CrazyFit or just plain crazy?
March 16, 2009 4:46 PM Subscribe
My gym just got a CrazyFit machine. What does it do, other than make me seasick?
It's a vibrating plate that you stand on, or do other exercises on, according to the two sheets taped on the wall. It looks like a fancier version of those cheap "foot massage" chairs that are in amusement parks -- you know, put in a quarter, it starts shaking, your feet feel better only because you can no longer feel them...
I tried it out today on the automatic workout, where it starts off on the gentlest setting, and then incrementally gets faster and faster. And aside from feeling queasy (I think I was trying to counter the tilting of the board and failing at keeping a rhythm), it seemed to do...nothing.
When I use the rowing machine, or the cycle, or any of the weights, I feel it working. But this...this just kinda made my legs feel less tired and that was it.
So does it work? Is it just more gadgety bollocks? Firsthand accounts? Am I doing it wrong?
It's a vibrating plate that you stand on, or do other exercises on, according to the two sheets taped on the wall. It looks like a fancier version of those cheap "foot massage" chairs that are in amusement parks -- you know, put in a quarter, it starts shaking, your feet feel better only because you can no longer feel them...
I tried it out today on the automatic workout, where it starts off on the gentlest setting, and then incrementally gets faster and faster. And aside from feeling queasy (I think I was trying to counter the tilting of the board and failing at keeping a rhythm), it seemed to do...nothing.
When I use the rowing machine, or the cycle, or any of the weights, I feel it working. But this...this just kinda made my legs feel less tired and that was it.
So does it work? Is it just more gadgety bollocks? Firsthand accounts? Am I doing it wrong?
"What does it do, other than make me seasick?"
It makes a lot of money for the guy who invented it. You should change gyms.
posted by tiburon at 6:37 PM on March 16, 2009
It makes a lot of money for the guy who invented it. You should change gyms.
posted by tiburon at 6:37 PM on March 16, 2009
They seem to be a waste of time for say improving performance over traditional training. A few years back the Dutch researcher who did a lot of the original research on vibration training came out and admitted he falsified a good deal of his research.
None of the serious athletic strength coaches endorse them in their routine, so they're probably best avoided.
posted by zentrification at 9:06 PM on March 16, 2009
None of the serious athletic strength coaches endorse them in their routine, so they're probably best avoided.
posted by zentrification at 9:06 PM on March 16, 2009
This is one of the products that has spawned out of "Core Training" craze. It is generally found at more upscale gyms and Athlete/Core Training gyms. I can't speak about it's effectiveness as I haven't had the chance to use one, but I actually would like to.
One aspect of training your core is to use an unstable base. This is one reason you see a lot of movements used with the Swiss Ball (big blue beach ball looking thing). Actually the Swiss Ball is overused and incorrectly used for this type of training all the time. Note: Do not try to stand/jump on or from a Swiss Ball no matter how good of balance you have! Other unstable platforms include foam, air cushions, etc..
If this does make you sick to use, don't use it. Why put yourself through that?
But if you do want to try some nifty things on it. Try standing on it one legged. Do push-ups on it, with your feet and then your hands planted on it. Try different variations of exercises on it (keep safety first though). Mix it up.
posted by P.o.B. at 9:18 PM on March 16, 2009
One aspect of training your core is to use an unstable base. This is one reason you see a lot of movements used with the Swiss Ball (big blue beach ball looking thing). Actually the Swiss Ball is overused and incorrectly used for this type of training all the time. Note: Do not try to stand/jump on or from a Swiss Ball no matter how good of balance you have! Other unstable platforms include foam, air cushions, etc..
If this does make you sick to use, don't use it. Why put yourself through that?
But if you do want to try some nifty things on it. Try standing on it one legged. Do push-ups on it, with your feet and then your hands planted on it. Try different variations of exercises on it (keep safety first though). Mix it up.
posted by P.o.B. at 9:18 PM on March 16, 2009
When I saw CrazyFit I thought of the machine that Carl was hooked into through the duration of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie for theaters.
posted by ijoyner at 8:01 AM on March 17, 2009
posted by ijoyner at 8:01 AM on March 17, 2009
It's bullshit.
If you want to develop balance and core strength together do overhead squats.
posted by Anonymous at 10:42 AM on March 17, 2009
If you want to develop balance and core strength together do overhead squats.
posted by Anonymous at 10:42 AM on March 17, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by GuyZero at 4:49 PM on March 16, 2009 [1 favorite]