Power Balance silicon wristbands

The bracelet is classic with two magnetic balls, but the "late late" is the Power Balance of silicone. It comprises two holograms. It can be any color. Much of the peloton of the Tour de France has increased. The football team of the Netherlands was also fitted, but not yet the Spanish conquerors of the World. The story does not say whether the team was in France...

But what interest us are the pseudo-scientific arguments that accompany the marketing of the product.

What are these magic bracelets?
The manufacturer explains: "Power Balance is a new technology that works primarily with natural energy field of the human body. The welfare of an individual is directly related to a natural flow of energy in his body. In China, this principle is known for two thousand years and it is from this philosophy as Power Balance was developed. These products contain holograms, printed on a Mylar film, which are intended to come into harmony with the energies from the human body ... Holograms are made in the U.S. and treated with natural frequency in a selected specific range. "

The use of Chinese traditions suggests that the billions of Chinese who care for two thousand years on this principle can not all be wrong and it can be seen here as unquestioned truth, especially because of his seniority, while nothing has ever been scientifically proven.

We were also intrigued by the vagueness of this explanation of the holograms. So we dug a bit and on the Belgian site of the manufacturer we discovered this: "These are electromagnetic frequencies that interact favorably with the human body. We cannot reveal what frequencies are used to protect the trade secret of our holograms. The best known is certainly the "resonating Schumann Frequency (SRF) which is a 7.8 hertz frequency of the ideal human body ... All we have holograms are large enough to store the necessary frequencies"

According to the videos American Power Balance bracelet bring more balance to the sport, strength and flexibility. More generally, the expected effects are "strength and balance," "strength and endurance," "relieving stress and tension," "greater flexibility", "better range of motion", "best recovery time."

Seniors to use their well being and to improve their balance. Others cons seasick, and some women during pregnancy...

But probably mostly for legal reasons, the manufacturer says: "We greatly emphasize the fact that the Power Balance products are not medical devices and can in no way be assimilated or used as diagnostic products, cure, treatment or alternatives to certain drugs, and if he can add that they have no side effects, it is probably that they have, by their composition, no effect at all.

The competing site EFX is even more detailed and wants more "scientific": "Patches of energetic EFX are charged with electricity with frequency and pulse plasma. Results are achieved on an energetic level. When placed on or near the body, patches of strong EFX are in resonance with the cells at the quantum level, leading to these cells [sic] an electromagnetic charge that holds them together or apart. Energy is produced by biological systems, electrical and chemical in the body. When these systems are balanced, they work more efficiently, and thus the entire body works better. You feel more comfortable and less stressed. "

The Language of Science (hologram, energy, frequency, quantum plasma) used without any meaning or coherence, is there to impress the potential buyer (see our article: "Gibberish Scientific bracelets without effect"). The reference to the Chinese philosophy on smooth flow of energy refers to other paranormal practices, such as acupuncture. No identifiable and measurable phenomenon not confirms them.

What benefits do magic bracelets?
Hubert Long, team doctor BBOX of the Tour de France 2010, said: "As a team we had a rider who had many problems in raids. He had a poor stability on the bike and with the bracelet, it was much improved. "

But the side runners, some skepticism is emerging: "Frankly, I do not feel any difference," says Stéphane Augé (Cofidis). I just put it because a friend gave it to me before the Tour. "Amaël Moinard (Cofidis):" I looked at the Criterium du Dauphine and I fell twice. So, I gave it to my wife ... "

According EFX and Power Balance, if you buy a bracelet "that does not work" is that it may be a forgery. But the manufacturer on the Belgian site takes another caution: "Do not look for formal proofs, as only empirical data exist. The lack of guarantee of results is there to protect the manufacturer.

Placebo effect?
The testimony, however, are numerous forums to say the profit which bring these bracelets, here are a few:
For my part, I used it mainly for sport but now I use it all the time. Here are some effects I have noticed in me less tired when I work at night! The coffee dose is reduced or no and I'm rolling all the time.
When I surf, I'm much more enduring, much more toned on my board. I do not become either a Prosurf, far away, but I'm much more comfortable and I take more pleasure during my sessions.
When I kitesurfing, I fall a lot less often, I catch up more easily on receptions quite off ...
I drag an old joint injury at the dowel and model I often suffer after sport! The bracelet somewhat limits the pain and helps me recover faster!
In everyday life, I feel more energetic, more motivated and better rested!

I am increasingly troubled that he must admit that something is happening. Less nervous driving in traffic is one of the first sensations I've noticed.
My erections are longer and harder with this bracelet! ! !

Another witness, one more surprising or crazy ... crazy ... crazy ... (or irony): Results also surprised. Now my AC 2 coins are accepted every time by the coffee machine and sometimes it makes me more money than expected!

Sometimes skeptics:
After retrying ... bof bof.
Conclusion: Placebo
Do not work for the math looks like ...
For my part, I asked myself the same question so I did the tests in reverse without warning the person of the expected effects ... And it works too! ! !

While the placebo effect? The psychological effect is probably decisive, and perhaps the "confirmation bias" that makes us remember that confirms a belief and ignore the rest ...

The action of the Australian Skeptics
At the request of the Australian television channel, TV Channel 7, Today Tonight on his show, Richard Saunders, vice president of the Australian Skeptics Society, studied and tested the assertions of Power Balance in agreement with Tom O'Dowd The Australian distributor of Power Balance. This test involved placing the bag in six subjects of objects believed to contain the hologram Balance of Power (bracelets, credit cards and pendants). Only one topic was actually the object containing the hologram. The subjects were unaware of the nature of the object that was given to them, and Tom O'Dowd. The latter, after practicing the tests of strength and balance on the six subjects had to indicate who was the holder of the hologram. He failed five times in five tests.

On its website, one of the suppliers invited to do it yourself test the effectiveness of the bracelet. Surprising results we says it, allow "[experience] an immediate significant increase in strength and balance. It is precisely this type of test that the Australian Skeptics have implemented, but sometimes using a wrist, sometimes a placebo bracelet ", ie any other object. The subjects were unaware of the nature of the object that was given to them.
Australian Skeptics argue that the experimenter believes observe an effect of the hologram on a topic. According to them, it is the ideo-motor effect in the classical subject and experimenter influence each other unconscious. Richard Saunders has also demonstrated that we could get the same effect using the pen of the Australian Skeptics, which costs one dollar and that does nothing! A complaint was filed in June 2010 from the Therapeutic Goods Administration by the Australian researcher, Dr Ken Harvey from La Trobe University in Australia. It states in its complaint that the band containing the hologram, sold between $ 60 and $ 65, has not been registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration, while effects are highlighted by the manufacturer. It adds no clinical studies, no peer review have been published and were replaced on the website by celebrity testimonials.

The site of the Australian Skeptics suggested the site for its price Power Balance the "2009 Millennium Awards. "Judges have tried a few bracelets and they agreed unanimously that they had some way of increasing the strength of their laughter. "Finally the conclusion is revealing:" The only thing that keeps this site to be a candidate at the price of the Anus Maximus is the only damage done to victims is financial and that $ 60 is not a lot of money. The extract to people without offering anything in return as delivery is bad, but most people do not die because someone took their money. "

The manufacturers' claims are not supported by any evidence, no scientific study. It is unclear what mechanism might be biologically or physically at work, manufacturers are trying to prove the seriousness of their product by developing a scientific-like gibberish. The history of these bracelets has nothing to do with science, it is only an incredible marketing success!