The frame and body of your whole body vibration machine is an important aspect in choosing the perfect one for you. Don’t focus primarily on the looks, how long the frame will last, or how bad the plastic smells. It is about the feel of the machine and how sturdy and rugged it is when you stand on it. Some designs are poor and and break easily, and some are made improperly without adjustable feet and can shake your floor and entire house.

Depending on your weight you will need a machine with a frame that can withstand that weight level or if you are adding weights (ex. dumb bells, toner bars) to your workout. A good machine will feel sturdy when you stand on it and feels like it is rooted into the floor. You want just the plate to move, not the entire base of the machine. The size of the platform is also important. You don’t want a machine with a small platform relative to your size as you won’t be able to properly assume many positions as part of an effective workout.

The type of steel or alloy is an important consideration. You won’t want a fully plastic or cheap tin metal machine that will likely be extremely fragile.

IMPORTANT: Take note of the gauge or thickness of the steel! Not just if it’s steel or not. A cheaply made frame with low gauge steel is considerably unsafe to use.

Most frames are covered with a plastic body to hide the internal workings. Make sure to choose machines made with ABS plastic as it is considerably sturdier and stronger than conventional plastic. Conventional plastic may crack and break over time. If the frame is painted, make sure it is like the paint on your car and not chipped. This is important as depending on humidity levels where you live it may slowly eat at the exposed metal and produce rust — damaging the integrity and strength of the machine!

Depending on how you use the machine, having a good frame can mean a world’s difference in the effectiveness of your workout. It will allow the motor to properly transfer 100% of the vibration energy to the plate instead of the frame, causing the frame to vibrate. A good machine will have a plate and frame that can support the maximum power of the machine with you standing on it without vibrating the floor and moving the machine. I’ve had a cheap machine that moved to the other side of the room when I was using it while it was plugged into an extension cable! It certainly did not feel very safe!

Depending on your balance and coordination, you may opt to choose a machine with a sturdy pole and handlebar system where you can use it as a support when you are using the machine.  I highly recommend a handlebar if you have weak knees or are recovering from an injury or have just completed a surgery and am looking for a system that will help rehabilitate you.  You don’t necessarily have to sacrifice compact size if you want handlebar systems.  Some machines are fairly small even with the pole and handlebar.

However, if your balance is top-notch and you can do away with not holding onto anything while you perform a squat, then a machine without any poles or handlebars will best suit you.  These machines tend to offer more freedom since the front is now completely unobstructed–you are free to perform exercises that require a lot of space.  Furthermore, machines without poles are much more compact and can be easily stowed away.