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The Bodyblade was designed by physical therapist Bruce Hymanson, as a functional training tool for total body workouts.
Using rapid contraction technology (RCT), the lightweight bar can contract your muscles up to 270 times per minute. The more flex you put into the bar, the more resistance is created, and the more intense your workout will be.
Today there are three models to choose from: Bodyblade Classic, Bodyblade Pro, and Bodyblade CXT. So, which bar is right for you?
Comparing the Bodyblade Designs
Each type of Bodyblade can be used in a variety of different workouts. The CXT version is better for group exercise classes and seniors, due to its short length and lightweight design.
The CXT is also the best option for children and shorter adults.
Classic Bodyblade is more suitable for sports performance training and personal strength training, due to the additional length and weight.
Bodyblade Pro is the longest design, measuring 60-inches in length. It’s also the heaviest, weighing in at around 2.5 lbs, which helps to create more challenging workouts.
All three bars are between 3 and 5 feet long, and sold as part of a kit that also includes an instructional DVD and exercise wall chart. A large rubber handle has also been added to improve your grip and protect your hands.
How Does the Bodyblade Work?
Bodyblade can be used to target all major muscle groups in the body, including your arms, back, shoulders, and core.
You can control which muscles you focus on by adjusting the direction of the flexing blade, or varying your body position. Because of the opposing movement created by the bar flexing, you can train muscle acceleration and deceleration at the same time, enhancing posture and flexibility.
YouTube video showing how to use the Bodyblade
The extent of this oscillating movement is controlled by how much you move your wrists. To increase the resistance and level of muscle recruitment, simply increase the range of motion at the wrist.
As the Bodyblade requires no weight plates or free weights, it’s an incredibly lightweight, affordable, and safe piece of home fitness equipment.
- Variable resistance workout suitable for physical therapy
- Lightweight and portable design
- Convenient carry bag also available for the Classic, Pro, and CxT
- 10-minute workouts, following the Super 6 workout program
- Each type of Bodyblade includes an instructional DVD and exercise wall chart
- Blades weigh 1.5 to 2.5 lbs, depending on the kit
- Created by physical therapist Bruce Hymanson
Why Buy a Bodyblade?
The main benefit of a Bodyblade is its ability to tighten and tone muscles in your chest, arms, back, shoulders, and core. This makes it an excellent rehabilitation tool for recovering after an injury, or as part of a physical therapy program.
Indeed, many customers have awarded the Bodyblade 5 stars in Amazon reviews, after having it recommended to them by their physical therapists.
It’s also an excellent choice for someone that wants to rebuild stabilizer muscles around their joints, especially the rotator cuff in the shoulder. The natural movement and variable resistance means you can find a range of motion that works well for your body.
However, if you’re looking for an affordable and compact way to build strength and muscle, this probably isn’t the right solution.
Modern home gyms are often very compact and in many cases, don’t require heavy weight stacks or weight plates. This would be a better option for strength training and building muscle, as you can increase the resistance up to several hundred pounds, even with some of the more basic machines.
How Can I Create a Bodyblade Workout?
Through vibration and inertia, the oscillating movement of the Bodyblade targets all major upper body muscle groups.
An underhand grip can be used to train your biceps, while overhand focusses more on the tricep. Raising the bar to shoulder level with a double overhand grip can be used to target your chest and shoulders.
The exercise guide wall chart details the motion, grip position, and stance to hold for 30 dynamic exercise options.
Exercise intensity is controlled by the degree of flex in the blade, and Bodyblade recommend you perform 3-5 workouts per week, with at least 60 seconds spent on each exercise.
Overall strength, balance, posture, and coordination can be improved when used as part of a rehabilitation or sports performance program.
Customer Reviews
Amazon is home to hundreds of highly rated Bodyblade reviews, with customers praising the rehabilitation benefits and ease-of-use.
But it’s equally important to consider the negative feedback to make a balanced buying decision. That’s why we read through dozens of these reviews and aggregated the comments into the lists below.
Pros:
- No heavy weights to lift means it’s easy on the joints
- Resistance is controlled by the user
- Lightweight, compact design that’s perfect for home gyms
- Each Bodyblade is supplied with a DVD and wall chart of how to use it correctly
- Excellent for rehabilitation programs following a shoulder injury
- Range of sizes available to suit different user heights
- Easy to create quick and effective upper body workouts
Cons:
- Limited selection of lower body exercise options
What’s Included With the Warranty?
- 1-year manufacturer’s warranty, from date of original purchase
Bodyblade Review Summary
The Bodyblade is an effective rehabilitation tool if you need to rebuild strength and mobility, especially around the shoulders. But it can also be a great way to stimulate all upper body muscle groups with 10-minute workouts a few times each week.
The Classic version usually retails for just under $80, the CxT kit for $65, and the Pro kit for closer to $150. One of the main reasons for this price increase is the increased blade weight and length, meaning you can create much more challenging workouts compared to the Bodyblade Classic.
So, is there any other product on the market that performs in a similar way?
Fitryo developed the Total Bar, which makes similar claims about the number of muscle contractions per minute. It’s also the same length as the Bodyblade Pro, and weighs just 0.5 lbs less.
The design of the Total Bar is quite different to the Bodyblade, but given the weight, length, and retail price of less than $30, it’s a compelling alternative. For the money, Total Bar also includes a carry case, lifetime warranty, training booklet, and nutrition booklet, but no workout chart or DVD.
But importantly, the overall review rating is much higher with the Bodyblade Classic.
Bar length: 40-60 inches
Product weight: 1.25 - 2.5 lbs
USA Home Gym gives in-depth insights into gym equipment, supplements, and fitness training methods. The motivation behind USA Home Gym is to provide you with information that goes beyond what you can find in any user manual, customer review, or other online review sites.
We go to great lengths to ensure that our reviews are completely comprehensive, usually covering everything from the design features to the warranty coverage and exercise options. This is all to help guide you towards the home gym equipment that’s best suited to your goals and budget, whilst also being the highest quality option in your chosen price range.
