Inocentes pulseiras ou um sério problema?

Talvez seja mesmo hora de tomarmos uma atitude coletiva contra essa maré de "bijuterias-placebo"!

Nos EUA detecta-se o crescimento descontrolado das vendas - e, logo, do uso - daqueles neoamuletos de pulso, e o CSICOP manifesta-se muito preocupado, sugerindo ações inclusive na justiça - por exemplo, direitos do consumidor - visando barrar sua propagação danosa. Leia a mensagem abaixo.

Será que não teríamos de pensar em algo assim por aqui?

Dear Skeptic,

We need your help.

There are a number of products on the market that purport to improve the wearer’s athletic performance. Examples of these products include bracelets like Power Band™, iRenew™, cPrime™, and Power Balance™, and other similar merchandise like Phiten™ necklaces and Q-Link™ pendants. Most of these products make pseudo-scientific claims—some having to do with energy flow, ionic balance, or an alleged bodily energy field – and/or allege reduced stress, increased energy, and improved athleticism.

The "active" ingredient in some of these bangles is a Mylar™ hologram sticker built into the bracelets, which "is designed to resonate with and respond to the natural energy field of the body." Such is the case with Power Balance™, who make this claim.

Belief in the efficacy of Power Balance™ is far and wide. Blue chip professional athletes such as Lamar Odom of the L.A. Lakers and Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls wear and endorse Power Balance™ bracelets, and last week it was announced that the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, CA (home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings) will next year be called Power Balance Arena.

In the past year, at least three double-blind tests have been conducted that strongly suggest that there is no intrinsic effect from the bracelets themselves. The Independent Investigations Group in Los Angeles, the Australian Skeptics, and the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse all tested Power Balance™ bracelets. In Australia, Richard Saunders found that – when blinded to who had Power Balance™ on them -- the Power Balance™ distributor couldn’t tell which person had the product. Both the IIG at CFI in Los Angeles and Dr. John Porcari at UW-Lacrosse found that when a person was unaware if he or she was wearing a real (or bogus) bracelet, there was no difference in athletic performance.

These tests all removed the psychological factor from wearing the bracelet. That is, there was no suggestive advantage in knowing or believing the product would help the subject’s performance. Indeed, we don’t dispute that added self-confidence in one’s strength, flexibility and balance can have a positive effect on performance. But Power Balance™ isn’t selling lucky charms. They are making claims about their product’s ability to affect one’s energy and physiology.

There is no credible scientific evidence to suggest that a Mylar™ hologram has any effect on human athletic performance. There is good scientific evidence to suggest that Power Balance™ performs no differently from a similar sized, rubber bracelet (sans hologram) in tests of strength, balance, and flexibility.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has "determined that Power Balance has “engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct" and ordered them to take corrective measures regarding claims made in their advertising, on their website, and on the product itself.

We think the FTC in the U.S. should take similar action. Power Balance should either change the claims they make about this product or take it off the market.

Will you help us persuade them?

To file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, go here and fill out a complaint form.

Here’s the information on the company you’ll need:

Power Balance, LLC
30012 Ivy Glenn, Suite 180
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
www.powerbalance.com
Phone: (949) 272-7300

Thanks for your help.

James Underdown
Executive Director, Center for Inquiry-Los Angeles
Chair, Independent Investigations Group