Best Back Massager: Pick Between an Electric, Handheld, Vibrating and a Shiatsu Massage Devices
What is the best back massager? It is important that the device allows you to relax and is convenient to use, otherwise, there would be no point in massage. Shiatsu techniques deliver relaxing deep tissue massage. It should have a universal application so that you could use the massager with various types of armchairs and chairs. And a good model is the one that is multifunctional, adjustable and has several settings. We believe that Comfier Neck and Back Massager with Heat fits these criteria best.
Best Back Massagers Compared
| OUR PICK | |
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| 2. PlayMakar MVP | |
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| 3. Jeanie Rub | |
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| 4. iReliev | |
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| 5. Nekteck | |
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| 6. HoMedics Easy Lounge Shiatsu Massage Chair with 3 Back Zones | |
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Comparison of Back Pain Massagers: Which and When to Use
While all back massagers seem to serve the same purpose — mitigating pain and relieving tension in the back — there are some nuances that are worth noting. When choosing your massager, it would be beneficial to know what its primary focus is. Below, we are going to compare the 4 most efficient back massagers: PlayMakar MVP, HoMedics, Comfier, Jeanie, and iReliev.
Let’s start with your age. If you are an elderly person or have weak joints, you should opt for a more gentle massager like the Core Products Jeanie Rub Massager. While delivering a soothing deep massage, the device is soft on your joints and muscles. Made with a large 4-by-9-inch pad, it is equally good for reducing back pain and muscle stiffness. For better comfort, you can adjust the speed within a range between 1100 rpm and 4600 rpm.
If you are younger and work out regularly, you definitely face a problem of sore muscles. And this is where percussion massagers like the PlayMakar MVP come in handy! Like the Jeanie Rub massager, the PlayMakar is adjustable and has 6 speed settings. But it is more powerful, has a high-torque motor, and delivers up to 53 strokes per second.
Percussion therapy stimulates the repair of muscle fibers by delivering rapid bursts of pressure. Such a device can be used to treat knots in muscles, sciatica, tight and sore muscles as well as muscle pain in the back. How does the PlayMakar MVP help? First, it increases blood flow so that your muscle tissues absorb more nutrients. Then, the massager boosts lymphatic circulation, removing toxins and thus revitalizing your tissues. At the same time, kneading loosens and relaxes stiff muscles. Percussion massage is believed to be effective against chronic pain, but make sure to consult a doctor before using it if you have health conditions.
PlayMakar: Check the current price
When compared to the above-mentioned products, the HoMedics Shiatsu Massage Chair has the advantage in that you can get a massage without someone’s assistance. This is the easiest and most comfortable way to relieve your back pain. All you need to do is just sit in the chair and relax. When not in use, it can be folded for easy storage. The massager uses a combination of Shiatsu deep-kneading massage and heat therapy. Both are very helpful for people suffering from back pains. Shiatsu harmonizes your back and improves the connection between its different areas. Heat therapy is effective against back pain primarily because it significantly increases blood circulation. As a result, more nutrients and oxygen travel to muscles, including those where the pain occurs.
If you have pain in a specific area of your back, consider the Comfier Neck and Back Massager. Made with 4 rolling nodes, it delivers spot massage, concentrating the rollers to the troubling area. You can adjust the nodes’ position as well as remove the detachable cover for a more intense massage. Like the HoMedics massage chair, this product allows you to receive a massage without someone’s help. Even better, it is more portable and versatile in use. You can place the device on your sofa or recliner, use it at home or in the office. Another advantage of the Comfier massager over the HoMedics model is a wide choice of massage functions. Depending on what kind of pain you are experiencing, you may choose Shiatsu, vibration, heat, or air compression massage.
The iReliev System is a great choice for those who experience chronic pain associated with health conditions, such as osteochondrosis, arthritis, neuralgia, or diabetic neuropathy. Chronic pain is often neuropathic, meaning it originates from the nerve, not the injured tissue. TENS units are widely used by healthcare professionals to relieve chronic pain without medication. Compared to other massagers that use strokes, vibration, or heat, this is an absolutely different approach. A TENS machine like the iReliev uses a mild electrical current that stops pain signals in the brain. This device features 14 programs, one of which targets specifically pain caused by arthritis.
iReliev ET-7070: Check the current price
Buyer's Guide
When back pain becomes unbearable, you decide to obtain a massager that will always be at hand. It turns out that Amazon.com alone sells over 2000 massagers made by different manufacturers and of various qualities. How do you not get lost in that choice? Should you pick a handheld back massager or a full back massage cushion? What will be better for relaxing spasm in muscles: a vibration, percussion or shiatsu back massager? Which one is more appropriate for osteochondrosis or neuralgia treatment?
We’ve picked the top 15 best massagers and we’ll classify them for you and explain their purpose. Massagers are used both as primary and replacement therapy for athletes, white-collar workers, drivers, and doctors’ treatments as well as for rehabilitation. Their use neither requires any special skills nor involves a second person.
Best Back Massagers
- 1. iReliev Wireless Therapeutic Wearable TENS + EMS Unit
- 2. PlayMakar MVP Percussion Massager
- 3. Core Products Jeanie Rub Variable Speed Massager
- 4. Naipo Shiatsu Neck Back Massager with Heat
- 5. Comfier Massage Seat Cushion with Heat
- 6. Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager
- 7. Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager with Soothing Heat
There are 4 techniques inherent to classical massage: stroking, rubbing of the skin, kneading of muscles and vibration relaxing. While the vibrations help relieve muscle spasm tension, deep kneading allows working the muscles and intensifying blood circulation. The latter also removes toxins out of the body and increases metabolism.
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If you need a full back massager, you’ll find a Shiatsu-nodded cushion most suitable for that. It will cover the entire back. Let us warn you about different pain thresholds. It is very individual, and while Shiatsu balls motion may seem too crude for some people, it's unfair to expect perfection from a massager.
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If you have tense and spastic muscles, feel fatigue after sports or have improper desk posture, a handheld electro percussion massager with massage heads would be the best choice. The device will relieve these symptoms and make you feel good. You can massage the muscles that require more attention yourself.
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If you experience a problem with your upper back or neck, a massager with Shiatsu balls should be enough.
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If you feel discomfort in your back when driving a car, you will find a heated vibrating massage cushion more appropriate. Many customers are dissatisfied with weak vibration, so you can buy a powerful full back massager with 8 Shiatsu balls for deep and intense massage.
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If you suffer from osteochondrosis, neuralgia, pain in your back and neck, a pulse massager will definitely help. Technically, these devices are electro stimulators and not massagers. There are two types of electrostimulation, and they can either provide TENS or EMS or a combination of both.
TENS (transcutaneous electroneurostimulation) works by stimulating hypodermic nerves with the current. The method has been clinically tested and is effective. It relieves chronic pain of musculoskeletal nature (osteochondrosis, intercostal neuralgia, and post-traumatic neuralgia).
EMS (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) improves muscle tone of extremely untrained and paralyzed people. It is also useful during stroke recovery. These devices are often positioned as a tool for weight loss and gaining muscle, but in fact, they are useless for that.
Expert Opinion: Professor Mark Johnson Ph.D., Leeds Beckett University
Professor Mark Johnson Ph.D., Leeds Beckett University
Mark Johnson Ph.D. is a Professor of Pain and Analgesia at Leeds Beckett University. He heads the Centre for Pain Research in the university's School of Clinical and Applied Sciences. Mark received training in neurophysiology at the University of Leeds and obtained his Ph.D. in Pain Science from the University of Newcastle. His areas of interest include TENS, laser therapy, acupuncture, and drug medication as pain-relieving treatments.
“TENS is predominantly used to treat painful conditions, but it does not cure the condition. It tends to be used for relieving the symptoms of pain. And it is used for a wide range of conditions from acute pain — for example, post-surgical pain, pain during childbirth — right the way through to chronic persistent pain. For example, musculoskeletal pains like back pain and osteoarthritis pain. and what we call neuropathic pain. The research that we have done over the past 25 years suggests that the critical parameter is the intensity of TENS. And the other parameters like the speed of pulses or the patterns of pulses do not have a major influence as such. We advise our patients that when they apply TENS, as long as the strong current is comfortable, they can change the other settings and adjust them according to what they find most pleasant for them at that moment in time”.
As you can see, there is a number of massage types. But which one is suitable for you?
Percussion massagers use vibration to penetrate deep into the muscles and relax them. Generally, such devices are hand-held and do not require professional assistance, something that makes them particularly convenient. Using strikes and thumps, the massager stimulates not just skin and muscles, but also bones, veins, nerves, and internal organs. As a result, the therapy relieves spasms and stress and also helps to remove mucus from the lungs.
Shiatsu massage can be delivered by specially designed chairs or more portable devices. This therapy resembles a palm massage and provides a gentle squeeze. Shiatsu helps relax and reduce stress and is particularly recommended for people with sore muscles. In addition, this treatment assists the drainage of toxins and increases blood circulation. Is Shiatsu effective? Well, scientists from the University of Salford (UK) have carried out research to reveal the effect of Shiatsu both in the short-term and long-term. British and German citizens took part in the test that has demonstrated that the therapy helps to relax muscles as well as affects the person’s sleep and posture.
The TENS machine is another therapy suggested for treating sore muscles. The unit works by creating tapping and kneading that make the muscles relax. For instance, Hui En Gilpin from Pacific University has conducted a study to find out whether TENS machines are able to relieve severe pain in patients with osteoarthritis. The results have shown a significant improvement in pain following ten sessions. Based on these results, the researcher recommends using TENS equipment at 100 Hz and 200 µs for 40 minutes five times a week for two weeks. That said, British scientists from Leeds Metropolitan University note that TENS does not work for postoperative or labor pain.
Vibrating massagers cause muscle contraction, improve blood circulation and temperature of the treated area. This therapy is recommended for dealing with neuralgia and fatigue, relieves pain and relaxes muscles. However, experts warn that vibrations can negatively affect nerve tissue because “nerves do not like being battered.”
Kneading involves squeezing and compression of the tissue. For better results, you can press the device firmer to penetrate deeper tissues. Kneading works by stimulating the vital functions of your body, including nerves and blood vessels. This treatment is also helpful for releasing toxins. For this purpose, it is recommended to drink more water so that more toxins could be eliminated with urine.
Top Back Massagers
We’ve picked 15 different back massagers for different people and situations: handheld massagers for you to determine the massage areas, electronic pulse massagers for muscular electrostimulation, Shiatsu back massagers for deeper muscle treatment, a vibrating massage cushion for driving and a full back massage cushion to put in your armchair so that you can fully relax with the confidence that an electronic masseur will do the job perfectly. We’ll start with the cheapest and simplest hook back massager.
An Electronic Pulse Massager | TENS
As we’ve mentioned before, TENS (transcutaneous electroneurostimulation) stimulates hypodermic nerves with current and effectively relieves chronic pain of a musculoskeletal nature (osteochondrosis, intercostal neuralgia, post-traumatic neuralgia). EMS is neuromuscular electrical stimulation. This method improves the muscle tone of extremely untrained and paralyzed people. It is also useful during stroke recovery.
1. iReliev Wireless Therapeutic Wearable TENS + EMS Unit
iReliev is a brand developed by ExcelHealth, a company that produces devices for electrical therapy, including TENS and EMS machines. Today, we will consider two iReliev models, one of which is an advanced wireless option while the other one is an excellent budget choice.
ET-5050 is a wireless model of iReliev TENS & EMS unit that comes at a price of about $200. The key advantage of this machine is its convenience as it is wireless and easy to use. You can do all your chores at home without worrying about the device being disconnected from the power outlet. This gives you the freedom of movement and saves your time. The latter will encourage you to use the machine more often, something that will positively affect the overall effect of the treatment.
The device is very powerful and has as many as 14 programs, some of which reduce pain while others stimulate muscles. One more benefit of this machine is its cost-efficiency, meaning that it comes with a rechargeable battery and you will not have to spend extra money on new batteries. The device is portable, easy to set up and use, and comes with a backlit display and timer. Extra pods allow you to cover various parts of your body during one session that can last for up to 60 minutes.
iReliev Wireless Therapeutic TENS + EMS ET-5050: Check the current price
Alternatively, you may try the ET-7070 model, which is more affordable and will cost you less than $100. The reason for that is its wired design, which deprives the user of the advantages of wireless units. Still, this product has its own strong points. Apart from having 14 different programs, the unit boasts 25 intensity levels. It has a larger display than the ET-5050, something that is particularly convenient for elderly people. Moreover, this model weighs less — 12 ounces against 2 pounds — which makes it particularly preferable for frequent travelers.
iReliev ET-7070: Check the current price
Picking an Electric Back Massager
We’ve picked different electric back massagers that are similar in terms of appearance. Unlike Shiatsu massagers, the massage head is static, and neither rotates nor vibrates. It is a percussion massager which means the heads go in and out like hammers.
2. PlayMakar MVP Percussion Massager
Now, let’s consider a medical-grade massage device within this price range, which is obviously advertised as a powerful massager for athletes. This device delivers percussion massage and is recommended as a muscle recovery tool. It comes with six tips, two of which are intended for small and large muscle groups, while the others are used for deep tissue massage.
With six different speeds, the device produces up to 5400 percussions per minute. Equipped with a high-torque motor, applies rapid 10mm strokes. This item is quite heavy (2 pounds) but this downside is partially made up for by a carefully thought-over design including the ergonomic handle and battery power source. The manufacturer points to the fact that the unit has low-noise operation: 45-58dB.
PlayMakar: Check the current price
3. Core Products Jeanie Rub Variable Speed Massager
There are several reasons for choosing this product. First and foremost, it is manufactured by Core Products International, which is a reputable American company that has been successfully operating on the market for years. Established in 1988, it has since then produced an array of therapeutic products, including special-purpose cushions, belts, pillows as well as massage equipment.
In comparison with the other back massagers, this item has the advantage of being able to provide deeper massage, which at the same time is softer than percussion. The motor of this device operates at a speed of up to 4,600 RPM. The disadvantage lies in that you cannot use the unit on your own, instead, you will need assistance, someone who will move it across your back. Moreover, the device is quite bulky. With a weight of about 7 pounds and a 12-foot sizable power cord, it is the last thing you will want to put in your bag for a trip.
Still, the product’s large-size was not actually the manufacturer's omission, on the contrary, this is a key element of the design. The pad measuring 4 x 9 inches allows the unit to cover a large area of your body with one touch, which makes the massage more effective. Depending on the speed you choose, the device can deliver either invigorating or soothing massage. One more advantage of this product that I would like to highlight is durable and quality material it is made from. When compared to other metals, cast aluminum alloy is more resistant to corrosion and is a good conductor of electricity.
Core Products: Check the current price
Full Back Massagers
Here we’ve picked two massagers, a vibrating and a Shiatsu-balls one. If you drive, go for a vibrating one (Be careful not to fall asleep as vibration massage is relaxing). Shiatsu balls are inconvenient for a car seat. Imagine how they would constantly stick in your back. You will be tired rather than pleasured by this if you are travelling a long way. At home, on the other hand, you can completely relax and have a deep Shiatsu massage.
The rolled massage will make you feel hard and merciless (yes, merciless, as many buyers claim that this massage is too strong) masseur’s fingers. Naturally, the massage comes with some relaxing heat for your tense muscles.
4. Naipo Shiatsu Neck Back Massager with Heat
It is suitable for people of various heights, ranging from 150 to 185 cm as two top Shiatsu nodes built in the headrest will provide you with quality massage if you adjust the cushion to your height. It is especially recommended for people shorter than 165 cm, as they usually find it difficult to buy a back massager with the headrest balls reaching their neck muscles. Two vibration sources with three intensity levels are built in the seat, and four Shiatsu nodes move along your lower back in a complex trajectory. Each of the nodes contains two balls creating a deep 3D massage effect.
Naipo Shiatsu Massager: Check the current price
5. Comfier Massage Seat Cushion with Heat
Comfier Massage Seat Cushion with Heat universally relieves back and spine muscle pain and treats neuralgia, cramps, and arthritic pain in large joints. Massage of the back of thighs accelerates blood circulation in the legs, which is essential for people leading a sedentary lifestyle. Ten vibration zones across the entire surface provide for an even massage, even when driving.
There are no balls here as this cushion is designed for relaxing and soothing tired back muscles. Its purpose is to relax a driver’s muscles during a long and tiring trip. However, judging by the reviews, many buyers would prefer having Shiatsu-balls along with vibrating elements. Still, such a design is dictated by common sense: long-term exposure of the back muscles to idle Shiatsu rollers will create discomfort.
This heated massage cushion is suitable for those who have a high pain threshold and can endure the pain or discomfort caused by Shiatsu balls massage. This is definitely the most functional option in the category of massage cushions without Shiatsu elements.
Comfier: Check the current price
Picking a Neck and Back Massager
If your problem is topical (neck or lower back), you might find it sufficient to use an upper back & lower back massager. You can hold this small massage pillow against the affected area (your neck or knee) or place it under your lower back in the car on your way home. The second option, a Shiatsu shoulder massager with long looped handles attached to the massage nodes, is best for treating large areas, such as your back, shoulders, buttocks or thighs. Pulling the straps up and down, side to side and diagonally will practically replace a real-life masseur.
6. Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager
This is the smallest Shiatsu massager suitable for your neck, ankles, knees, elbows, and it can also be placed under your lower back. Zyllion has an ultra-thin design and is only 6 cm thick. Simultaneously, it provides complete acupressure with 4 Shiatsu nodes and heat muscle relaxation. It is popular for office and car use, as within 20 minutes it relieves stress in the most vulnerable areas when performing sedentary work. It is a bestselling pillow neck massager with about 10,000 reviews.
Shiatsu Neck Massager: Check the current price
7. Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager with Soothing Heat
Use this massager for semi-professional lower back, back and hip massage as the straps allow for faster and easier massage of large muscles than compact handheld massagers do. Nekteck provides 3 massage speed modes and manual intensity adjustment settings. A variety of options minimizes possible pain. Its indisputable competitive edge over rivals is in the double number of massaging elements as Nekteck has 8 built-in Shiatsu balls.
Shoulder Massager: Check the current price
Other Good Back Massager
8. Wahl Deep Tissue Percussion Massager
This massager with five nozzles on a long handle is a quick helper against stress or pain: its huge flat disk kneads large muscles while four finger-like nodes nozzle mimics manual massage. The acupoint is well suited for concentrated massage of small areas and if the pain point is located deep in the tissue, a simple round nozzle is designed for a relaxing massage. This is a family massager.
WAHL 4290-300: Check the current price
9. LiBa Back and Neck Massager for Trigger Point Fibromyalgia Pain Relief | Best Cheap and Simple Hook Back Massager
Slight fatigue can be relieved with a regular wooden or plastic massager with protruding elements such as this 5-ball self-massage stick. It has a long handle, so you can reach the least accessible spots. It fits in your gym bag easily and is designed for a quick massage after intensive training or hard work
LiBa Back and Neck Massager Tool: Check the current price
10. HoMedics Percussion Action Massager with Heat
Two features distinguish this from similar massagers: it has two massage heads and it exudes infra-red heat. With a weight of only 2.5 pounds, this model is portable and convenient. It is likely that heating will be the key factor when making a decision. The device is used for gentle massage.
HoMedics HHP-350: Check the current price
11. PUREWAVE™ CM-07 Dual Motor Percussion + Vibration Therapy Massager (White)
This model is quite expensive but there are reasons for that. With 10,000 vibrations per minute, it delivers powerful deep tissue massage that is so effective that many therapists and sports trainers have chosen this device for professional use. For the record, Pure Wave is a registered trademark of PADO, a US-based company that is engaged in creating new technologies and, in particular, manufacturing professional-grade massagers.
The device works in two modes, delivering both body percussion therapy and soothing micro-vibration to your face. The percussion motor can produce up to 3,700 RPM (the number of turns in one minute), which makes it the best in its class. The facial motor located at the other end of the machine features a speed of up to 11,000 RPM.
According to clinically conducted trials, this massager helps to break down scar tissue, improves blood circulation, and relaxes muscles. There are two additional nozzles for your face and scalp. Not only will this massager replace a manual masseur, but it will also become your personal beautician by relaxing and improving the tone of facial muscles.
When used on larger muscles, it relieves pain and cramps, especially if you use a 6-head nozzle. Each of its heads is equipped with 8 silicone fingers for deep, fast and intensive muscle massage. One more advantage I’d like to mention is the unit’s portability, meaning that you are no longer dependent on an outlet and can use it on the road, in a plane, in a queue or anywhere else! It weighs less than its rivals (only 1.8 pounds).
Pure-Wave CM7: Check the current price
How I’ve tested a back massager and used it for 5 years
I spend 18 hours a day sitting in front of the computer. In my nearly 40 years I’ve “earned’ a degenerative disc disease, the curse of intellectuals with a sedentary lifestyle. I have a pull-up bar and a treadmill at home; I do 50 pushups on average daily, as well as stretching and other rehabilitation exercises to keep myself in shape.
Twice a year I visit a professional massage therapist who stretches the muscle tissues, relieves muscle spasms, and stimulates the spinal nerves. Therapeutic massage plays an important role in our faced-paced modern lives. In its normal state, the muscle tissue has to be smooth and elastic. This is exactly what therapeutic massage aims to achieve.
But massage is still not enough. Due to sedentary living, the muscles shrink and weaken. The cervical region is particularly affected. Cervical degenerative disc disease is associated with neck pain and stiffness, the insufficient blood supply to the intervertebral discs, which lead to their atrophy, shrinkage, and pressure on the spinal nerves.
Long sitting hours cause your muscles to be statically tense even if you change your position. The muscle spasms are characterized by aching, nagging pain, which makes you feel like an old man.
Therefore, in between the therapeutic massage sessions, you can use a simple homemade hand massager. This is an emergency, short-term solution that would relax the tense muscles and alleviate muscles fatigue, as well as increase blood flow and stimulate nerves. You definitely need this massager if your lifestyle is primarily sedentary or you drive long hours, at least as a preventative measure against disc degeneration processes.
What can a handheld back massager really do for you? As tested by me:
- Quickly remove the spasm of the superficial muscles. However, do not expect the massager to reach the deep muscles, which can only be reached by the hands of a professional massage therapist.
- Accelerate blood circulation in the massaged area and oxygenate the muscle tissues.
- Percussion of up to 3,600 pulses per minute should be sufficient to reach superficial muscle tissues.
- However, the effectiveness of Acupoint therapy, which is featured by many manufacturers, is essentially questionable (according to evidence-based medicine). It’s also highly unlikely that an average person has specific knowledge about acupuncture and which spots to stimulate for the desired effect.
In my opinion, the Percussion-type massager is currently the most scientifically proven among back massagers.
However, let me remind you again that not a single home massager will replace physical activity (at least 20 minutes a day) and the hands of a professional massage therapist.
14 Best-Selling Back Massagers Comparative Table
Testing & Customers Reviews
We found reviews from real YouTube bloggers about the products from our article.
JB OFF: "In the past I've suffered from back pain from sitting all the time at work and now this wonderful pillow completely changed everything. Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager has been great because it does not create too much pressure yet it's not very mild either. I think for a car it's a little bit rough. You might want to stick to a whole chair massager instead of this but for at work it's great. So I'm traveling right now and having to stay up kind of late and my back is getting sore. This little puppy is amazing. Like there are no words when you lean back on this how good it feels. And I've put it to pretty good use already and the motor seems great. It doesn't make a lot of noise. It gets a little warm but not even enough to really make you sweat or anything.
I don't usually do it on my upper back. I really do it on my lower back. But a few times my shoulder and my bicep have been really sore and I'll even just rest my arm on it. I've done it with my leg too. And it just it feels amazing. Honestly I need to get like five of them and just lay down on them and create like a massive bed of it because it's amazing. It's the best present in the world. Anyone that even remotely gets sore or even has a little bit of tension occasionally would like this. I think it's a great little gift for Christmas or just to give yourself because you deserve it. It's not like those painful back massaging chairs that you sit in and it feels better than the ones that are in the nail salons or whatever. This thing is awesome and the more you recline back the harder the massage feels the more upright you sit or I guess the less pressure you put on it the lighter of a massage it gives. So I usually kind of sit almost totally upright It's not too loud. It's very easy, not that heavy. I really love it."
BARBARA HEUSSER: "I have chronic pain and it's been my motivation to try to find remedies to relieve this pain. Now my doctor has recently told me that there's really nothing else they can do for me in terms of helping me manage my pain so I'm continuing to take a proactive approach. Perhaps you've had that same bad news and I hope that you will continue to be proactive about finding solutions for yourself. And one of the solutions that has helped me is HoMedics Percussion Action Massager. My daughter gave this to me as a Christmas present which was wonderful and I am finding that I can use it in the evening to just help to tone down the pain pretty much. This past year we haven't been able to go for massages so having this personal handheld massage has been a nice alternative. Furthermore a further benefit seems to be that it stimulates surrounding nerves from the nerve area that's hurting so that the brain senses that it's got to listen to some of these other messages and that seems to relax the pain messages that your brain is getting. So you don't feel pain as much.
It's top heavy from the point of view of the massager and I would say that that's the only drawback to this. Because it is top heavy if you are a weak person or you have a weak hand strength this might not be a product that you could use because it it does take a bit of maneuvering and a bit of strength to hold that in place. Even though it's two and a half pounds it's still so heavy that it does require some some hand strength. Other than that I have no complaints because it does what it says it will do which is to massage your body. Now the unit stays on for 15 minutes per session when they say that you shouldn't massage any longer than 15 minutes. I don't worry about about the other warning which is that you shouldn't hold it in the one place longer than three minutes because I'm moving it around where my pain area is. My pain also runs down my upper leg and into my calf so I'm moving it up and down during the session. So i highly recommend this product for temporary relief. It's not going to provide a cure or long-term relief but it certainly makes life a little more pleasant with cutting down on the sensation of pain."
rjguess1: "I've had PureWave CM-07 for about six or seven months and I have to say I'd give it a 5 out of 5 star. I bought this because I developed a a knot in my calf that I just could not remove by hand massaging or using other types of massagers and I've read some reviews on this on how wonderful it is at getting the knots out of your muscles and it works really really good. After I received this in the mail I opened it up, charged, it took about an hour maybe an hour and a half to fully charge, and I got about 30 minutes of use out of it before the battery died. But the very first use I got the knot out of my calf muscle and I was good to go after about two days of being very very sore from massaging that area.
My knees sometimes get a little tender when I run too long and I'll take this and rub it over my knees to help get that blood flowing, relax them. And it works really well. Just a couple minutes on each kneecap. I've even massaged my fingers before when they've been a little achy. It works really good. On the bottom of your feet it works really nice. It has a lot of power and it gets very very deep in your tissue and massages really deep. I run a lot so my thighs and my it band, my calves get really tight and I like to use this sometimes before I go out running and especially after. And man it is awesome on your back. And what's nice about it it's got a long extension so you can reach your back with this thing and massage your back. So it's wonderful. And the little stand it comes on it's kind of nice. I just have it sitting in the corner of my room so I can grab it whenever I need it. And I use it a lot if not four or five times a week."
Victor Poulin: "I've used Nekteck Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager for about a month and a half. It doesn't matter how many times I use this it feels so good. The heater works really well too. It takes maybe two and a half to three minutes for the heat to be in full and you'll know that it's on because it is quite warm and you may need to turn it off. And it literally pushes me. I'm about 148 pounds and it it literally pushes me away from it. When I first got this I could barely touch it because I had a lot of different sore spots in my back from different jobs that I do. So now that I've used it for about a month off and on maybe every other night I can put so much pressure on the massager right now that that I never could before. Since I've been using it I'm probably 50 percent better than I was in the past. I have problems with my shoulder and it feels so good when it's squeezing it. That's up to you how much pressure you want. The harder I pull this into me the more aggressive it grabs my shoulder it can actually hurt. So me knowing that it hurts lets me know I still have some issues in my shoulder. So it's been a hard part for me to work out my shoulders. Maybe 20 to 30 better using this unit.
There's not too many areas of your body you won't be able to use this on. I have issues in my right arm from throwing boomerangs and doing repetitious work building my boomerangs. I love working my feet with this. I would suggest anybody out there that has aches and daily pains that you're always putting up with which I have for years and it's always nice when you have somebody in the home that can give you a massage and work those muscles but if you don't have anybody around this feels great. This may actually work even better because you're controlling how much pressure you get by leaning on it or how much you pull. That's not very expensive and I absolutely love it."
Conclusion
Specialists from Mayo Clinic say that massage, such as kneading and stroking, relieves muscle tension and stress mainly in the short term. However, there was a study showing that acupressure, a kind of massage that imitates acupuncture but without involving the needles' use, can have a longer-term effect. There are devices delivering Shiatsu massage — therapy based on the traditions of Oriental Medicine. As experts from Acupuncture Massage College explain, Shiatsu amplifies the body's ability to heal itself. This therapy works by stimulating the immune system and helps to restore physical functions of the nervous system and internal organs.
