The nonsense that is Power Balance
According to this article, a number of athletes are now wearing something called the Power Balance bracelet incorporating two holograms which users believe enhances their performance.
So what is Power Balance? According to the vendor’s web site: “Power Balance is Performance Technology designed to work with your body’s natural energy field. Founded by athletes, Power Balance is a favorite among elite athletes for whom balance, strength and flexibility are important.”
And how exactly does the hologram work? The web site claims: “Power Balance is based on the idea of optimizing the body’s natural energy flow, similar to concepts behind many Eastern philosophies. The hologram in Power Balance is designed to resonate with and respond to the natural energy field of the body.”
Of course, ‘energy’ is a tricky concept that, in this context, is almost meaningless. There is no proven scientific benefit to the Power Balance and almost certainly any perceived benefit is simply the placebo effect.
On my own web site, I have examined why people believe weird things.
September 15th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
STOP HOLOGRAM SCAM!
Why? Because the potential scam about holograms in bracelets, wristbands of chains, should now FINALLY come to an END!
Support us, visit http://www.stophologramscam.com/en/
October 11th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Hi Roger,
Before blogging about PB being nonsense, did you bother to test it yourself in any way?
My usual experience with skeptics is that they are quick to criticise new concepts, but lack the integrity to try out the new device before they wax lyrical on it…
October 11th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
No, Mark, I didn’t.
It wouldn’t work for me because I don’t believe in it.
If it did somehow ‘work’ for me, that would not prove anything. There could be several explanations.
To demonstrate that Power Balance really works, one would need to conduct a large-scale double blind trial in which half of the sample wore a real PB device and half wore a pretend one but neither the wearers nor the testers knew which was which.
Are you aware of any such trial?
Roger
October 12th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
I was very dubious when I first bought one, especially as it was from eBay and the spelling was even wrong! I got rid of that and bought a Power Balance wristband from Performance Bands. I have to say that I don’t care if it’s a placebo (as some are calling it) or not. Even if I have tricked my mind into performing better, I actually do. I’d recommend people try before judging.
January 7th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
It won us the Ashes. Or not. Maybe it was my lucky pants (now on sale for £50).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12135402
January 7th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
If we won the Ashes with Power Balance, Philip, is that fair? Doesn’t sound like cricket to me.
April 23rd, 2011 at 10:04 am
Try one for a week and go bowling.Try it again after a week or two.Compare your delivery accuracy before and after. If your body is not balance you will not even come close.Believe me. If it does not work for you, you can give or sell it away.
Not accurately perfect yet but my delivery speed and pendulum swing increase like never before in my self test.
Go judge it yourself. ….Me-Biggest skeptic that don’t believe.Why this PB thing works for me…i really don’t know..Placebo or not..I will keep it a little longer.
July 25th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Roger,
I was once you, about the Power Balance Technology Band, and regret it.
I was given my first PB band, because I was so skeptical, of them.
I wore it to show people the thing doesn’t work.
Well, 3 months later, I’m still waiting; BUT, I sleep/rest better at night; more alert on duty; recover, faster, from working out and just feel better, over all.
Get yourself one, Roger, and relax!
-BD
July 25th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Well, Bull Dog, it’s called the placebo effect.