It has been proposed that a good idea associated to good marketing can become a social phenomenon, regardless of its veracity. Besides many other physical aspects, like strength and flexibility Power Balance® is intended to improve balance just by wearing the bracelet. The purpose of the study is to determine if Power Balance® is able to improve balance, and distinguishing its effects from that known as the «placebo effect».

A total of 30 physically active volunteers participated in the study (22 males and 8 females) with an average age of 24.4years. Two balance tests took place (Standing Balance Test and Star Excursion Balance Test), using «blinding techniques». We then compared all the data obtained in the 3 different situations control, placebo and bracelet.

There were no significant differences when comparing bracelet and control. There were no differences comparing placebo and bracelet. However, we did find differences in four components of Star Excursion Balance Test when comparing the control situation with the placebo situation. But there were no differences when using placebo and using Power Balance. The effects of any of them may be due to suggestion.

Power Balance® did not improve balance. There was no difference between Power Balance® and placebo.