Our readers are constantly asking about this machine or that machine in our message boards so we will be starting a review section that explores the highlights and lowlights of the different platforms on the market. The review section will place various platforms into the following categories;
High Energy Lineal
This will mainly be found in commercial vibration training studios and gyms. These are expensive to build so private ownership unlikely but not impossible. Can give fast and ongoing results, but safety is always of high importance due to the energy involved.
Premium Speed Pivotal
These machines go all the way up to up to 27hz. This rating is required for everything from physio work at lower speeds up to a “premium” speed for proper workout, but are limited not to go much beyond that point for safety reasons. The construction that allows for premium speeds to be meet makes them semi-expensive, but not out of the range of an educated buyer looking for a quality purchase. Commercial units can be purchased for Gyms or Studios but do your homework. Important note: The above units are where the ” 10 mins=1hr gym workout” slogan came from.
Medium Energy Lineal
Based on the Higher Energy platforms, but lighter and are usually made of plastic or tin so they give slower, less consistent results. This would make up a majority of Lineal units produced and range in size from no larger than your foot to 3 feet wide. Size may be no indication of quality and force so a test drive is essential. These tend to be the favorite “confusing ground” for marketers and lots of broken promises and machines are what’s left behind. These machines will work to a degree, but depending on the quality go from good to useless, especially if you think you have purchased something greater than it is. Do your homework, home use OK, but business use a big NO. Note: The vibration is meant to be Lineal, which means straight up and down, but some may actually wobble which they sometimes promote as “3D” . This just means low quality/uncontrolled.
Low Speed Pivotal
These make up about 98% of the Pivotal machines on the market and are almost always accompanied by fake specs which is a shame because they do have fantastic uses, but mainly in positive “therapy” benefits, just not weight loss and fitness which they are usually sold as to the unsuspecting public. These units seldom go over 12hz in tests but are sold at much higher speeds and values. Cheap to build with some very popular units being sold in China for as little as $80 and passed on as premium devices.
Low Energy / Low Amplitude Lineal
These units have no real amplitude and are basically stable platforms that can be used for everything from Osteoporosis treatment, weight lifting to Pilates/Yoga type movements. They will range in size from a bathroom scale to the size of a small bed. Usually low profile and almost silent due to small motors needed to drive such a device (smaller than a coke can). Some medical devices fit into this category so they may be more expensive due to controlled electronics, but usually are cheap to build.
Low Energy/ Low or High amplitude Lineal
There are 2 types of machines that fit into this category, but they are in reality not remotely similar in terms of how they "feel".
(a) One type is driven by a speaker coil ( silent ) . So it is just like standing on a giant speaker, hence the term " sonic vibration" is sometimes used. These systems are by far the most bio-mechanical of all machines, which basically means they are a nice ride and feel quite natural. They have a wide range of amplitudes and Fqs, literally being able to do variations the width of a human hair or 0.1 of a Hz. These systems are perfect for Doctors offices etc... where Vibration Therapy is going to be primarily used.
(b) The other type is driven by a "crank" system inside, which while very sturdy and designed to take heavy load, delivers a harsher vibration that is set in amplitude. With no "inertia" within the vibration it will have a limited effect but then again if you wish to have a very large machine sitting in a gym for your customers to "play" with then this would be perfect. These things can be as large as a small bed.
My recommendation is to keep the Hz in the lower range to keep it more comfortable.
Review categories and descriptions written by Lloyd Shaw
