PowerPlate Website
Nothing really ever changes at the Ann and Lee Higdon Fitness Center. The same people go at similar times of day, except right after winter break, New Years resolutions and whatnot, and while the coveted blue floor mats might be shuffled between the two floors there are always the same number of mats. However, this past fall a new piece of equipment appeared right next to the free weights on the second floor.
People were nervous; what is this elevated platform with an elongated, elegant sliver control pad? From just giving it an awkward glance to circling it to actually jumping up on the Power Plate, it took gym-goers quite some time to trust this stranger. At first, many were unsure of even how to turn the machine on, but eventually, either through button mashing or patience, the machine would begin to vigorously vibrate. The movement would rattle the brain of the user and cause, what Julia Cristofano ’14 described as a “small earthquake.”
The technology was developed in the Soviet space program as a way to preserve bone density and muscle mass in astronauts. First marketed to the masses in the 1990s, the Power Plate’s popularity spread throughout Europe and has casually made its way across the pond in recent years. According to the company’s website, the Power Plate machines use the “principles of Acceleration Training to stimulate the body’s natural response to vibration. These vibrations transmit waves of energy throughout the body, activating muscle contractions between 25 and 50 times per second, enhancing overall performance in sessions.”
The vibrations are considered a relatively low-impact way to effectively and completely excite muscles during short sessions; therefore the plate is often used in physical therapy to achieve more with less overall physical effort and time.
Jamie Balkin ’16 and her family were instrumental in brining the Power Plate to campus: “During my summer internship I asked the President of the company, a close friend of ours, if he would be willing to donate two of the older models to help strengthen our Athletic Center and program.” Balkin, who plays on the Women’s Volleyball team, believes the plate has been well-received and has been working with the College’s fitness staff and coaches to try to incorporate the Power Plate into regular workouts. However, she is frustrated that although the College owns two plates, only one is currently out for student use, a move she considers “a complete waste.” Still, Balkin remains optimistic: “I think [the Power Plate] is an incredible piece of technology that, if used correctly, can help improve the sports teams here at Conn.”
This dated yet seemingly advanced technology in our collective possession, which celebrities like Madonna and Donatella Versace swear by, is considered a great supplement to a regular workout routine. Many upscale gyms offer classes and training sessions with the Power Plate where clients use the machines for up to 30 minutes. While Conn does not offer such programs (yet) the Power Plate website offers a wealth of knowledge where beautiful people with vibrating buttocks jump back and forth between two plates. Check it out, and find the right exercise for you. Meanwhile this writer will continue to do his static squats at 40 vibrations per second.
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