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Power Balance SA – ASA ruling

Posted 20 August 2012

This is an old ASA ruling which I somehow missed posting.

Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission asked the company distributing Power Balance in Australia for evidence to support the claims being made for the product, and if no evidence is available, to refund consumers their money. The manufactures stated:  “We admit that there is no credible scientific evidence that supports our claims”.

In South Africa, the response was a little different. Consumers laid a complaint with the South African ASA. The CEO of the local company claimed in a newspaper report and the response to the ASA the following:

“The efficacy of holographic bracelets need not be proved scientifically, because they make no scientific-up claims”. CEO of Proformance Technologies
“Because efficacy has not been proved does not mean that it has no efficacy or that efficacy cannot be proved at some point in the future.”
This
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August 20th, 2012 | Tags: | Category: ASA (SA) Rulings | Leave a comment

Power Balance flunks scientific tests.

A controlled trial of college athletes has found that wearing a Power Balance bracelet did not enhance their performance. The study, sponsored by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), was conducted by John Porcari, Ph.D. and other researchers from the University of Wisconsin. Each athlete completed two trials of four tests: trunk flexibility, balance, strength and vertical jump. 

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March 27th, 2011 | Tags: | Category: | One comment

Power balance – Die Burger article

"The efficacy of holographic bracelets need not be proved scientifically, because they make no scientific-up claims. This is what the CEO of Proformance Technologies, the distributors of the Proformance Band in South Africa told Die Burger yesterday." 

"Just because one can not see a thing, does not mean it exists. Do you believe there is something like X-rays? You can not see. "And what does it matter if it's a placebo effect?"

An article from Die  Burger, by the science reporter, Elsabe Brits.

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February 24th, 2011 | Tags: | Category: | Leave a comment

All power to the bracelet or the mind?

"But now the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has thrown a spanner in the works by announcing that Power Balance’s claims are unfounded. The words “no better than a rubber band” have appeared in media reports around the globe in recent weeks."

A superb article written by the consumer journalist, Wendy Knowler, and published in The Star.

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January 31st, 2011 | Tags: | Category: | Leave a comment

Beware of Power Balance placebo bracelet

The Power Balance bracelet worn by high profile sports stars to improve their athletic prowess has been exposed as a sham. Here's Dr Ross Tucker's take on it.

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January 8th, 2011 | Tags: | Category: | One comment

ASA Ruling: T4 Pro Balance Bracelet

Mr Stuart lodged a consumer complaint against Tech 4 Balance print advertisement promoting T4 Pro Balance bracelet. The advertisement appeared in the August 2010 edition of Men’s Health magazine. (Website: http://www.t4probalance.com/)

The advertisement contains, inter alia, the wording “Wearing T4 Pro Balance bracelet immediately improves balance, flexibility, strength, range of motion and general performance.” The words “increased balance and strength”, “superior flexibility and range of motion” and “enhanced performance” also appear on the advertisement.

The Power Balance is a similar device (website: http://www.powerbalance.com/southafrica/). 

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January 5th, 2011 | Tags: | Category: ASA (SA) Rulings | 2 comments

Power Balance – Daily Mail

Power Balance bracelets are 'no better than a rubber band': A-list accessory maker forced to give refunds by advertising watchdog

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January 5th, 2011 | Tags: | Category: | Leave a comment

Power Balance wristband / T4 Pro Balance Bracelet

Many of the Power Balance wristbands / bracelets have been sold in SA, at R400 or more apiece. (The T4 Pro Balance Bracelet is a similar device)

The advertisement contains, inter alia, the wording “Wearing . . .  bracelet immediately improves balance, flexibility, strength, range of motion and general performance.” The words “increased balance and strength”, “superior flexibility and range of motion” and “enhanced performance” also may appear on the advertisement.

The Australian company, Power Balance Australia Pty Ltd has acknowledged that there is no evidence to support the claims for the product and the company, and according to this off the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website, dated Dec 22, "Power Balance admits no reasonable basis for wristband claims, consumers offered refunds." 

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January 5th, 2011 | Tags: , | Category: | Leave a comment