Homedics SBM-200H Therapist Select Shiatsu Massaging Cushion with Heat
|
List Price: Our Price: $74.65 You Save: $45.34 (38%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
|---|
Customer Reviews of Homedics SBM-200H Therapist Select Shiatsu Massaging Cushion with Heat
Customer Review: Good Bang for the Buck
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
There are a few things you need to know about these massage chairs, First of all, they are not a complete replacement for a professional masseur/masseuse or physical therapist. Second of all, you generally get what you pay for...for better or worse. Thirdly, general use models are fine for releaving the tenseness that can come from a hard day's work or a poor night's sleep but are not designed for chronic problems that may require more serious relief. In other words, don't expect an inexpensive massage chair to substitute for the very expensive therapist in relieving the pain associated with the car accident you had a few years back.
With those restrictions in mind, the Homedics SBM-200H is an excellent inexpensive low level massage chair that does exactly what it is designed to do - relieve back tension with a combination of rotating massage and heat to basic areas of the back. The two rotating heads can be set to do the upper, lower, or full back and has the additional option of applying heat from the rotating heads. Depending on your sensitivity, the heat may become a little uncomfortable for some and it may help to use it until it begins to reach your tolerance, turn off to let it cool, and then reapply the heat again. Given the very competitive pricing, it is an excellent investment for the relief of back tension and pain due to normal levels of stress.
Customer Review: Satisfactory, but not stellar...
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Totally unfamiliar with this sort of product -- with massage in general, in fact -- this chair pad left me less than impressed.
I decided I would place it on my computer chair, where I spent a lot of time. I have a chronic condition that leaves me with constant muscle pain, some in my lower back, so that's where I first put it to the test. Then I moved to the other settings.
Users have three remote-control options: lower back, upper back, and full back. They may add heat to any of these options.
While the slow circular motions did, indeed, massage my back, I found them a bit harsh (at one point, I feared for my kidneys...) In my opinion, a massage should feel good, but in a more subtle way; as the rollers made their way over my back, I was so conscious of them that it was actually distracting me from my work, and I had to move forward to ease my pain.
As for the heat, it was very subtle. Wearing a thin shirt, I wasn't even aware of feeling it at first. It was as if I were standing in a lukewarm shower. I've used heating pads before, which often became too hot within a short time. This heating option felt comfortable, but didn't overdo it.
Overall, I suppose there is some relaxation benefit to massage...but I wouldn't really hedge my bets on this product.
Customer Review: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
After coming home with a tight back from sitting at a computer all day, I was happy to see that UPS had delivered the long awaited Shiatsu Massaging Cushion (with heat). My husband popped it out of the box and plugged it in and I was ready to go. The thing I love about the cushion is that it has only the rolling, kneading massage. I personally do not like the ones that vibrate your fillings and make all parts of you shake. This has a very firm massage, so make sure that the rollers are lined up, as a quick knead to your spinal cord will not feel good. Once I was properly aligned I tried the demo, upper back and lower. My favorite is the all over massage with the heat. The system automatically shuts down after 15 minutes. I would highly recommend this as the limit for an evening of use. I was a bit over zealous and probably racked up the 15 minute limit about 4 times over that night and though my back felt very loose it was a little tender on one side in the morning. This, however is due to user error, no fault of the chair. It is small and could fit in most chairs and is easy to stow. If you like a firm, rolling massage and especially if you love having heat this would be a nice thing to have. I know that this will get much use in my house hopefully for a long time to come!Customer Review: Ahhh! A bargain that feels nice.
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I have tried all the $5000 massage chairs at Brookstone and Sharper Image and, while this massager doesn't quite equal them, it's a great massager for the price.
I was impressed by the very solid construction and feel of the massager right out of the box. Again, this is quite a bargain.
Once placed on a chair, plugged in, and sat upon - the "shiatsu" massage feels really nice. Some massagers have too much pressure and others not enough, this felt just right. This model is limited to the rolling shiatsu action which gets the long muscles beside the spine.
Another nice feature is the heat, which seemed to melt the tension in my muscles like butter. The heat, also, seemed just right - not uncomfortable in any way.
The massager is fairly limited in what it does. It will not reach your neck or head, and is only recommended for the back. It has 4 basic settings: 1. Demo 2. Full Back 3. Uppper back 4. Lower back. I would have appreciated some more control like arrow buttons on some massagers that let you directly control where the rollers are.
Despite it's limitations I still belive it is an incredible bargain. It won't replace a massge therapist, but at less cost than two therapy seesions, it may be just what you need.
Customer Review: And it's Got Heat, too
Summary: 5 Stars
Whenever I'm in one of those cities that has one of those big designer malls, you know the kind, the kind with a Sharper Image and a Brookstone store in them (well, I guess most of them are out of business now, but you know what I mean), I just love to go to those kind of stores and abuse the free massage chair privilege. I just sit right down, fire the chair up, close my eyes and relax for about ten minutes or so. Then I try another, then another, they've usually got about three to four chairs and I can burn up an easy half hour, sometimes a whole hour, getting my free massages.
Yes, the sales people may get a bit annoyed, but what care I. I'm a guy who lets other's opinions or roll off his shoulders, like water off a duck's back.
Now while this little beauty, the Homedics Shiatsu Massaging Cushion may not be as fantastic as those chairs, it is about $4000 cheaper, so for my money you can't beat it. Those rolling balls start at the base of your spine, work their way up to your neck and down again.
Fantastic!
And it sure as heck beats going next door and getting Mr. Bently to walk on your back. But then, I guess George Jefferson didn't have any choice, the Shiatsu Massaging Cushion hadn't been invented yet. But you don't have to go to your neighbor's, you don't have to go to the mall for a freebe and you don't have to pay four grand. You can pick up this really nifty shiatsu massager for a song and it's got heat too, such a deal.