Power Balance bracelets - the new phenomenom

[aceman]

Below is an excerpt from the internet from July 2007, having worn one of these for the last 6 weeks, I have to say that they have given me extra energy and a renewed feeling of wellbeing.
They have sold thousands in the time since they were released in Australia.

www.powerbalance.net

A bracelet that restores balance?
July 13, 2007 2:06 PM Subscribe
How in the world did this magical bracelet work?


This kind of snake-oil salesman just came into my shop to pimp out his product, which is some version of an ionized bracelet. The only thing he claimed it could do is help me balance. Obviosuly I was hugely skeptical, so he put me through two tests.

Test one, stand on one foot, hands outstrectched and empty. As soon as he exerted a little bit of pressure on one hand I couldn't help but tip that way. Then repeating the test holding the bracelet, he could not knock me off balance. I was keenly conscious of the amount of force he exerted, and trying to be aware if he or I did anything differently that could queer the results, but nothing like that was readily apparent.

Test two, feet close together, hands at my sides balled into fists and empty. He pulled down on one fist. I was able to counter at first but eventually he pulled so hard that he knocked me off balance. Then we repeated the test while I was holding the bracelet. This guy was literally hanging off my arm and I was able to keep my balance. Again, like in the first test there was nothing different about the way he conducted it that made me feel it was anything but legitimate.

I was pretty amazed and wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't undergone the tests first hand. He was either unable or unwilling to articulate what the bracelet was about, other than to drop the words "titanium", "shakras", and "quantum physics". I believe he was honestly ignorant about the forces at play. He was a salesman after all.

Does anybody have any clue what this could be about? I am totally willing to be convinced that some sort of physical placebo effect took place. But I'm equally likely to be convinced there's something to the magical bracelet.
posted by vito90 to health & fitness (21 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite

[Psyber]

I'd say it is a load of snake oil and a clever trick.
People are always going to perform better on a test when it is repeated, and it can be manipulated.
Titanium has no magical properties, shakras are a myth, and quantum physics is just a buzz word in this context.
[Oh and etched patterns are not a source of energy or tapping it - or we'd have no pollution problem.]

[Dirko]

I know a couple of blokes who wear them and swear by them.

[Pseudo]

First reaction is to simply say "placebo effect" and leave it at that.

However there may be something else at play. Can the effects of the experiment be repeated by holding some arbitrary object in the hand, rather than one of these "power bracelets"? I suspect that the act of holding an object in the hand might well impede the ability to fully tense the arm. A tensed arm is actually less resistant to external force than a relaxed arm. This little factoid is exploited by certain martial arts; the old "unbendable arm" makes for a neat party trick.

Nevertheless the story sounds a bit iffy to me. I claim shenanigans.

[aceman]

I'd say it is a load of snake oil and a clever trick.
People are always going to perform better on a test when it is repeated, and it can be manipulated.
Titanium has no magical properties, shakras are a myth, and quantum physics is just a buzz word in this context.
[Oh and etched patterns are not a source of energy or tapping it - or we'd have no pollution problem.]

Well someone is making a sh^tload of money selling these things to the uneducated throng that are purchasing them.
How do you explain my changed feeling of 'addtional energy & wellbeing?"

[aceman]

I know a couple of blokes who wear them and swear by them.

And me too, plenty of them. I saw Peter Ormsby sell 6 to one guy on Saturday at Golf, not bad @ $59.95 each.

The brief states; Power Balance is a hologram embedded with frequencies that react with your body's electro-magnetic field.
This technology optimizes your your energy field, creates a harmonic loop that maximizes energy distribution.

[Interceptor]

I know a couple of blokes who wear them and swear by them.

The brief states; Power Balance is a hologram embedded with frequencies that react with your body's electro-magnetic field.
This technology optimizes your your energy field, creates a harmonic loop that maximizes energy distribution.

Haha, that's just New Age nonsense. I give it some credit for creativity at least

If you really feel better wearing it, then great, but as Pseudo suggests it's probably all in your mind or more mundane physical effect.

[tipper]

Do you have an energy polarizer fitted to your car too??

[aceman]

Do you have an energy polarizer fitted to your car too??

Is that something exclusive to the Peake & Districts Council zone?
Sceptics, don't you love them!

A scientific (or empirical) skeptic is one who questions the reliability of certain kinds of claims by subjecting them to a systematic investigation.[6] The scientific method details the specific process by which this investigation of reality is conducted. Considering the rigor of the scientific method, science itself may simply be thought of as an organized form of skepticism. This does not mean that the scientific skeptic is necessarily a scientist who conducts live experiments (though this may be the case), but that the skeptic generally accepts claims that are in his/her view likely to be true based on testable hypotheses and critical thinking.

[Booney]

The brief states; Power Balance is a hologram embedded with frequencies that react with your body's electro-magnetic field.
This technology optimizes your your energy field, creates a harmonic loop that maximizes energy distribution.

*cough* bulltish

[aceman]

The brief states; Power Balance is a hologram embedded with frequencies that react with your body's electro-magnetic field.
This technology optimizes your your energy field, creates a harmonic loop that maximizes energy distribution.

*cough* bulltish

Might be good fundraiser for the Magpies, could sell enough to get you out of the sh*t, albeit temporarily Booney.

[Booney]

We cant make money on tangible items, let alone "harmonic loops" ....

[tipper]

Do you have an energy polarizer fitted to your car too??

Is that something exclusive to the Peake & Districts Council zone?
Sceptics, don't you love them!

A scientific (or empirical) skeptic is one who questions the reliability of certain kinds of claims by subjecting them to a systematic investigation.[6] The scientific method details the specific process by which this investigation of reality is conducted. Considering the rigor of the scientific method, science itself may simply be thought of as an organized form of skepticism. This does not mean that the scientific skeptic is necessarily a scientist who conducts live experiments (though this may be the case), but that the skeptic generally accepts claims that are in his/her view likely to be true based on testable hypotheses and critical thinking.

Sorry mate, i should have put a smilie at the end, i was just stirring. but i suppose i am a bit of a sceptic, i am not ruling out that it works, and i am curious, but sceptical.

and it shouldnt be anything to do with peake either, i was born in pt pirie(insert lead joke here) but lived most of my life in the northern suburbs(para vista, paralowie and para hills, hang on, there is a pattern there.....) it is the missus that gave me the connection to the mighty lions!!

[aceman]

Do you have an energy polarizer fitted to your car too??

Is that something exclusive to the Peake & Districts Council zone?
Sceptics, don't you love them!

A scientific (or empirical) skeptic is one who questions the reliability of certain kinds of claims by subjecting them to a systematic investigation.[6] The scientific method details the specific process by which this investigation of reality is conducted. Considering the rigor of the scientific method, science itself may simply be thought of as an organized form of skepticism. This does not mean that the scientific skeptic is necessarily a scientist who conducts live experiments (though this may be the case), but that the skeptic generally accepts claims that are in his/her view likely to be true based on testable hypotheses and critical thinking.

Sorry mate, i should have put a smilie at the end, i was just stirring. but i suppose i am a bit of a sceptic, i am not ruling out that it works, and i am curious, but sceptical.

and it shouldnt be anything to do with peake either, i was born in pt pirie(insert lead joke here) but lived most of my life in the northern suburbs(para vista, paralowie and para hills, hang on, there is a pattern there.....) it is the missus that gave me the connection to the mighty lions!!

I didn't believe it either.............but I do now!
And I've lived in Para Vista & Para Hills and had a few beers in the Peake pub, we could be related

[tipper]

and we both support north, hang on, are you my shadow??

[mypaddock]

Take a look at St Kilda- basically their whole team wears them!
I never thought one team could surely have had so many wrist injuries!

[JAS]

I'd say it's a placebo effect too. They've already proved that those magnetic bracelets don't work so I reckon this is a similar thing.

Regards
JAS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8310792.stm
(link to full article)

Bracelets 'useless' in arthritis

Copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps are useless for relieving pain in people with arthritis, say University of York researchers.

In the first tightly controlled trial to look at both alternative therapies, there was no benefit to their use for pain or stiffness.

All 45 patients tested a copper bracelet, two different magnetic wrist straps, and a demagnetised version.

An arthritis charity said people should not waste their money on the therapies.

[Pseudo]

I'd say it's a placebo effect too. They've already proved that those magnetic bracelets don't work so I reckon this is a similar thing.
...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8310792.stm
(link to full article)

Bracelets 'useless' in arthritis

Copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps are useless for relieving pain in people with arthritis, say University of York researchers.

My grandmother swore by the copper bracelet for relief from arthritic pain. There ain't nothing like a good ol' fashioned placebo!

[Farmy]

Yeah I'd say you think you feel better because you want to fill better, simply really.

[aceman]

Anyone see the story on TT this evening???