Power Plates

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Slass

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Power Plates

Has anybody tried out Power Plates?

My gym recently got some and I have only just started using them. So far I think they are good and there is some theory behind the concept. However I am still a little unsure if it is just a fad. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will be able to asses any bennefits (or lack of!). However was just wondering what others thoughts on them were, if you have used them or not?
 
Re: Power Plates

There is no doubt that power plates have a place in rehabilitation, training the obese and very much so in falls prevention work with the elderly. It also helps to address the cellulite issue.

As for general fitness, this depends on your fitness levels, the type of exercise, protocol and the frequency [that’s hertz not how often ;) ]
 
Re: Power Plates

Cheers Liz.

I am hoping by using the Power Plate I will improve my core and stability. I had an ACL reconstruction back in 2004 and ever since then I have never really recovered properly. Also lately I am finding doing loaded weight exercises (esp open chain) aggrevates my knee (unfortunatly my left knee, also my landing leg while bowling). So I hope that this form of training will help to stabalize my knee.

During the winter I am aiming to undertake a course of plyometrics as prescribed by Mike Boyle in his book Functional Training for Sports: Superior Conditioning for Today's Athlete.

If anyone has any other training tips please let me know.
 
Re: Power Plates

I have heard a lot of good reports from their use in ACL rehabilitation, especially in proprioceptive function.

When you say you have not really recovered fully, do you mean in stability or strength.. or both? Do you still experience any pain/ache?

I have to say, it would not be my favoured method for the core but it may be your best starting point. You really do need to get the knee back to normal function before you consider any significant weight.

Plyometrics will be great but make sure your knee is capable before starting lower body exercises. However, do go for the upper body exercises as soon as possible.
 
Re: Power Plates

Mainly strength but also stability. I noticably still do not have the same muscle bulk as my right leg in both upper and lower leg. I do still get pain but mainly after exercise. Like I said I have stopped any big weights. I was upto 120kg on the leg press but it seemed to agrivate it. Also bowling aggrevates it, as a 'fast' bowler I run in fast and land hard. However since my injury I cant refind the pace or action I once had. I think my body won't let me put it through as much stress as I used to, and I also think it might be psychological.

Currently I am doing BW squats. I got upto 4x30 two leg squats and moved onto one leg squats, currently at 3x10 and will aim to be upto 4x30 within 3-4 weeks, I will then add small weights (2.5kg dumbells)
 
Re: Power Plates

It is not unusual that the muscle bulk on the reconstructed leg is less than the other side.

Your problem with the leg press may be technique due to proprioception issues. It may be worth grabbing a PT at your gym and get them to check.

Pace bowling does have a habit of hammering the knees :D The plyometric exercises will help as long as you use a progressive programme; eccentric as well as concentric.

It does sound as if there is a little bit of a psychological cycle going on here with your pace. A good coach should be able to sort this issue out for you; there are strategies that can be instigated to work around your injury.

You must remember that your leg now works differently; the muscles have different jobs to do and with all new jobs, there is always a learning curve ;)
 
Re: Power Plates

Cheers.

I have posted a video. Do you think my injury is affecting my action?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7swhqRm2t7s"]YouTube - Bowling[/ame]
 
Re: Power Plates

You have a lovely action Slass; a great base to work from. I have a couple of guys waiting for me at the moment but will get back to you this afternoon.

You should have no problem getting back some of that pace :D

Added 5 hour(s), 56 minute(s) and 13 second(s) later...

I could watch your action all day Slass; there is so much here I like.

There does, though, appear to be a certain amount of instability in your left knee but to be totally honest with you, there is no way I can assess whether this is due to physical or psychological issues without seeing you. This instability is affecting your pace so we need to get to the bottom of it.

You have a lovely ‘lag’ effect with the upper body but you need to increase the linear speed at the hip region so you need a faster step action. A longer stride will help you too. Both these are inhibited by your knee ‘issue’.

I assume you were given the 'all clear' by the consultant after the reconstruction and that you are not aware of any physical reason why there should be this amount of instability. Of course, I would be surprised if you had gained total pre-injury stability.

How flexible are your Hamstrings?
Is there a noticeable difference between the left and right?

If I was your coach, I would tape your knee for a session to see if this makes a difference. Of course, taping the knee would address both issues; if the knee needs more physical stability, it would provide it and if it was psychological, the extra stability would perhaps relax you, allowing you to trust it more… but it’s a start.

There are other areas to look at for pace but as you are a good ‘side-on-2’ bowler, I would like to see if we can progress in this area first.
 
Re: Power Plates

I'm glad you like it Liz. At least I know it's not all in vain.

My thoughts with my action were; I lean back just before take off reducing forward momentum, my flight/bound is almost nonexistent, my delivery stride is short (I also land about a foot short of the popping crease), my left arm has a sideways flick when going up adding lateral forces and my bowling arm is a bit low (due to left side collapsing) apart from that its pretty good!

Do you know of any stability assesments I could do to quantify the stability of my legs?

I was given the all clear by the surgeon so he was happy for me to start playing sport again, I also gave it almost 18 months between my op to me bowling again. (summer 05 was not a happy summer:()

My hammies are terrible. I can't notice any difference between right and left as they are as bad as each other.

I was strapping my knee at the beggining of the season and only recently been bowling with out. The strapping technique i used was anchors above and below the knee and straps from above knee lateraly behind the knee to below knee medial. And visa versa two of each. Is this what you were thinking of or do you know if any better?

Unfortunatly I am the clubs coach but am finding it hard to asses myself and also this seems to be a bit beyond my knowledge.

Cheers for the help.
 
Re: Power Plates

I believe all coaches should have coaches.. I have several ;)

In the videos you posted, you do not lean back over excessively. You just need to maximise this action by tilting your hips forward. When you lean back, the rectus abdominus and obliques contract eccentrically, this is quickly followed by the concentric contraction as you move forward; its a plyometric movement that you need to harness with your hips.

I agree you do need to increase your stride; I put this, along with the jump, down to your injury. Is this right or has this always been the case?

I did not notice too much of a sideways flick with the non bowling arm [this may be the quality of the video] but you do cut short its action rather abruptly. I would like to see your non bowling hand reaching for the sky at the end of the movement; your arm perpendicular to the ground.

As for stability assessment, I'm afraid I use sight and touch. Is there any chance of you seeing a sports therapist?

I am really pleased that you do not notice much of difference between your left and right hams; sounds like recovery is good. However, you do need to work on them. Their lack of flexibility is holding you back.

The strapping you describe is exactly what I would use. Do you notice any difference bowling without it?
 
Re: Power Plates

Cheers Liz.

I will try a few things out tonight at coaching, and again over ther weekend. Will report back on Monday.

I could see a Sports Therapist. Could you recommend any in the Sheffield or Coventry areas? However I am going back to Uni in Sept to become a PE Teacher at Uni of Birmingham. I think they have Sports Therapist clinics that are subsadised for students so might wait till then.
 
Re: Power Plates

those powerplates look sooo coooooooooooooooooooooooool ur lucky that u have them availible i herd they are very expensive
 
Re: Power Plates

If you are not in any pain or discomfort, I would wait until you get to Uni. Not only do they have subsidised sessions, you may get yourself on to a research programme.

How did things go at the weekend? Or were you rained out :(
 
Re: Power Plates

Not rained out as such, but was abandoned with 10 overs remaining needing 2 wickets to win. Was frustrating!

Me personally, strapped my knee, tried to stay taller in my action and make more use of my non bowling arm. A few good balls came out good but in general a bit indifferent. But that is expected when trying new things. The balls I did get right though felt good so I need to turn that into my stock! However one guy did comment on how I was still collapsing.
 
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