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.AFTER ROTATOR CUFF SURGERY, WITHOUT GRINDING DOWN OF ANY BONE-SPURSLike 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'm a trainer ex bodybuilder. This is a good piece of equipment & well made but stinks. Learning curve that's irritating (hold loosely). EXTREMELY overpriced but good return policyMy son requested this for baseball warm ups. He is a pitcher and says it helps him warm up his arm before a gameIt is so simple to pick up the body blade and work out with it. I especially like that it builds core strength and balance. I have increased by my daily exercise by 20% since adding the Body Blade.It’s a little tricky to use, especially on my weak side. But it can be used by both me and my much taller husband, who used a similar product in physical therapy for his shoulder. So practice is needed. I was disappointed the promised physical chart was not included, since I’m new to the BodyBlade use.Purchased this to finish rehabilitation on a left shoulder which had a delayed reaction to pushing a lawn mower up a fairly steep hill. (I should know better.) Just had the Body Blade delivered to my house yesterday, and it saw its first use today. (I've had 4 weeks of PT treatment.)I anticipate it will be quite helpful with the shoulder. As noted in the Body Blade initial videos, a little harder to get the hang of using it with my left (non-dominant) arm. May post more on its benefits at a later date.As in the headline, there is quite a bit of off gassing going on with this device. (It smells somewhat like a tire store or like my wood cross-country skis after tarring.) I'm using it with cotton gloves with vinyl grip dots to avoid the smell (and particles) residing on my hands. It's also being stored in the laundry room, as I will not have it in a living area. Breathing in the odor / particles is not good for you.I do suspect that the vapors will decrease with time. I also suspect that different materials could be found that would lessen the initial off gassing. Alternatively, the product could be allowed to complete the majority of its off gassing prior to its being sold.As a side note, I was glad to see that this item is made in Taiwan, rather than China.Addition 3/4/22: My shoulder has benefited greatly from using the BodyBlade, and my back has also been less painful. Off gassing continues, but has decreased slightly.I was influenced to purchase this after watching NBA superstar Lebron James using this for balance exercises. He balances on a yoga ball with his knees whilst holding the blade in one hand and switching it over to the other hand (9 to 3 o'clock motion).Whilst I have been emulating this workout I don't see any other uses for this. I am guessing this could be used for some rehabilitation exercises also.All in all it is a bit pricey and not really worth it if you do not utilise it for specific workouts.Recommended by a friend to get this after shown how to use. Came well packaged and with instructions and video. Easy to use but don’t really think it’s made much difference and now seldom use. Disappointing really.bought this for my self-difficult at first but gets better and really notice the energy levels increased probably should have bought the cxt which is the easier one to useI bought this so I any spare 5 minutes I could have a quick workout. This definitely has proved its worth and find myself using it many times a dayI love this really strengthen s ur upper body after a week a six min exercise feels great but keep with it don't give up