Bodyblade Classic Kit

With a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy (fortunately one you live with instead of die from), I am getting to the age where I'm starting to lose upper body strength. I've given a FIITY a try, but it's too much of a muscle-man contraption for my upper body right now. After a little more research, I purchased the Bodyblade classic. Though you can find knockoffs for much less on Amazon, I doubt they have the quality construction of the real thing. The rubber grip in the center of the blade is soft, yet solid and substantial and not prone to split open or fall apart. Likewise, the rubber tips of the blade are also beefy and easy to grip. The blade itself is coated with some kind of fiber composite, probably to keep it from rusting. Quality is top-notch and not likely to be matched by a knock-off. Even after just three weeks of every other day use (for usually no more than ten minutes), I've noticed a turnaround in my ability to lift my arms and maintain my grip on silverware and writing instruments. Consequently, I'd recommend this to anyone whose primary goal is to keep their muscles toned and active. I start out by gripping the middle of the blade and wobbling it back and forth. Doing this, I can feel the 'burn' in my shoulders and neck. I could barely do it at all when I started but can keep it up for about a minute now. After this, I take the ends of the blade in each hand and bend it upward. This gives my biceps a good workout. Bending the blade downward gives my (extremely weak) triceps a challenge. Finally, I hold the blade in my left hand and wobble it, then do the same with my right. I'm optimistic that I'll be able to work up to a ten-to-fifteen-minute workout within a couple months. My ultimate goal is to build enough strength where I can include the FIITY in my work out for at least five minutes, too -- hey, no pain, no gain. Even if I can't make that goal, though, I consider the Bodyblade money well spent and worth every penny.

There are so many great things about the Bodyblade I don't think I could list them all. I've been dealing with complications from a back injury for over 10 years and in all that time, I have been searching for a way to safely exercise my muscles without aggravating my condition. After trying everything from Yoga to Tai Chi and Chi Gung systems, I think I've finally found it. The Bodyblade is so well designed, it's pretty much the safest exercise tool I've ever seen. For one thing, it only weighs about 2 pounds and can only provide as much resistance as you can produce at any given moment. If your arms suddenly get tired or if you start to use it incorrectly, it automatically stops moving which instantly ends the resistance. In other words, with the Bodyblade, you are your own spotter. Learning to use this device is highly self-intuitive and it's virtually impossible to use it incorrectly. The Bodyblade can only do what your body body can do. So if you're in great shape, I imagine it can provide all the challenge you want and then some. But if you're in a weakened condition like me, it will only provide a light level of resistance for as long as you can comfortably continue. Right now, I'm only using it for about 2-5 minutes a day. But the great thing is, in just a few minutes I feel like my WHOLE BODY got a nice, light workout, just right for my current level of ability. I mean, I have spent YEARS trying to figure out a way to safely workout my abs without hurting my back. With the Bodyblade, I can feel my abs, arms, chest, buttocks, and thighs all getting a workout just by standing and holding it in my hands while shaking it side-to-side or up-and-down for about 60 seconds at a time. It feels great to get such a complete workout so quickly. And there's something about the way it requires my full attention in order to keep it in motion that makes it actually fun to use. This isn't the kind of exercise you can do while zoning out and watching TV. But personally, I think that's a good thing. I'd rather be fully into my workout for 5 minutes a day, then doing boring, zombie workouts in front of the TV for 30 or 60 minutes a day. In additon to the Bodyblade itself, the instructional DVD that comes with it is highly informative and really only needs to be watched once or twice to get a full understanding of how to the Bodyblade works. After that, an occasional glance at the Wall Chart should be enough to keep even the fittest athletes busy. Aslo, even if you're not a physical therapist, I recommend watching the section meant for P.T.'s just because it's pretty amazing to see all the ways the designer has figured out how to use this thing! It really is the most versatile exercise tool I've ever seen and I've spent my fair share of time in physical rehab centers...

Body Blade was pioneered by physical therapist Bruce Hymanson in 1991. It was created to use vibration and inertia training to rapidly contract muscles (up to 270 times per minute) to address the deep dynamic stabilizers of the spine and improve overall function and stability. In my practice I typically use the Body Blade to strengthen neuromuscular connection to the often weak and poorly connected Rotator Cuff muscles of the shoulder. Body Blade is a great tool.

It’s a bit expensive, but easy to use. And you see and feel results quickly. The exercise chart is nice but lots of the exercises are a bit repetitive.

This product was great for Physical therapy and helps me with my shoulder. It was very fun for the kids to use. It is lightweight and afforable. It has a great grip pads for your hands to squeze.

Have only had this for less than a week, but already I can feel the difference in the way my body feels and reacts. There are a lot of exercises to do, but for now I'm content doing the few that I picked out for my specific problem which was mainly in my right shoulder. I already have more range of movement and a lot less pain than I had before I started this. I'm also glad that I choose the lighter weighted, shorter version (The Classic) which in some positions was hard for me to get started. Over the past couple of days my strength has increased and though I'm not where I would like to be, I get closer every day. This piece of exercise equipment is fun to use and easy and hard at the same time. I find myself doing the exercises that I've chosen a few times a day. I like the fact that my body lets me know when I'm done. If you don't know anything about this, let me explain. While doing the exercises you get into a rhythm, when you start to lose that rhythm it's your body's way of letting you know that you're done. Another nice thing about this is that it has an extremely small footprint and it stands in the corner of my room out of the way. I can use it any time I want. This also can really get your cardio going so it's a win win ... increase muscle tone and cardio all in one. Did I mention that it's fun? I am really glad that I got this. I don't think that I need the longer, heavier weighted version. This is just perfect for me and unlike other exercises I've attempted over the years, this is a keeper ... won't be hanging any clothes on this.

AFTER ROTATOR CUFF SURGERY, WITHOUT GRINDING DOWN OF ANY BONE-SPURS Like rehad after any surgery: YOU NEED TO BE THE ONE TO PUSH YOURSELF WITH THIS PRODUCT. BUT, my physical therapy people that I had for the 6 months prior to buying this item [The same model / type that used in physical therapy] told me that I shouldn't be pushing myself so hard that I am grimacing. I could only use this BodyBlade for like 30-45 seconds at a time for weeks that I tried to. Maybe if I waited a year after surgery? [It hurt to lay with my arm up next to my head (resting on the pillow), until a good year and one half after surgery. I thought I was never going to be the same....Here we are years later, I haven't been doing any exercises and just resumed "normal life" {I used to garden and dig with my shovel regularly before injury / surgery] For a long time, yes, going into a year and 1/2 I just coudn't do things without pain[It was like someone used their knuckle and punched my arm while the muscle was clenched], and slowly I could do more before the "pain hit". Now, since I lost the muscle to work like before, my muscular strength and stamina match. I bet if I started again with the BodyBlade, I could use it like a "normal unhurt person" starting-up with it. I haven't tried. I came with a chart of exercises and I remember there was a video to watch. EASY TO USE, as long as you have the muscle stamina / strength to get the "vibration" / warble movement of the blade going. I wouldn't use the word "STABILITY" to describe what you do with the BodyBlade, so I couldn't rate it. It's plenty sturdy enough. If you've ever used a bow (and arrow), the plastic/ fiber glass blade is sturdy like that. You aren't going to break it doing the exercises.

I went through physical therapy for golfer's elbow on both of my elbows. They use this Body Blade as part of the therapy. I liked it so much that I bought one for myself. My elbows are better now but I continue to use this Body Blade along with bungee resistance bands on a regular basis for exercise. This Body Blade is of high quality. I love the sturdy but soft feel of the rubber grip. The weighted flexion of the arms feels perfect.