Sham and the Holograms

Wednesday, 01 December 2010 | by Pat's Picks

Move over LiveStrong. According to the Orange County Register, hologram bracelets and pendants are the latest craze for athletes wanting to boost their performance. Claiming to “optimize the body’s own frequencies to promote balance, flexibility and strength,” neither of the California companies that produce the accessories have sought FDA approval.

Many of those who wear the bracelets also claim they reduce chronic pain. Doctors are skeptical about the bracelet’s healing properties, though they concede that some people will experience relief from pain because of a placebo effect: “If you believe you’re taking something that’s going to decrease your pain, you probably are going to get a decrease in pain.”

Power Balance and EFX are two companies specializing in the hologram bracelets

DeviceWatch.org, a site that investigates sketchy medical products, also says claims of the hologram’s benefits are false.