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If you have any interest whatsoever in the role of science in evaluating the claims made by fitness products, you’ll be thrilled about this. The makers of Power Balance bracelets, which purport to “work with your body’s natural energy field” to improve your strength, flexibility and balance, have been compelled by an Australian tribunal to admit that they have “no credible scientific evidence” whatsoever to support their misleading advertising claims, and to offer a refund to unsatisfied customers. For full details, read Ross Tucker’s Science of Sport report here. (And Ross’s follow-up post, in response to those who ask why it matters whether the bracelets are placebos as long as they work, is also worth reading.)
The Dutch soccer team wore power balance bracelets during the world championships last yearand became second. Here’s some of the resulting power and flexibility:
http://www.tuxboard.com/coup-de-pied-de-nigel-de-jong-sur-xabi-alonso-video/
I suppose team sports are even more receptive to this balance sort of stuff, because there is much bigger element of chance in 22 guys chasing a bouncy object than in 1 guy running as fast as he can.
Wow – it’s amazing what people will believe. How could a hologram possibly have an effect. Some people must read too many comics.