I have it on very qualified medical advice that the Bluefin Fitness Vibration Plate from Amazon will do everything that the Marodyne does. I have been advised that there is plenty evidence that the Marodyne does work as claimed, but that the Bluefin can do the same for a fraction of the price. You just have to look at the Marodyne specs and set the Bluefin to deliver the same.
Please don't believe me or ask me to pm you about my source. Instead just have a look at the specs of the machines and decide for yourself. I have personally not used either machine long enough to say if it has made a difference or not.
I am posting this for all the people out there who need and would dearly love to have a Marodyne but can't afford the eye-watering price. I am not involved with either the Marodyne or the Bluefin companies and I get nothing out of it if they sell or don't sell. My only motivation is that I have been helped by others here and maybe my post will help somebody else.
Thank you for posting - interesting post although without knowing more about the source of your information, no names required, I would be very hesitant for reasons outlined below. Was the source of your information a doctor, a physio or what? What was the evaluation based on?
The BIG difference as far as I can see - the BlueFin is a side to side plate which basically wobbles at high rate whilst the Marodyne, as far as I can see, is a pulsing, none moving plate. Very different, although they may work at similar specs they operate in a very different way.
According to my neuro Physio the essential difference is who is using it and their fitness level and with what expert knowledge/instruction. I tried both types (but not the Marodyne) in his studio at an MS Centre and believe me, they felt very different and according to my Physio, each had both benefits but worked on different structures - the side to side better for building core and muscle whilst the pulsating better for connective tissues - tendons, fascia etc. Part of my problems was with fascia and tendons.
In my humble opinion, you would need to get onto both and have individual evaluation on what would be suitable for you and try both before you could possibly evaluate - so buyer beware.
The Bluefin is not something I would ever consider buying from Amazon without expert advice and experience.
I have a side to side vibrating plate similar to the BlueFin which I use with caution and from the insights my Physio taught me. There are contraindications, especially for older people using this equipment and it has been known to cause retina detachment at higher levels at sustained times.
I have found that the VibroPlate has helped me a lot with muscle pain after exercise, it helps balance and is good if I can’t go out walking BUT I only use on lower settings and only for a few minutes at a time, not the recommended 10+ mins.
I was looking at the Marodyne and I can see why there is the price difference and my understanding that it is because of the different type of mechanism. My Physio also explained why there is a huge price difference between pulsating plates and side to side.
Used properly, there maybe similar outcomes but for those using on their own at home the Marodyne looks a lot safer to me. Sadly the cost will limit those who can afford it but there is a good reason for that price difference because all pulsating plates are about x10 times the cost of side to side.
Many thanks for this excellent input which will no doubt help people who are looking for a vibration plate. I can tell you that my source is a medically qualified doctor who specializes in bone health and osteoporosis. I don't know how the evaluation was done. I think that your approach and the way you have got an individual evaluation is a very sensible way to go. You know a lot more about it than I do and thanks for passing on this advice. I would only add that my source did not advise the Bluefin to be used at high speed or intensity. It was advised to be used at the same speed and intensity as the Marodyne.
I would be very surprised if the Bluefin is capable of replicating the Marodyne. I've seen videos of the Bluefin (and other, similar devices) in action and they visibly move. The Marodyne doesn't move, it simply vibrates. Standing on it gives a sort of "buzzing" sensation from feet through to head - if you gently relax your jaw, your teeth chatter slightly.My understanding of the two different types of vibrating plates is that the high intensity ones (such as those available on Amazon and elsewhere) are mostly marketed to help with weight loss programmes, whereas the low intensity devices (Marodyne and Juvent) specifically claim to help maintain or even increase bone.
The Marodyne (and I think also the Juvent in the USA) is a registered medical device that is safe for anyone to use. The other devices, including the Bluefin devices, all come with a list of warnings as to who should not be using them.
I think, for people who have fairly good bones and wish to maintain their bone health, the cheaper devices are fine, but for those who already have established osteoporosis, especially if they have had spinal fractures) I would advise caution.
Even if the device were capable of calibration to the same levels as the Marodyne (which I think is 30hz and 0.3G of force) the user might be tempted to crank it up to the next level or to use it for longer than the recommended time. The Marodyne automatically calibrates to the weight of the user, to deliver the correct amount of vibration for a fixed period of 10 minutes.
I'm hoping you or someone else can tell me about the Juvent versus the Marodyne. Will the Juvent give the same results? I'm hoping, if just as good as Marodyne, the Juvent might be more available in the US. Thank you.
You might be interested to read the FAQ on the Juvent website, particularly the Juvent vs Marodyne question. Juvent makes a strong case for insisting that their machine is superior.juvent.com/health/faqs/
The Marodyne LiV device, Bluefin, Powerplate etc are all whole body vibration therapy. The important spec being low intensity vs high intensity. The Marodyne, Low Intensity Vibration device, has no contraindications and no known side effects and can be used with confidence by adults and children.High intensity vibration therapy carries a long list of contraindications and health warnings.
The price of the Marodyne was reduced a few months ago to make it more accessible to everyone. If you have a diagnosed chronic condition you are eligible for VAT relief too (in the UK), an enormous saving. Worth calling them to see, now looking to purchase a second device for my sister.
VAT is a sales tax that is applied to all purchases in the UK (with a few exceptions) and the current rate is 20%. So, being eligible for VAT exemption reduces the cost from £3k to £2.5k.
As someone who uses the Marodyne LiV device I was happy to know it has no contraindications and no known side effects plus it's a certified Class IIa medical device. I read with interest the long list of who cannot use, associated with the BlueFin. bluefinfitness.com/who-cann... I suppose with osteoporosis, even if there is a setting that is supposed to mimics the Marodyne, I personally feel far safer with the real thing.
Can you please tell me about how the order process went? And where are you located? I'm being told a ten week delivery time in US and a charge for shipping, which I have no idea how much that would be at the moment. Then tax. So want one of these, but a painful decision in terms of cost and waiting.
Also, how do you like using it. Have you had it long enough to get a sense of whether or not it is helping maintain your BMD?
Lynne, if you get in touch with Richard at melioguide.com he may be able to advise you and perhaps get you a small discount. They promote the Marodyne at Melioguide which is in based in Canada.
Hi Lynn, I've been using mine for about 10 months, so not yet but results from other users are very positive. The 'side effect' benefits for my arthritis have been fantastic.
On the website, in the UK the delivery is still 12 -16 weeks due to the worldwide microchip shortage.
There is no delivery charge and in the UK there is VAT relief for a diagnosis of a chronic condition.
I just had mine delivered last week, ordered in August. There was a long waiting list and as the device is made in Germany, shipping and border controls took a while!
I have been reviewing the Bluefin plates and do see they can be set to linear vibration only which matches the movement of the Marodyne. However, it is not clear to me how to set at 30Hz and amplitude of 0.4g to match Marodyne. It shows settings in terms of numbers, but it is unclear to me how these settings are interpreted to match the right Hz and amplitude. I have written Bluefin and they are unable to provide the ‘key’ to match Marodyne settings. They advised I consult by doctor. My doctor knows nothing about the specifics of the Bluefin and there would be of no help. Does your source know what settings on speed/amplitude of Bluefin 4D matches Marodyne 30Hz and 0.4g? Thanks!
For the Bluefin device, with 13mm displacement at 12 Hz (the stated maximum) a person needs to use the device for 835 seconds to generate 0.4 G of vibration force according to the G force calculator.
For the Marodyne, at 30 Hz with a displacement of a maximum of 200 microns, the length of time to get to 0.4 G is 3700 seconds!
Alternatively, the Marodyne people are calculating vibration force differently. That being the case, they are the ones who need to provide the information on how they calculate the forces applied by the LIV device so that a comparison can be made.
Thank you so very much! I did ask Bluefin again and received a more detailed response. Still not what I hoped for but at least they provided numbers. Below is their response:
“Our Vibration Plates do not show frequency or amplitude and are managed by "Speed" settings.
The 4D has a frequency range of 33.6hz and starts at 6.4hz up to 40hz. It increases 0.56hz per speed level, up to 60 speeds.
We do not measure the G-Force of our products.”
This helps and along with your information, I may be able to figure out how to set the right amplitude. Based on all the articles, it seems 30Hz is the key setting, so I will try using the calculator and see what amplitude to use to generate 0.4g.
In the meantime, I think it is frankly ridiculous that Bluefin won't supply you with the user instructions that you have requested. Perhaps they are not comfortable with making comparisons between their machine and the Marodyne? If you were to write to them again and simply ask them if it is possible to set their Bluefin to 30Hz with 0.4g and how to do it, perhaps they would be more forthcoming? If not I'd escalate the question on the basis that it is unreasonable to sell the machine without supplying user instructions which relate to real world measurements. Perhaps also contact Trading Standards to find out what the legal position is.
Dear June The low hz of marodyne ensures bone safety. I checked out Bluefin in detail and struggled to find a clear hz indication. When I did, it was between 3.3 and 10hz which is way too much of you have osteoporosis.
We know that lots of people still come across this post so we just wanted to let anyone reading know that we have more information about vibration therapy: strwebprdmedia.blob.core.wi...
We also have lots of other information and support around living with osteoporosis on our Royal Osteoporosis Society website: theros.org.uk/
If you're looking to connect with people who truly understand what it's like to live with osteoporosis, you're in the right place! Our warm and welcoming community is full of wonderful members ready to share and support each other - we'd love for you to join us.
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