Vibro Trainers

[Guest guest]

Vibro trainers are vibrating platforms for exercise. Designed for astronauts

and made popular by Vibrogym who were the first to market them to the general

public I think. As I live in Spain I don't know the common name for them in

English and have found various names on the Internet - vibrational trainer/power

plate/WBV/vibro plate/power trainer.

It is quite daunting the number of them out there. It seems you get what you

pay for. The price range is roughly 150 pounds sterling to 6,400 (yes, not a

typo!) pounds sterling. The cheaper ones aren't guaranteed, generally look

flimsy, and have a wattage no more than a lightbulb, whereas the medium to high

priced ones are generally guaranteed for one or two years. The top end are the

Vibrogyms that need a mortgage to buy.

Those made with a steel support rather than plastic are said to be better.

Check the power (wattage) as you can always use it on a lower setting to start

with but it is good if the horse power is there should you need it later.

The lower wattage ones, and the others used on their lowest setting, will just

give you a feeling of massage - according to literature. However, I have just

bought a 900W DKN power Pro and am using it on its lowest setting for 2 minutes

a day and it feels far stronger than a massage to me, someone who hasn't used

their legs much for years.

They are supposed to help too with balance, osteoporosis, and obviously toning

up muscles and weight loss. I found a study that had been done into the use of

them for MS and there was nothing negative, everything pointed towards extra

muscle strength.

Literature had told me that you could use them sitting in a wheelchair, placing

your feet on the power plate. I've been doing that 2 minutes a day for 4 days.

My lower legs feel amazingly strong and I can feel the soles of my feet again,

something I haven't done for years. Restless legs have all but disappeared and

I've hardly had spasms in my legs - and this is just after 4 days! However,

sitting in this position hasn't helped my hips which hurt loads. I plan, with

help, to try and stand on the machine as I believe the vibrations should go

through the whole body.

Many gyms I think (in the U.S. and U.K.) now have a vibro trainer and I'd advise

trying one out before you buy.

A word of caution: after the shop demo of a couple of minutes, my eyes felt

strained all day until a night's sleep. The setting must have been too high

hence my cautiousness since.

These are some links to some I found. Some are in Spanish but it will give you

an idea of the models out there:

http://www.mendyourhealth.co.uk/index.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Sculpture-BM1510-Programmable-Trainer/dp/B000RGPAY8\

/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crazy-Massager-Reduction-Muscles-Weight/dp/B000NHHE5Y/re\

f=pd_sxp_grid_i_0_0

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bodi-Tek-Bodi-Tek-Vibration-Trainer/dp/B000ZOXJBI/ref=pd\

_sxp_grid_i_0_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000LECDZU/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8 & me\

= & seller=

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bodi-Tek-Power-Vibration-Trainer-Pro/dp/B000ZOXJCM/ref=p\

d_sxp_grid_i_1_0

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bodi-Tek-Bodi-Tek-Vibration-Trainer/dp/B000ZOXJBI/ref=pd\

_sxp_grid_i_0_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Sculpture-Power-Trainer-BM1500/dp/B000X45A1W/ref=pd\

_sxp_grid_i_2_0

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bodi-Tek-Power-Vibration-Trainer-Elite/dp/B000ZP2U2Q/ref\

=pd_sxp_grid_i_2_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medicarn-Vibration-Massage-Exercise-Machine/dp/B000NK09Z\

S/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_2_2

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/vibration_training/10011_0c.html

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/vibration_training/10011_0c.html

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/vibration_training/vibro_gym_vibro_gym_comme\

rcial/7806_p.html

http://www.sweatbandfitness.co.uk/shop/detail.asp?ProductGroupID=17395 & c=2421 & d=\

532

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/vibration_training/10011_0c.html

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/vibration_training/10011_0c.html

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/vibration_training/10011_0c.html

http://www.sweatband.es/shop/detail.asp?ProductGroupID=17670 & ItemCount=4#

http://www.sweatband.es/shop/detail.asp?ProductGroupID=18254 & ItemCount=5#

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/vibration_training/dkn_pro_evolve_vibration_\

platform/9914_p.html

http://www.dkn-technology.com:80/

http://www.sweatbandfitness.co.uk/shop/detail.asp?ProductGroupID=17392 & c=2512 & d=\

428

http://www.sweatbandfitness.co.uk/shop/detail.asp?ProductGroupID=15667 & c=2512 & d=\

428

http://www.sweatbandfitness.co.uk/shop/detail.asp?ProductGroupID=17394 & c=2421 & d=\

532

http://www.quirumed.com/es/Catalogo/ver/1062/Plataformas%20Vibratorias-Oscilante\

s%20para%20fitness,%20adelgazamiento%20y%20musculacion

http://www.electroestimulador.net/producto.asp?cod=513

http://www.quirumed.com/es/Catalogo/producto/17244

I'll keep you posted.

Janet