets of 15 reps to
  • 2 sets of 12 reps to
  • 2 sets of 10 reps to
  • 2 sets of 8 reps
• During the last 10 weeks training volume and intensity varied between 2 sets of 8 reps to 2 sets of 12 reps

The researchers mention that the Resistance group program lasted an hour in total but aside from the above, no details of how the hour was spent is mentioned. There must have been very long rest periods between sets.

Power Plate and Resistance Groups

The Power Plate group followed a completely different exercise program from the Resistance group. The training volume of the Power Plate group increased systematically over the 6 month training period by:

• Duration of the vibration sessions.
• The number of series of one exercise.
• The number of different exercises.
• Reduction of the rest period between the exercises.
• Increase in the amplitude and frequency of the vibration platform.

In addition, training load was significantly increased by moving the exercises from predominantly two legged exercises to one legged.

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Advantage: Power Plate Group

The PP group had an advantage over the Resistance group, not because they used the Power Plate Vibrating Plate, but because they followed an exercise program that promoted bone-density improvement.

Power Plate Osteoporosis • Conclusion

This study failed to demonstrate that Power Plate training alone improves bone density or quality, or addresses osteoporosis. Research has consistently demonstrated that it is the type and intensity of exercise program that will dictate how much your bone density and quality improves over time.

I recommend that you follow an exercise program that promotes bone quality. Your program should also teach you movements that avoid fracture while doing your exercise program and daily activities. I encourage you to consult with a health professional qualified in this area.

A more appropriate study would be to have two groups perform identical progressive weight-bearing exercises, with one group exercising on the Power Plate and the other group exercising on the floor. Results of such a study would determine much more equitably whether the Power Plate is more effective in building bone than a program without the Power Plate.

References

1. Sabine MP Verschueren et al. Effect of 6-Month Whole Body Vibration Training on Hip Density, Muscle Strength, and Postural Control in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. JBMR Volume 19, Issue 3, pages 352–359, March 2004

Osteoporosis Guidelines

For more information, check out my Osteoporosis Guidelines.