Alright, so I'm pretty sure we've all heard of these "Power Balance Bracelets" that are somewhat magic to most people when they see how they actually work. But I don't think we've ever stopped and thought about how they actually work..or if they even do..
For anyone who has never heard of this, the power bracelet is a rubber bracelet with assorted colors with two metal holograms on opposite sides. They say that these holograms apperantly interact with your body frequency and increase your balance, agility, and strength.
Do the Power Balance bracelets actually work?
Answer: NO. Well then why do people have such strong beliefs that this piece of rubber can actually improve your performance? The Placebo Effect. Which is the "measurable, observable, or felt improvement in health or behavior not attributable to a medication or invasive treatment that has been administered". 
Basically this means that if you are given something that is fake and you were told it was real, you'll actually believe its working when it has really never done anything to you the entire time, which is exactly what these bracelets are doing. WatchForMoreInfo!
Basically this means that if you are given something that is fake and you were told it was real, you'll actually believe its working when it has really never done anything to you the entire time, which is exactly what these bracelets are doing. WatchForMoreInfo! In the Power Balance bracelet they have a strength test and a flexibility test you can take. In the strength test, you have to stand on one leg and have one arm outward and on to your side. The first trial, you don't wear the bracelet and most of the time you will fall. Then once you put the bracelet on you repeat the test you will probably stay stable. In the flexibility test, you have to stretch and reach as far as you can. You do the same thing in this test as the strength test where you do the two trials with and without the bracelet and just like the strength test, the second trial witht he bracelet on is usually achieved just because most people prove to do better after they completed the task before.
All and all, I feel the Power Balance bracelet is a waste of money and if you ever got one of these bracelets and thought it worked, I hope you're glad that you read my blog and realized that that piece of rubber is the worst thirty dollars you've ever spent.
It can be argued both ways. I always thought it was a scam but many have told me they work.
ReplyDeleteI recall seeing something on Outside the Line and in the beginning they stated that it is not that the power balance bracelets don't work, it was just that their tests were not credible.
ReplyDeleteI honestly can't see the other side of the argument-that they do work. Really, it seems like it is all psychological-the test might be easier the second time because you are expecting the test to your balance or strength or something. It would be nice to see them do a test, but put the power bracelet on in the first trial, then compare it to without the bracelet in the second for a change!
ReplyDeleteYeahhhh Becca, great blog. I completely agree that it has to do with the placebo effect, although I've always wanted one of these bracelets :/
ReplyDeleteAlso, earlier this year the power balance company announced that their no actual "magic" in the bracelet.
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