Can a Wristband Make You Run Faster?

Do Power Balance Wristbands Work? by Dominique Dawes

Power Balance

If someone told you that if you wore a special necklace, you would perform better in sports and have increased balance, strength, and flexibility, you probably wouldn't mind having your own, right? Well that's what people from Power Balance promise, along with many athletes. Shaquille O'neal, Scott Kazmir, and others give testimonials on the Power Balance website, which you can go to from the link above. They tell how much of an impact the product has had on them, and how remarkable Power Balance products have been for them. But I'm skeptical.
On the Power Balance website, they tell little of how the wristbands and pendants are made. The performance enhancers come in a few flavors: silicon, zinc, sterling silver, and neoprene. But the most curious part of these is left somewhat ambiguous. Here is the spill from the website:

"Power Balance is Performance Technology designed to work with your body’s natural energy field. Founded by athletes, Power Balance is a favorite among elite athletes for whom balance, strength and flexibility are important.

Power Balance is based on the idea of optimizing the body’s natural energy flow, similar to concepts behind many Eastern philosophies. The hologram in Power Balance is designed to resonate with and respond to the natural energy field of the body." - Power Balance

Its not very specific of exactly how this hologram "resonates," and to me it sounds like the placebo effect in action. In the link at the top, there is a video and article by Dominique Dawes in which she participates in an experiment involving the wristbands. The experiment concludes with results showing the wristbands to have little/no effect.

Power Balance products seem to work for athletes according to testimonials, but I have yet to be sold on the concept of them. Although there may be a psychological impact with using them, I do not believe they have any actual physical affect on performance. And at around $30 a piece for the silicone bands, I'll save that for something more substantial.