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Vibration training: Shake it up
Do you have a vibration plate lying idle in the corner of your club? Kath Hudson talks to the manufacturers about how to make the most of this asset
Matthew Pengelly,
Senior VP, performance health systems,
Power Plate
Most people don’t realise that just three vibration training sessions a week can not only help improve fitness, muscle tone, strength and flexibility, but can also be used to improve bone density, circulation and cardiovascular function.
At many clubs, high staff turnover means trainers are not adequately trained in vibration training and are therefore unable to pass on the many benefits to end-users. We suggest that clubs invest in ongoing training, as well as specialist courses – such as the Power Plate Post Natal Course – which can gear clubs up to attract new types of member.
Those who have never used vibration training before may feel reluctant to use the equipment. Including vibration training in the gym induction will help combat this, as well as offering instructor-led classes that provide members with inspiration on how to correctly use the equipment themselves. Our latest model, the pro7, is also the first commercially available Power Plate to offer integrated video coaching. It comes with over 1,000 exercise videos and 250 progressive full-body workouts, so users will always find new exercises regardless of their goals.
Varying the programmes on offer – including sports specific offerings – is also a good way to get members excited about vibration training. We also offer a wide range of marketing materials that clubs can use to inspire members.
Virgin Active is one chain that does vibration training well, as it invests in continuous education and training. We train Virgin Active master trainers so they can deliver internal training. The operator builds vibration training into PT sessions and offers instructor-led classes two or three times a day, all of which gives end-users greater confidence in using the machines.
Graham Taylor,
MD,
VibroGym UK
The effects of vibration training are considerable and proven, if done properly. It’s not conjecture – it’s science. We’re currently working on clinical research, in conjunction with a university in Holland, that will provide irrefutable evidence of the benefits of vibration training.
Unfortunately, vibration training is misunderstood. Men are generally allowed to think it isn’t for them, and lots of gym users don’t know how to use the platforms. In my opinion, it all comes down to the education of the instructors. We run a one-day course aimed at instructors who are working with regular gym users; they can progress to further courses for other user groups. We try to foster an understanding of the science. At the end of the day, they have to complete a paper to show they have absorbed the information and have the necessary skills to teach the programme.
Marketing vibration training to non-gym goers is an avenue that hasn’t been explored to its full potential. Vibration training memberships could be sold, for example: clubs could charge £5 a session for a group workout with trained instructors, using three machines and with six participants – three working and three resting. If three or four of those classes were run each day, it would soon pay off the cost of the machines.
Monika Akabusi,
Director,
Powrx
Vibration training adds another dimension and stimulus to physical training. Like functional training, it requires constant new muscular adaptations, which ultimately leads to better training results as well as offering variety to the gym member.
To gain the maximum use out of vibration training, clubs must ensure fitness coaches and trainers are adequately trained to teach it, and that they are enthusiastic about its benefits.
Clubs also need to find interesting ways of integrating the platforms into members’ exercise routines – for example, offering vibration training as part of a group exercise circuit class. The placement of the vibration plate in a gym setting needs to be thought through too: they make a fantastic addition to the free weight or functional training areas.
The David Lloyd Club in Milton Keynes, UK, has five vibration plates in its functional training area, with plenty of space around each plate for free and safe movement on and off the plate. All personal trainers are trained to teach vibration training and every new member has the opportunity to sign up for a free introductory session, giving them a basic understanding of how to get the best out of a vibration plate. The club also offers small group sessions on a weekly basis.
There are a number of exciting developments in the pipeline at the moment, and we will soon see resistance machines with built-in vibration technology. This is likely bring vibration training even further into the mainstream.
Kevin Barclay-Webb,
CEO,
True Vibrations
Vibration training platforms are often wrongly perceived – as the lazy person’s exercise machine, for example.
Another problem is the lack of buy-in from trainers, who don’t understand how to properly use vibration training. To get trainers enthusiastic about vibration training, there needs to be better education, both on how to use it and on its benefits. To this end, we run a one-day REPs-accredited Level 1 and 2 training course. We will also be offering free seminars on how to use a vibration plate in a safe and effective way, and
how to market your services to maximise your investment.
Used well, a vibration plate can give trainers a USP, can complement other training methods to help clients reach their targets, and can help attract new markets. Most clubs only aim vibration training at existing clientele, whereas they should also be marketing it to people in wheelchairs and MS sufferers, or as an elite training tool.
We’ve worked with a number of clubs, including Cadbury House in Bristol, that have marketed vibration training as a USP and gained members as a result. It also runs multiple group sessions each week, which are always fully booked.
