Quote from Sal Marinello:

my agenda is crystal clear…avoid snake oil – especially in the form of multi-thousand dollar machines for which there is no proof of efficacy, and avoid snake oil salesmen/charlatans who want people to believe that the ONLY way to improve their fitness level is to spend money on an expensive gadget.

He is, of course, talking about Whole Body Vibration Machines. His comment is taken from a series of articles entitled: The Healthy Skeptic.  Sal Marinello is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer (U.S.A.), Weightlifting Coach, Trainer of  trainers, who gives radio talks on ESPN and Fox Sports Radio? Is this the type of generalised warning the public wants from someone whose opinion is respected?  Did he also give this warning on Sports radio?  The warning sounds profound, doesn’t it, and it’s effect has likely been to scare off the very people that Whole Body Vibration helps best – Joe and Jane  Young American couple,  Mrs Overweight Smith,  Mr Torn Knee Cartilage Jones,  Mike (My Body is the Best and Chicks love me) Brown, Johnny (in a wheelchair) White – oh, hold on, that’s all sorts of people!

This warning is from a man who has NEVER used a Sports level (or even a quality home level) Vibration Machine.  His harangues were written before he trialled any machine and when he did, he chose to trial a Soloflex – a gym stepper platform with a tiny $20 motor attached by tape to the underside.  What was he afraid of – that a real sports machine might kick his butt?

Let’s look at what Sal says: There’s some validity to his claim that Vibration Training and Vibration Therapy do not have scientifically proven results.  This is a new industry and studies have been flawed, often being financed by the company benefiting most from a positive outcome rather than an independent study.  There have been good results  but more controlled studies are needed.   Lloyd Shaw, founder of Vibra-Train and spokesperson for the International Vibration Training Regulating Body (IVTRB) responded to Sal Marinello’s claims by saying, “I do not believe Sal is stupid enough to think all platforms perform the same function, as he has tried to imply by putting all research results under the term “WBV”.  It would be of a more logical conclusion that he is doing his best to mislead the public to back up his previous statements”. Those statements include calling people in the Vibration Training Industry “hucksters”, equating Vibration Training with Subway travel and Jackhammer work, and in doing so, saying it can’t possibly work.  It’s my opinion that anyone who can use the Google search engine will find simple explanations of the difference between Vibration Training and Industrial and Travel vibration.

My opinion also is  that Sal has deliberately set out to mislead the public. My question is why?  Surely his Personal Training business isn’t financially threatened by his clients using Vibration Machines to complement and enhance their training?  Sal seems to like Kettle Bells and promotes walking and stretching to people who want to improve fitness, tone up, lose weight. I agree, those activities are beneficial but many people can’t or wont do them.  These  people Vibration Training CAN help, especially those who need a boost to get them started and are maybe too obese to want to walk far.  And, of course, many Sports trained people, like Rugby Players, Wrestlers, Body Sculpters do Vibration Training on a regular basis and testify to the gains they achieve.   Sal Marinello calls this “anecdotal evidence” and so it is but that’s how good news gets out!

And lastly Sal’s concern about the price of Vibration machines and Training; I consider that a compliment especially as each time he complains I get to point out the cost of a Vibra-Train Studio visit is around US$7 (much less than gym fees and personal training!) and yes, good quality machines do cost a lot of money, being made with solid steel and longlife motors, I wouldn’t trust any machine made to lesser specs.