Homedics QRM-400H Therapist Select Quad-Roller Massaging Cushion with Heat
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List Price: Our Price: $150.00 You Save: $29.99 (17%) Availability: Usually ships in 3-5 weeks Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Homedics QRM-400H Therapist Select Quad-Roller Massaging Cushion with Heat
Customer Review: Nice Massage, Nice Cushion, Nice Remote
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I recently had the pleasure of being able to enjoy the Homedics Therapist Select Quad-Roller massage cushion. I have tried similar products in the past but found them to be extremely painful and/or uncomfortable to my back.
The product comes neatly packaged and installs easily - remember to remove the screw from the back before operating the product! The cushion features both Shiatsu and a gentle rolling massage. I was wary of the Shiatsu given my prior experience but for the sake of science, I tried it anyway. Pushing the "full back Shiatsu" button on the remote control springs the cushion into action as the 4 rollers in the cushion provide a pre-programmed amount of massage. The result was invigorating massage without pain. My back felt better than I can ever remember.
Heat is an additional option. The rollers on the cushion are illuminated in blue and when the heat is active and operational, the rollers will turn red. The heat function provides the proper amount of warmth without being too warm.
The remote is (thankfully) attached to the chair by a cord and can easily be stored with the chair in the attached pocket. The remote control is easy to use and self-explanatory. It also feels solidly constructed so it is probable that it would survive if you accidentally sat on it.
There are 3 drawbacks to the cushion which stand in the way of a 5 star rating:
1. The cushion is not at all comfortable to sit on when not in use - meaning you are not likely to leave it on a chair that you use frequently.
2. The rollers STAY ILLUMINATED even when the power on the cushion is off. That's right. Inexplicably, the rollers will stay illuminated when the cushion is not in use as long as the cushion remains plugged into an AC outlet. While it may serve as an unintentional night light, it serves as another drawback of leaving the cushion plugged in on one chair.
3. If you are a human being slightly above average height, the rollers will not reach your upper back. If you are looking for a cushion to provide upper back and shoulder massage and you are above 5'8", this is not the cushion for you.
Customer Review: Gives A Massage That Makes A Difference
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I have used recliners that had built-in massage features before and been very disappointed. While those typically had simple vibrate functionality, this massaging cushion is the real deal.
It is a very simple to use product. It comes with a short and straightforward instruction book (yes, you should read it before use). That is where you find that there is a screw that you need to remove prior to usage. You also will find the warnings for 15 minute total usage and 3 minute max on a single spot. Other than that, it is a breeze.
There are two styles of message that you can choose from (Shiatsu and Rolling). Within these, you can choose from full back, upper back, or lower back massages. There is also optional heat. I found the rolling massage to be too gentle; therefore, it did not make much difference to me. However, if Shiatsu is too strong for your taste, this might be just the setting. I loved the Shiatsu setting with heat. My back really feels loosened up after a full 15 minutes. I have also used a concentrated lower back and individual concentrated massage. I was pleased with the results in all cases. I have a desk job, and I start each morning with a full 15 minute Shiatsu massage with heat. It has certainly been a nice addition to my morning routine.
There are a couple of drawbacks to this product that keep it from being a five star item. When not in use, it is not comfortable to have against my back so I have to store it out of the way when not in use. This is minor, but you might want to consider this if you are tight on space. The buttons on the control are a little stiff. Again, this is not a show stopper, but it is a bit annoying. Finally, I am 6' 2", and I would like the cushion to be about three or four inches taller. However, I need it more for my lower back so this is not a major issue either.
Overall, this is a very good product. What sets it apart from the other two models from Homedics is the quad roller system. To me the SBM-200H and SBM-300H would be like getting only half a massage after using the QRM-400H. I think it is worth the difference in price.
Customer Review: Great for those "end of a stressful day" times...
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This item from Amazon's Vine program was eagerly awaited by more than just me in our household... Homedics QRM-400H Therapist Select Quad-Roller Massaging Cushion with Heat. I'm always up for a good back massage, and my son suffers from back pain. When it showed up on the doorstep, he had no problems opening up the box, removing the restraining screw, and giving it the first trial run...
Overall, it's a hit with him and myself. The heat kicks in quickly, and the roller massage does a good job in working out the kinks. The Shiatsu setting is a bit scary when you first start, so you have to be careful not to overdo it. It's "vigorous", to put it mildly. Being that both my son and I are short, the upper back range was adequate for getting into the shoulder blade region. Depending on the type of chair you're using and how you fit in it, you shouldn't have too many problems getting the positioning down for what might work for you.
My wife was far less enthused with the device. In fact, her two words to sum it up was "it HURTS!". It didn't matter whether it was roller or Shiatsu setting, she didn't like it. So I don't think we'll be fighting her for any time use. She also insisted I take it out of the living room, as it "was ugly". Good thing she's not reviewing this item. :)
The only thing I wish it had was a true on/off button on the remote. You can power the unit down, but the rollers remain lit up in neon blue whenever the unit is plugged in. It'd be much less intrusive if you could turn it off with no remaining lights when you weren't using it. Having to plug it in each time is a bit of a hassle. It might also cause more of the back pain you're using the device for in the first place!
For the price, I think it's a pretty good deal. It doesn't compare to full-fledged recliners that have massage built in. Conversely, it doesn't cost thousands of dollars, either. For those times when you want to have the kinks kneaded out (and your personal masseuse isn't around), this should fit the bill quite nicely.
Customer Review: I Love My Massager. . . Now
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I received this massage cushion about two weeks ago, unpacked and set it up, and immediately sat down to use it.
Bad idea.
I had no idea about how to ease into the use of a massage cushion, and I came away from my first session with a back so sore that I felt pain for the next five days.
Once the pain subsided, I began to use the cushion again, this time for shorter periods of time.
Ahhhh, Relief!
Yes, it does work, and, yes, it does ease my aching back. The heat setting are relaxing, so, now it's a pleasure to use.
What to do?
I suggest that Homedics revise and expand their instruction booklet. I needed to know not only how to set up the cushion but how to get started using it without so much discomfort. If that information had been available in the booklet, I might have been using it successfully much earlier.
Overall, this is a good product that eases the knots out of my back, but the instructions clearly need to be revised.
UPDATE: November 17, 2007
While it worked, it provided a good massage. I had to learn to take it easy and not jump into a full Shiatsu massage at once, but after I conquered the learning curve (about two weeks), I was happy.
Or at least for a week I was happy.
Toward the end of the third week, it died.
Dead.
Just like the saying goes, the lights were on but no one was home.
Yes, it's guaranteed. Yes, I sent it back. And, yes, I expect to get a replacement.
But if the next one breaks, I'll probably just give up. Repacking the machine and lugging it down to UPS is enough of a bother and expense that I won't do it again.
This machine could be a big help for consumers with tired and sore backs. But it's not a throw-away investment, so, without an improvement in quality, I cannot now recommend it. If my experience is typical, Homedics should include a shipping-paid replacement guarantee with this cushion.
Customer Review: Great massage experience
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
After having used this massaging cushion for awhile I must say that I am satisfied with the quality of massage this seat provides for a hands free home massage experience.Several years ago I bought one of the regular vibrating massage cushions and it was a total waste.It never did any good in the way of massaging.Whith the shiatsu option on this cushion you can definately feel the pressure from the rollers.
In my opinion the biggest problem with any massage cushion is targeting the area on your back that is sore.While this cushion is better than the standard vibration the old cushions had it is not perfect.I doubt there will ever be a home massage system that can compare to a real hands on massage but of all the massaging cushions I have tested this one gives the "most felt" massage.
This seat is also not something you will want to leave in your chair,while it is called a cushion it is not soft.It was designed to get one job done and that is massage.It is heavy and stiff so you should also consider storage.
My favorite setting is the rolling action.It applies pressure to your lower back,enough so to lift you up and feels great! I think this cushion does a more effective job massaging the lower back than the upper.The rollers will reach just to the middle of my shoulder blades,missing that imparitve spot to the top and inside of the shoulder blade (you know where I am talking about!).
There are several options and even a demo so you can feel a little of all the functions before choosing which setting you want to use.The heat on the chair is excellent!Almost as hot as a heating pad and will make you sweat.
The shiatsu massage with the knobs is forceful enough to be felt but not painful like the ones you put change in for a massage at the mall,if you have ever tried one of those,they can pinch quiet hard.
For what it is I feel this massage cushion gets the job done,is easy to operate and offers one of the best massages you will find in a home seat cushion.