Is the Power Plate Pulse Strong enough?

First off, the Power Plate lives up to its name, and provides plenty of power! The Pulse provides six intensity level options ranging from 1,300 vibrations per minute (VPM) to 3,300 vpm. In general, I mostly enjoyed using the 3rd level (1,800 VPM) and the 4th level (2,500 VPM) to treat general soreness, such as after working out or even after waking up from a bad night of sleep. I would occasionally decide to use the 6th level of intensity, just to take the treatment a step further. Thanks to its 12 mm amplitude and 3,300  VPM, my knots would be subdued very quickly when using it at level 4.

If you are like me and your main gym was temporarily closed during the pandemic, the Pulse will be an especially useful tool as your body adjusts to getting back to a workout routine or schedule. When you start working out again after a period of no activity, you will feel fatigue and muscle soreness more frequently, and more intense than usual. The Power Plate Pulse helps combat this post workout soreness quite nicely.

When it comes to evaluating massage guns, power is a key factor. As you may guess, if a handheld massager isn't powerful enough to subdue your toughest knots, you won't be 100% satisfied. So with that in mind, let's share the test results from our staff, so you get a better sense of the Power Plate Pulse's power.

This will give you a better idea of what type of power you can expect from the Power Plate Pulse.

Power Plate Pulse Power Rating

In conclusion, the graph above shows that all staff members who tested the Power Plate thought it was pretty high powered, scoring it an average rating of 8 when used at the top level setting of 3,300 VPM.

I personally rated the Power Plate Pulse a 8 for power when using it at level 6. Not only have I yet to run into a knot that it can't handle, it is able to treat my sore areas very quickly due to the power capability. I like the pistol grip design, because it makes it easy to provide any extra manual pressure when needed, which isn't very often, thanks to its power.

How does the Power Plate Pulse feel on your Back?

Beyond describing the power of the Power Plate Pulse to you, I've also included the descriptions below for how the Power Plate Pulse does with different body areas.

Back: First off, one of the hardest things to do with a massage gun is maintaining a good grip when attempting to massage hard to reach areas like your upper back. However, the Pulse's lightweight and simple design makes it easy to grip when operating. The Power Plate Pulse did my back wonders, as someone with a back injury, my back tends to randomly cramp up and stiffen throughout the day, especially after a good workout. This massage gun is able to loosen the knots and provide enough pressure to relieve the soreness. The Pulse truly feels great on my back and provides instant pain relief.

Legs: My running form is not the greatest, as I tend to be "heavy" footed or a plodder, so I run into many issues regarding poor circulation and leg cramps. Before beginning a run, the Power Plate is able to dig deep into my calves to release tension caused by lactic acid, which helps get the blood circulating and works almost as a replacement to stretching. The gun works well pre and post run.

Front Shoulders, Forearms: For those suffering with shoulder and neck issues, the Power Plate comes with additional attachments that work well on these thinner muscles. These specific attachments allow the massager to add just enough force around your neck to provide relief from stiffness, without causing any harm.

Back pain? Check out our top picks for relieving back pain.

Accessory Options

When it comes to accessories, the Power Plate Pulse massage gun comes with a total of six attachments. The benefit to you is that each of these attachments are designed for treating specific body parts and areas of soreness. I really liked the fact that it comes with a variety of attachments that you can try out, depending on application.

The Power Plate also includes a handy carrying case, which is a great perk at its price point. In addition, the Power Plate Pulse includes two global adapters that allow you to retain charging capability, during international travel.

Lastly, I enjoy the fact that the ON switch is at the bottom of the gun, away from the speed level button, so that I wouldn’t accidentally turn off the power while engaging in a massage.

• Small flat, Large flat: Perfect for treating your legs and back, these attachments allow you to quickly treat large muscle groups groups.
• The Fork, Thumb: The closest thing to a massage therapist's thumb!  These are the perfect tools to use when trying to subdue the most painful of knots.
• Small ball, Large ball: These tips provide great all around treatment.

Battery Life

The Pulse's battery life is dependent on the level your using the gun on. If you are on Level 1, you can enjoy up to 4-5 hours of life before needing to recharge, whereas if you are on Level 6, you may need to recharge after only 2-3 hours of battery life.

During my testing, the battery life performed very well for me, as I rarely find myself charging this thing. As of this article, I’ve already used it a few days straight and according to the power level lights, I still have half of the power left. This is very convenient for me since I’m always on the move and don’t like to carry a charger on me.

If you’re convinced the Power Plate Pulse is the right massager for you, the pricing information for the massage gun is below.