LifeSpan Fitness VP-1000 Vibration Plate

I had never heard of whole-body vibration-therapy machines until seeing this one in an Amazon Gold Box special. Even though I was immediately intrigued, images of electroshock therapy machines (for treating refractory depression) and death-row electric chairs immediately began competing with recollections of 19th-century crackpot claims on behalf of the miraculous benefits of electrical devices (grow hair? reverse time?) to give me cause for pause. If you, like me, decide to ignore mundane common sense and to proceed, here''s what to expect:

The device comes in two cartons, totaling almost 150 pounds (if I''d had five or ten bucks on me, I would have tried to persuade the two congenial, strapping young delivery men to carry the boxes up the two flights of stairs). The haul proved manageable for this 170-pound AARP card-carrier, though getting the machine out of the carton required some careful strategizing. I panicked a couple of times when it appeared I was missing critical bolts, screws, spring and flat washers, but the missing parts had been "temporarily" installed, requiring unscrewing and rescrewing. The two included Allen wrenches will probably serve you well enough, but if you have a magnetic Phillips and hex wrench handy, count yourself lucky. At times I could have used a second person but was nevertheless able to get the thing up and running in less than 2 hours.

Recommendations are, for most people, to use the device three times a week, limiting each session to ten minutes. The plate doesn''t "shake and bake," or give you a ''buzz job" like the coin-operated foot-relief machines I recall seeing at carnivals. Rather it moves horizontally and vertically at the same time, oscillating at a speed guaranteed to leave the user heated up after a few minutes (compare it to a ride on a frisky pony). If you want to up the ante, the instruction manual includes a number of exercises--push-ups, sit-ups, squats--for those "extra-motivated" users who feel like adding their own movements to those of the machine. Nevertheless, simply standing on the moving plate is guaranteed to improve circulation and leave you steamed up. It''s not a miraculous cure for whatever ails you, and I suspect the number of calories burned is minimal. But there would seem to be some validity to claims of improved bone density, better balance, more flexibility of the legs and lower anatomy, and symptomatic relief of some aches and pains.

You can spend ten grand and more for one of these on Amazon, but this LifeSpan model is a rugged, fully-outfitted, near-professional piece of equipment that should satisfy amateur and advanced fitness freaks alike. Used judiciously, it should be safe for just about anyone (though pregnant contestants best not apply).

I can feel the difference in my joints and mobility from using the VP-1000. My wife also says the pain in her neck and shoulders is lessening. The assembly is not complicated and the allen wrenches necessary are included. I jumped on with some exercise weights and probably topped 270 pounds. The VP-1000 took it in stride. Check the weight limits on others. I looked for a vibration plate on eBay and elsewhere. As usual, Amazon had the best price with lighting fast shipping. I don''t know how they do it. As the author of Top Gun Management, I fancy myself an expert in customer service and management. I come down hard on rip offs and inferior products. I don''t think the VP-1000 or Amazon.com will disappoint you.

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I should give this machine 5 stars for what it is. However, I bought it thinking it to be something it is not. It is not a strength training machine. It will not increase your bone density or significantly increase your strength. Why? Because, per the very excellent book, "Using Whole Body Vibration in Physical Therapy and Sport," these good things happen above 25 Hz. This machine has settings from 1 to 20. 1 to 20 what? Nowhere is hertz specified. My experience with another machine that specifies hertz tells me, subjectively, that this machine is running to maybe 15 Hz. Anything below 25 relaxes muscles. Quite simply, the muscle has the time to contract and fully relax. Above 25 Hz they do not relax and that is how you take them to fatigue, and thus the body is signaled to put on more muscle strength and bone mass.

What this machine is good for is the person who is very very out of shape (I''m not) or who has mobility problems. It can do many good things and that is covered in the book too. For example, it can really help a person with balance/walking problems. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a quality machine that I can afford that will operate up to 30 Hz with a pivoting plate. VibraFlex (a Galileo derivative) will do the job for 8 to 12 grand. VibraSlim and VibraTrim are in the 2 grand price range, but I have not yet thoroughly investigated them.

Here is something to watch out for: Machines that claim a certain speed but do not achieve it with you on-board. The speed claim is for an unloaded plate! I also noticed with the VP-1000 that the speed would change significantly by shifting my weight. It would start to bog and then gradually pick up lost speed. The VP-1000 also lists no amplitude. In essence you do not actually know what you are buying. The two most important metrics to know are frequency with a live human on the machine and available amplitudes.

The book mentioned above is a bit pricey and is written for the medically trained, but it also has plenty in it that the non-medically trained person can understand and benefit from. If you are serious in making this type of exercise equipment central to your workout or therapy, then I recommend you read the book and get educated. The book is based on controlled studies across many age and ability groups and its conclusions are based on objective research data. It does not push any one company or machine.

Why did I buy the VP-1000? Because I bought before I studied. I got all excited about the possibilities and the low price. Oops.

******************************************** March 10, 2012 ********

This machine is not even close to being a Whole Body Vibration machine IF you want or need a workout or to increase bone density. I tracked down a gentleman that has a true WBV machine. He has a HyperVibe and they come from Australia. I used it and got the workout of my life. At a setting of 10 Hz on the HyperVibe it by far exceeds the power and speed of the VP-1000 at it''s maximum setting of 20. I ran it up to 25 (it goes to 30) and I could not take it for more than several seconds. In that short time my thigh muscles went into full contraction and stayed there. I had read about this but had not been able to do it on the VP-1000. I can stand on the VP-1000 at 20 for 10 minutes now so I am way past the this machine doing me any good as far as exercise. I am buying a HyperVibe. No other machine in it''s price range has this kind of power. Close to it, but not as powerful, is the Home Edition of the Galileo and that is around $8500. The HyperVibe is about $2600. In the US the Galileo is called VibraFlex. They are essentially the same machine marketed for different tastes. The more expensive Galileo''s are more powerful than the HyperVibe, but after using the HyperVibe I know I will not need any more power. The vibrating plate actually rocks from side to side and does not change its speed even a little as I move around on it.

So bottom line: If the machine costs less than the HyperVibe, it is not a Whole Body Vibration machine. It is really a massager as it will relax muscles and help toxins get out of the body. VibraSlim and VibraTrim are not WBV machines.

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After seeing this product on a Gold Box deal a while back, I decided to pull the trigger and purchase the LifeSpan Vibration Trainer. I can honestly say that I have been very satisfied up to this point with my decision to choose this method of strength training while being very skeptical at first.

It was actually recommended by my doctor and thru much research of the benefits of vibration. First and foremost it does not shake the weight off like some of these products have touted but I have seen a significant increase in my energy levels and my flexibility. I can certainly notice better blood flow primarily in my feet and less fatigue throughout the day in my muscles, most notably my lower body. There are twenty levels of "intensity" as they call it, and I have found that each level has its own benefit to specific muscle groups. I enjoy calf raises, and lunges on this machine at a lighter vibration interval. I feel as though I can strengthen my muscles and decrease the tension on my joints. The motion is a very fluid up and down, side to side vibration that seems to respond to applied pressure. It does not feel overwhelmingly shaky, but rather comfortably oscillating.

The machine is very solid and the handlebars have multiple grab points. The unit weighs about 110 lbs but does have transport wheels to move the unit if needed. When it came in two separate boxes, I was a bit skeptical at first thinking that a lot of assembly was required, but not the case. The manual was easy to follow and the tools were included which made it easy to assemble. There is a lot of information on line about the benefits. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who is starting to lose some range of motion, flexibility or looking to try something new to your workout.

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I waited a year to purchase this vibration plate and finally decided to go ahead after recent studies concluded the effectiveness of such training. Frankly, it''s been a great incentive to exercise simply because it just feels so good! I start out my sessions just standing on it and it literally wakes up my body and I go through my routine with enthusiasm. I can''t tell if it''s given me extra muscle and bone mass, but the fact that I WANT to exercise with it may be meeting my goals anyway. Sadly, the cellulite seems to stick around and enjoy the workout, too, but I''m ever hopeful that it may eventually give up and go away. Anyway, after over two months of use, I''m still enthusiastic about this purchase.