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| What are Power Balance bands? | What are Power Balance bands? |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine | By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine |
| A growing number of celebrities are being spotted with a distinctive silicone band on their wrists. While users claim it can help with balance, critics dismiss it as unscientific hocus pocus. So why would anybody wear a Power Balance band? | A growing number of celebrities are being spotted with a distinctive silicone band on their wrists. While users claim it can help with balance, critics dismiss it as unscientific hocus pocus. So why would anybody wear a Power Balance band? |
| Andrew Strauss is a victorious cricket captain, having starred in a dazzling Ashes series win. | Andrew Strauss is a victorious cricket captain, having starred in a dazzling Ashes series win. |
| The cricket fans might talk about diligent batting, calm captaincy and canny field placings. But what about the £30 rubber band visible on his wrist? | The cricket fans might talk about diligent batting, calm captaincy and canny field placings. But what about the £30 rubber band visible on his wrist? |
| It's a Power Balance bracelet - a silicone band with a hologram. They are an increasingly common sight on the golf course, and away from sport both Robert De Niro and Kate Middleton have been spotted wearing them. | It's a Power Balance bracelet - a silicone band with a hologram. They are an increasingly common sight on the golf course, and away from sport both Robert De Niro and Kate Middleton have been spotted wearing them. |
| But this is a controversial gizmo. | But this is a controversial gizmo. |
| The bracelet's distributors in Australia have just had to apologise and change their marketing and advertising text after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took action. | The bracelet's distributors in Australia have just had to apologise and change their marketing and advertising text after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took action. |
| The commission said that the local distributors had claimed the bands would "improve balance, strength and flexibility". They also criticised the slogan "Performance Technology". | The commission said that the local distributors had claimed the bands would "improve balance, strength and flexibility". They also criticised the slogan "Performance Technology". |
| The distributors admitted no credible scientific basis for the claims, the commission said. | The distributors admitted no credible scientific basis for the claims, the commission said. |
| On the US website of Power Balance it explains the bands thus: "Power Balance is based on the idea of optimising 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." | On the US website of Power Balance it explains the bands thus: "Power Balance is based on the idea of optimising 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." |
| The idea that people have a "natural energy field" might cause a certain flutter of the eyebrow. | The idea that people have a "natural energy field" might cause a certain flutter of the eyebrow. |
| Simon Singh, co-author of Trick or Treatment?: Alternative Medicine on Trial, is not convinced, particularly by the slogan "Performance Technology". | Simon Singh, co-author of Trick or Treatment?: Alternative Medicine on Trial, is not convinced, particularly by the slogan "Performance Technology". |
| "Technology implies science. You look at a Power Balance band and you say 'I don't see the technology, I don't think it's biologically plausible, I don't see research trials, I just see a bit of rubber.'" | "Technology implies science. You look at a Power Balance band and you say 'I don't see the technology, I don't think it's biologically plausible, I don't see research trials, I just see a bit of rubber.'" |
| Power Balance's UK website has endorsements from an array of sporting stars. They quote England batsman Ian Bell as saying: "The Power Balance bracelet supports my active lifestyle facilitating improvement across all areas of my fitness." | Power Balance's UK website has endorsements from an array of sporting stars. They quote England batsman Ian Bell as saying: "The Power Balance bracelet supports my active lifestyle facilitating improvement across all areas of my fitness." |
| In this video, the firm shows athletes doing balance and strength tests without the bands and then performing better with. | In this video, the firm shows athletes doing balance and strength tests without the bands and then performing better with. |
| Proof of effectiveness? Sadly, no. | Proof of effectiveness? Sadly, no. |
| John Porcari, a professor in the department of exercise and sport science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, recently tested 42 student athletes in an experiment. | John Porcari, a professor in the department of exercise and sport science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, recently tested 42 student athletes in an experiment. |
| Balance, flexibility, strength and vertical jump were tested, while the athletes wore either a Power Balance band or a generic rubber band. Both the athletes and the testers did not know which was being worn while the experiment was conducted. | Balance, flexibility, strength and vertical jump were tested, while the athletes wore either a Power Balance band or a generic rubber band. Both the athletes and the testers did not know which was being worn while the experiment was conducted. |
| There was no difference between the bands, but there was a marked improvement in tests which were being done by an athlete for the second time. | There was no difference between the bands, but there was a marked improvement in tests which were being done by an athlete for the second time. |
| This suggests that once people know what is coming, they prepare themselves and perform better in the test. And that's without even considering the possible placebo effect, the idea that the psychological boost of believing in the bands can improve performance. | This suggests that once people know what is coming, they prepare themselves and perform better in the test. And that's without even considering the possible placebo effect, the idea that the psychological boost of believing in the bands can improve performance. |
| David Fletcher, lecturer in sport and performance science at Loughborough University, says the bands could act in the same way as a lucky charm. | David Fletcher, lecturer in sport and performance science at Loughborough University, says the bands could act in the same way as a lucky charm. |
| "Habits, routines and rituals are all part of a lot of elite athletes' preparations. There is a lot of evidence that pre-performance routines can help performance. | "Habits, routines and rituals are all part of a lot of elite athletes' preparations. There is a lot of evidence that pre-performance routines can help performance. |
| "It isn't something I would particularly advocate. I would look at more robust routines rather than wearing lucky underwear or wearing these bands. What happens if you forget your lucky underwear?" | "It isn't something I would particularly advocate. I would look at more robust routines rather than wearing lucky underwear or wearing these bands. What happens if you forget your lucky underwear?" |
| Dylan Evans, a lecturer in behavioural science at Cork University's School of Medicine and author of Placebo: Mind Over Matter in Modern Medicine, hadn't heard of the Power Balance bands until he got one for Christmas from his mum. | Dylan Evans, a lecturer in behavioural science at Cork University's School of Medicine and author of Placebo: Mind Over Matter in Modern Medicine, hadn't heard of the Power Balance bands until he got one for Christmas from his mum. |
| "It took me about two seconds after I had unwrapped it to think this is a placebo. | "It took me about two seconds after I had unwrapped it to think this is a placebo. |
| "I was really impressed by the marketing. They have managed to get away without deceiving anyone in the sense of an overt lie. There are no claims on the packaging itself. | "I was really impressed by the marketing. They have managed to get away without deceiving anyone in the sense of an overt lie. There are no claims on the packaging itself. |
| "They don't make any reference at all to any health outcomes. They leave that as an inference that most people will draw." | "They don't make any reference at all to any health outcomes. They leave that as an inference that most people will draw." |
| Even the £30 cost may help with the psychological effect of a band. | Even the £30 cost may help with the psychological effect of a band. |
| "There is some evidence to show that the more expensive a placebo is, the more of a placebo effect it has," Evans notes. This is why branded drugs can appear to "work" better than generic drugs. | "There is some evidence to show that the more expensive a placebo is, the more of a placebo effect it has," Evans notes. This is why branded drugs can appear to "work" better than generic drugs. |
| "Expectations can enhance performance and become a self-fulfilling prophecy." | "Expectations can enhance performance and become a self-fulfilling prophecy." |
| So if you take the sceptics' view, the bands are a placebo. But is there anything wrong with buying into a placebo? | So if you take the sceptics' view, the bands are a placebo. But is there anything wrong with buying into a placebo? |
| In medicine, the use of placebos is an ethical minefield, and doctors are often fiercely critical of unproven alternative therapies that cause patients to dangerously eschew conventional treatment. | In medicine, the use of placebos is an ethical minefield, and doctors are often fiercely critical of unproven alternative therapies that cause patients to dangerously eschew conventional treatment. |
| But what harm can a rubber band do that is only linked to sporting performance? | But what harm can a rubber band do that is only linked to sporting performance? |
| "They are selling at £30 a pop with the clothes of science when it's nothing more than pseudo science," says Singh. "Somebody is losing £30 and their golf swing is not going to be made better by magnetic forces or balancing your energy." | "They are selling at £30 a pop with the clothes of science when it's nothing more than pseudo science," says Singh. "Somebody is losing £30 and their golf swing is not going to be made better by magnetic forces or balancing your energy." |
| A spokeswoman for Power Balance in the UK emphasised that the company was not claiming there was any scientific evidence behind the product. The Australian ruling was purely about local marketing and did not affect the product globally. | A spokeswoman for Power Balance in the UK emphasised that the company was not claiming there was any scientific evidence behind the product. The Australian ruling was purely about local marketing and did not affect the product globally. |
| In a statement the firm said: "From its inception, Power Balance has lived and thrived in the ultimate testing environment, the real world. We continue to see, hear and learn about how people believe our products have positively affected their lives." | In a statement the firm said: "From its inception, Power Balance has lived and thrived in the ultimate testing environment, the real world. We continue to see, hear and learn about how people believe our products have positively affected their lives." |
| And any golfers who think the bands are improving their putting may refuse to be put off by the scientists. | And any golfers who think the bands are improving their putting may refuse to be put off by the scientists. |
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| My father who is over 80 uses one of these bands and swears by it. I don't know if its a plaeco effect or not but he feels it helps him with his strength and balance. Basically if someone thinks it does them some good then why knock it. | My father who is over 80 uses one of these bands and swears by it. I don't know if its a plaeco effect or not but he feels it helps him with his strength and balance. Basically if someone thinks it does them some good then why knock it. |
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| An artefact that acts as a focus to enable a mind over matter approach is nothing new; it's amazing what a person is capable of if they believe it to be so. Dumbo had a magic feather; the trick is to develop the ability and then remove the dependence on the object.The marketing is nothing really new, either; sports drinks have been doing the same thing for years. | An artefact that acts as a focus to enable a mind over matter approach is nothing new; it's amazing what a person is capable of if they believe it to be so. Dumbo had a magic feather; the trick is to develop the ability and then remove the dependence on the object.The marketing is nothing really new, either; sports drinks have been doing the same thing for years. |
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| Sportsmen are notoriously superstitious - if it makes them feel better, why not - but you would hope that the vast majority of the population would have the discernment and intellect to just ignore this kind of quackery for what it is, unless of course a clinical trial proves that they do actually have a benefit, after all it's good to remain objective even if you are skeptical | Sportsmen are notoriously superstitious - if it makes them feel better, why not - but you would hope that the vast majority of the population would have the discernment and intellect to just ignore this kind of quackery for what it is, unless of course a clinical trial proves that they do actually have a benefit, after all it's good to remain objective even if you are skeptical |
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| Where does one start? "Natural energy field of the body"... What exactly does that mean? How is it measured? "The hologram is designed to resonate with"... It's just a pattern stamped onto a bit of plastic. It won't "resonate" with anything. A visible light hologram works when you bounce visible light off it, no other "energy" required.You might as well have a rubber band, and write "WOO" on it. | Where does one start? "Natural energy field of the body"... What exactly does that mean? How is it measured? "The hologram is designed to resonate with"... It's just a pattern stamped onto a bit of plastic. It won't "resonate" with anything. A visible light hologram works when you bounce visible light off it, no other "energy" required.You might as well have a rubber band, and write "WOO" on it. |
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| The gullibility of otherwise apparently intelligent people seems to know no bounds. This is just another piece of bad science, like homeopathy. Yet we still waste money even within the NHS on this unscientific snake oil and sugar pill nonsense, which at best can only be a placebo, since to prove otherwise would mean throwing out everything we know about the laws of physics and chemistry. | The gullibility of otherwise apparently intelligent people seems to know no bounds. This is just another piece of bad science, like homeopathy. Yet we still waste money even within the NHS on this unscientific snake oil and sugar pill nonsense, which at best can only be a placebo, since to prove otherwise would mean throwing out everything we know about the laws of physics and chemistry. |
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