HoMedics Therapist Select Shiatsu Back Massager Reviews

• Just try it once and you'll be hooked!

  
  By A1TAPIIEM2YI7E on 2004-01-03
  I just had to go and find this remarkable little gadget after trying it at my brother's house. He bought it after trying it at his in-laws. It is THAT good, try it once, and you will be hooked. Two little balls go up and down your spine like little fingers. It is a very intense experience. I was sore for a day afterwards until I took a nice hot shower. Then, I had to buy my own unit. It is like visiting your own personal massage therapist whenever you want. Basically, the shiatsu balls work the lower thru upper back and the cushions vibrate in different ways to invigorate your thighs. But make no mistake, this little baby is about getting those stubborn knots out of your back. A little bit of heaven on my couch. Ahhh.........
  3/11/04- An update here, do NOT use this product on a recliner. I was reclined and leaned to the side..SNAP...it broke. 3 weeks later my brother plopped down on his reclined chair and broke his too. I sent it off for repairs and am dying to get it back. WARNING- If you do buy this, use a straight back chair, like a kitchen chair. My brothers inlaws use a straightback chair and have had no problems. Don't use it in a recliner!
  
  

• effective for light use; smells tolerable

  
  By A39O4LK4B49WO2 on 2004-04-09
  For the $ you spend, this is a good, practical massager for a home or office environment. Everyone who has tried it in my office said "WOW" -- mainly because of the rollers that travel up and down your back. Much more effective than any other chair that merely vibrates. The rollers can be quite strong - for skinny people, a towel or two would be quite good. Or you can learn to lean less against it when it starts to hurt.
  
  I would love for it to travel even higher to help with my neck, but I'll settle for the range that it currently provides. It does have a strong gasoline-like smell - initially, after closing off my office for the weekend, Monday morning can be a bit hard due to the strong smell that has built up. But it has either faded somewhat or I have gotten more used to it (which is not too good for me).
  
  Overall, a solid performer for light use - a few times a day, when your back really feels tight.
  
  EDITS on 12/1/2004: After using it for 8 months I still like it a lot. The smell is all gone after a couple of months' use. I mainly use the back rollers (sitting in front of a computer most of the time), and can tell the difference after a 15-minute or so session - my back muscles are much loosened. I don't use the seat massage too much, but when I do I really like it as well. My favorite is the "side-to-side" mode. Makes the thighs relax.
  
  EDITS in July 2007: It is finally broken. Nothing happens now when connected except that the power button on the remote keeps blinking. Too bad.
  
  

• Evaluate the other Homedics models before you buy

  
  By A1DDHGA1HL2T34 on 2005-11-01
  I bought the SBM-200 as a gift for my wife after she tried it at a local store and loved it. After getting it and using it, I noted a few things about these units to be aware of.
  
  The upper back and lower back programs also massage the mid back. I wish there was a way to limit the movement to only the lower or upper back, and have a separate program for mid back instead of the demo mode button.
  
  There are 3 zippers on the back near the upper and lower seat fold, and 1 zipper on the seat bottom. Unfortunately, the zipper bodies have sharp metal edges and the seat cover does not have flaps to cover them, so they might damage the upholstery of your chair. The instruction manual warns of this, and says not to use it on wooden chair surfaces. I placed a folded towel underneath the unit to protect my leather recliner. This slightly adds to the height and further reduces the depth of the seating area.
  
  The seat bottom does nothing at all except for being a cushion and a holder for the wired handheld remote.
  
  The unit is not comfortable to sit on when not in use. However it is somewhat clunky to remove, transport, and store with the 12 ft of power cable, transformer (which sits on the floor), and the various seat fastening straps.
  
  Given these facts, the slightly shorter SBM-100 might be a better and more economical choice. Since the SBM-100 does not have a bottom seat cushion, it offers some leeway in positioning the unit against your back.
  
  Homedics also offers the slightly more expensive SBM-300 and QRM-400 which feature rolling massage, adjustable massage width, and the ability to hold the massage heads at a specific point. The SBM-300 also has vibrating seat massage while the QRM-400 has 4 heads. Adjustable width is nice as I feel the SBM-200 massages too close to my spine.
  
  Note that all of these units have the sharp zipper bodies. Homedics should really redesign them to use velcro or position the zippers on the sides and top where it won't contact and damage the chair.
  
  They should also try to package the power transformer into the back cushion to make it easier to transport and store.
  
  I opened the zippers and took a peek inside the back. It is mostly plastic. A single motor rides on a track and simultaneously drives the 2 rotating nylon heads. The gears are nylon. Limit switches on the track determine the points at which the motor reverses for each of the programs. Each head has two "nubs" which do the massaging. The heads rotate against a thin nylon cover. A vinyl flap covers the nylon cover. The massage action feels pretty good, but it is hardly "state of the art" and I hope it lasts. The manual warns against putting your weight on the heads while they're in motion.
  
  
  

• DO NOT ORDER THIS IS NOT THE SAME SBM-200 AS OF MARCH

  
  By AFWJFB8FB80AA on 2004-04-03
  If you have tried one of these at your local dept store as I did [...] you hit the demo button and felt the back do it's thing and you also felt the seat motors kick in, vibrating and pulsating. Well guess what HoMedics has decided, due to cost and the ability to build more of them for the high demand and more profit, to delete the seat motors. The problem is they kept the same Model # SBM-200 and the same price!

  So if you want the original that does it all you better call around and make sure you get one of the older models with the hand control that has a body silouette on it with controls for the seat motors. The new model has only 4 buttons and no seat motors.

  Don't get me wrong I love my older model SBM-200 for its stimulating massages, that's after I returned one of the new models that did nothing but go up and down the back. The seat vibrating function adds alot to it!!!
  
  

• Great massager - short lived

  
  By AN49QCM69ZSG1 on 2005-11-19
  After trying the demo in the store, I was not going home without this massager. I used it daily for about three months until the rollers got stuck about half-way up the track and just snapped continuously in that position. I've been without my massager for several weeks until today when I bought the SBM-100. At half the price of the SBM-200 it does an acceptable job; although it doesn't seem to have as long a track.
  
  
• You get what you pay for...
  By A3U7K1CEEH4X6F on 2003-11-11
  I own the magnasager, homedics shiatsu neck massager, homedics wave action massager, as well as a "wand type" massager.

  I ordered the SBM-200 because I am a big fan of the "human touch" type of massage.
  Unfortunately it arrived broken. The balls would spin but they would not travel up and down the length of the spine.

  At any rate, here is what I observed.
  1) The balls were a little more than the size of a marble. Because they were so small, the massager wasn't as comfortable as other massagers with roller-balls.
  2) The balls felt "light".
  3) The machine was as loud as any other massager in this price range.

  Overall, for $85-100 a person could do a lot worse. But if you are looking for a substitute for a nice massage chair, this is not it. If you are looking for a low cost massager that does more than just vibrate you might want to take a look at the SBM-200.
  
  

• A Great Massage!
  By on 2003-10-23
  I bought this massager because I don't want to spend over a thousand dollars on a shiatsu massage chair, and was pleasantly surprised. The shiatsu-style massager really works! It might be a little too hard for those with bonier backs, but that can be alleviated with a towel placed over the massager. It massages from the lower to upper back, and the massaging balls travel up and down, unlike some other massagers. I have another massaging mat from the sharper image that is supposed to knead and vibrate, but that seems like a piece of junk compared to this one! (And it costs just about the same, too). So I think for the price, it's a great bargain.
  
  
• Excellent, deep massage
  By AQSNJ8HQ3WHMS on 2004-11-06
  I like a massage that hurts a little, and this one is perfect. This is the third back massager that we've owned and by far it is my favorite. Other massagers that we have used simply vibrate. This one has 2 little balls on each side that move in a circular motion up and down the back. It feels like someone rubbing my back with a thumb and the knuckle of a finger. The first time I tried it, I could not believe it.
  
  The exterior is a smooth vinyl exterior. Other massagers that I have used have had a fuzzy exterior than attracted dust, lint, and hair. This one is easy to keep clean. The balls always stop in the low position, so the massager is comfortable to sit on when it is not "on". I found it to be quiet compared to other massagers that I've used.
  
  I double-checked the model number of this massager and it matches the number shown here. As another reviewer noted, it does not have three speeds. Additionally, the control is not what I call programmable. There are four selections: demo, full back, lower back and upper back. That's it. Truthfully, there is not much difference between the lower back and upper back settings. The seat is cushioned, and does not vibrate.
  
  I don't recommend the Shiatsu Back Massager for people who want a gentle massage. This massager gives a deeper massage. I love it and can't get enough!
  
  
• Those balls really work!
  By A237Y304XAPHCF on 2003-10-07
  I am the huge fan for massage and I own more than 10 different massagers inclding two massage chairs cost me $$$. It is the best one I can find for this price and did provide some deep relaxing massage, not just some dizzy vibrating. I use it in my office, and everyone in my office loves it.
  
  
• I tried it and like it
  By A1TKM36EYEQNSM on 2004-06-02
  I bought the ten motor Massuer previous to trying the Shiatsu Back Massager. This thing works great. It is a little too harsh if the seat you are using for this process is too hard. A more cushioned seat may make it just right.

  I have chronic upper back pain and this massager was useful in working out the kinks in my back. However, the motion for the upper part of the back is too long or not focused enough. I would recommend this item as a five if the massager could focus more on a specific area or be more concentrated. I wanted to have a more concentrated workout on one area.

  Also, the massage area is a bit narrow, in other words, it may not be wide enough for some. I am big, and the massage area for me was not wide enough to reach my most sore muscle aches, yet if I moved or adjusted my position to get my right trapezius, I would be massaging my spine and I do not think this machine would be good for that.

  The part of the massager that is in the seat area is a little too weak. However, that seems to be more of an addition to the more to the point of the item the shiatsu massage.

  It did make me more relaxed and did give me a good massage. For those on a budget who cannot afford the more expensive massage chairs, this may be just what you need. If you do not like deep massages, it will not be for you.
  
  

• As good as it gets...
  By A3LA73E5QI85FL on 2005-11-05
  I've tried umpteen chair massagers and this is one is bar-none the best. Very firm yet fluid massage and it actually does get knots out. Straps onto any chair with quality elastic/velco straps across the back and seat so it doesn't slide around (practically unnoticable if your chair is all-black). For the price, you can't beat it.
  
  
• Chair hog
  By A3ED1V1M7HY8O8 on 2005-12-04
  Pros: Does a fairly good job of massaging the areas of your back on the massager plane of travel in the shiatsu mode.
  Cons: Vibrating seat. Cords and cables all over the place get caught under chair wheels. When not in use, it is uncomfortable and once it loses its initial charm, it gets taken out of the chair and used to collect dust. Made it China so if it breaks it becomes one more imported piece of poorly made outsourced junk.
  
  
• Works surprisingly well
  By AY0S5LLDKGK2Y on 2005-12-11
  I tried this at the store and was very impressed by its power for just a chair pad. I've purchased other over-the-chair massagers as gifts before and they usually get tossed aside because they just vibrate. This one actually massages and massages well for its size.
  
  However, I found that it didn't reach the upper part of my back where I really need massaging action. I'm only 5'6" and it goes as high as mid-shoulder bones.
  
  
• DONOT PURCHASE THIS ONE ITS BEEN REMODELED BY HOMEDICS
  By AFWJFB8FB80AA on 2004-03-26
  So,
  I tried one of these at my local Dillard's and loved it but they were out of stock and it was $100. I searched and purchased it thru Amazon.com. The model SBM-200 I tried at the store had Shiatsu rolling motion on the back plus vibration and tapping settings also the seat had vibration also that was adjustable from the hand control which shows a body with led's and approx 8 buttons to adj. where the massage is taking place.
  The model I received SBM-200 from Amazon.com had only the Shiatsu back motion balls and thats it! The hand control has 4 buttons. There is no tapping or back vibrating or seat cushion vibration. I called HoMedics and they said they had changed the model for economy and so more can be built in a shorter time?
  So be careful if you want the original with all the features do your homework and call around because its the same model # lacking all of the original features. Needless to say I sent my back and found an original one thru the net made a call amd made sure it had all the features and it's on its way.
  Good Luck out there,
  
  
• Duane - NY
  By A1PW0P9JAMOAOF on 2004-10-01
  It is a good product. But Amazon mis-advertises it by indicating it has 3 speeds. It has one speed.
  
  I email Amazon to tell them that their discription of the product is incorrect. What does Amazon do but send me a second massager that I have to return to them.
  
  Why is it that when you email Amazon that you either do not get a reply, or the reply answers a question you did not ask. And you do not get an answer to the question you did ask.
  
  Something gets lost in the translation. I am quite certain that the Executives of Amazon, or any other US company that outsources work to India, do not have any Indian secretaries or repectionists.
  
  
• Take 12 Xanax before opening this wonderful device :)
  By A363B01GREGP0T on 2005-10-27
  I am a delightful, wonderful 70 yr old senior citizen, whom everyone loves, including myself. I was diagnosed by my medic with severe spinal osteoporoses a month ago, and since that time I have resembled my idol, Frankenstein. Nevertheless, as a recoverying alcoholic I used the tools of AA to handle any catastrophe that might come my lucky way, so I need not fear. I ordered this beautiful machine and I trusted in you completely. As I read the directions, there was no procedure given for assembly. No #1, then #2 and you're home, as usual. OK keep going. Plug unit into 120 outlet and attach to the receiver on the "side of the cushion". Easy enough. Put your glass on, Jim to findd the receiver. Cushion, right, side, no must be on other side. Huh? Where's this receiver. Zippo. Must be made in my homeland, Ireland? Nah. Nothing underneath the cushion, nothing on top of the cushion. Where the h...is the G.D. doodad?? Let's check the graphic that shows it on the picture. Picture of the unit, no arrows, no pointers, just a couple words of English that never mention the receiver. At this point, I remain calm and say the Serenity Prayer. God, give me the strength to toss this G.D. piece of s... out my apartment window. It worked, I took a deep breathe and offered thanks to my Higher Power. Thanks for this AA program sweet Lord. Jim, peel off the plastic covering on the BACK of the dam thing, says my higher power. Nah, it can't be there, Boss. They say it's on the SIDE of the cushion. Do as I SAY, lamebrain. Okay, Okay. Lift up the plastic cover. At last, there it is under my nose all the time. How clever, it was NEVER near the cusion, just BOLTED to the back of the unit, with its tip cleverly SEALED with a hooded plastic helmet. At last, my humble Irish back gets kneaded gently with loving care. Thank you, thank you, dear caring friends of Homedics. I want to loving share my experience with my fellow Senior Citizens whom you sincerely reach out to. What would we ever do without such loving aliens as yourselves. Welcome to our world, but please be sure to extend our apprection to your relatives back on Uranus. Again, I offer my heart to you like so many in sincere gratitude. With undying confidence, and love, truly, truly yours, I remain in pain, Jim Hanley, former manic depressive, but you have helped me more than you'll ever now. Higher Power, bless them abundantly, please, please.
  
  DO visit me in sunny Paterson, New Jersey, the Paris of the East. Please visit our gorgeous Falls, second only to Niagra. I'll hang you by your appendages so you can better a better view with your fly eyes. Again, thank you dear friends for all of us here. You're welcome anytime. Keep comin' back. It works.
  
  
• AWESOME!
  By ASC8XP4WFMV1V on 2004-02-15
  I'm one of these pathetic, whiney "pleeeaaaassseee just rub my back for one little second" people. My back muscles are always sore,tense and in knots. It gets so bad that after a 2-6hr car ride I can hardly move my neck left or right. Anyway, this thing has taken me from pitiful to ecstatic. Every night I come home from work and let it massage my back. Also, if I scoot down far enough I can get it to massage my neck and the base of my skull. Every one who tries it at my house has to go buy one. It does have a strong plastic smell, enough to smell my whole living room up but after 1 month, it's going away and it's been worth it! It's holding up really well though I lean against it pretty hard as it says not to do, the balls can only take so much pressure and your not supposed to lay on it on the floor. My recommendation is to get this massager if you like a good, DEEP, upright back massage all the time.
  
  
• This massager works very well
  By A2Q1F2NZJK7B7R on 2005-11-03
  It has been wonderful owning this massager! It rubs away the tension. It is very addicting!
  
  
• Tried it for 2 minutes and i loved it!!!
  By on 2003-11-26
  i bought this for my mom for here birthday gift anf for kicks, of course, i wanted to see how it actually felt..... the thing was great. of course it doesnt feel as great as one of those really expensive chairs, but if youre looking for a cheaper massager for the almost same feeling, buy this. its well worth the money. the massager is generally concentrated on the back (which feels great). it vibrates the thighs and pretty much does nothing for the neck
  
  
• Shiatsu Massaging Cushion
  By A2NEULL8HBTJVT on 2005-12-02
  After a strenuous Thanksgiving I was left with a very sore gluteous maximus. I ordered the Shiatsu massaging cushion which arrived yesterday. I've used it a couple of times now with wonderous results. My sore back is almost entirely pain free after a week or suffering. I highly recommend this unit for other suffering, over-worked folks.
  
  
• Great Massager though needs some additional features
  By A3W2BFOCDJ3VQA on 2005-02-15
  For the <$100 this is a great massager. Its massages very well mainly because of the rollers that travel the lenght of the spine on the back. Its as effective as any hand massage session if not better. The rollers are quite strong so a towel or a thick shirt would be good before running the massager. When it starts to hurt it can simply be switched off.
  
  The couple of things which i would have desired in this is to have the rollers work on the thighs also. There is no rollers on the seatable portion of this so its like just dumb seat!! the other problem is that the rollers really doesnt reach the lumbar bone of my back which i find it sometimes frustrating since that is the portion of my back which needs extra care.
  I mainly use the lower back setting since i sit in front of a computer most of the time and can feel the difference after a 10+minute. Though the back muscles are loosened i would have desired it to be a little lower on the lumbar bone area. other than this i am very happy with the performance of this product..
  
  some questions
  
  I did wonder if this has heat?
  NO..mainly rollers which applies pressure..
  
  is it plugged in or battery operated?
  No battery. Just an AC adapter.
  
  Can you take it in the car? {in other words, is it portable, or do you need to be near an outlet?}
  There is no car adapter provided by homedics. but i have seen lot of listings for the same on eBay.
  
  How about the material, and the level of settings?
  The material feels like leather. its really good. but as i said above better to wear a thick shirt and then use it as the rollers are pretty good.
  3 Settings
  Lower Back, Upper Back and Full back.
  
  
• lower back massage doesn't seem to work
  By on 2004-07-26
  I just bought this and it works pretty well on the whole. The upper back doesn't reach as far as i'd like but it's a minor quibble as it does hit the muscles behind the shoulder blades. That is a key sore spot for me most of the time. I also wish it hit the lower back more solidly.
  The only real problem is that the lower back feature is virtually working as full back massage. It doesn't stop and go back to the lower position, just keeps going up. It doesn't go as high up as the upper back or full back mode tho.
  The display model had the same issue and I'd hoped it was a malfunction from misuse/abuse in the store but a brand new one proved to have the same defect. I will call Homedics and see what they have to say.
  On the whole tho, it is a good investment. I also want to add that I agree with those who state it does leave you feeling somewhat sore and bruised. I imagine tho that will fade.
  
  
• It Cannot Be Used in a Car
  By on 2003-12-16
  The massager, to my surprize, cannot be used in a car, which was the reason I bought it in the first place. It is an excellent item, but it is strictly for in-home use.
  
  
• Hear's the story....
  By on 2004-03-31
  Positives: A remarkable breakthrough on a massager of this type in this price range. The closest machine on the market to the $1000+ massage chairs (although those chairs are dropping in price now). Not just vibration like most massage pads (including others by Homedics). True up & down massage balls. No thumping action like the high-end maasage chairs, but at this price, it's still a bargain. Seat chushion vibrates (they call it "tapping"....feels okay, but nothing like the back pad).
  Negatives: 1) Wish it would go a bit higher up the spine: it doesn't really work your neck. 2) The "ODOR" problem: Ditto all other reviewers on this problem! Smells like gasoline. I e-mailed Homedics Customer Service and unlike Austin, TX reviewer, I received a response in 24 hours. They said: odor is from the glue used (makes sense: smells like really strong expoxy). The demand on these has been very high (sound true also -- try finding one locally). They are shipping them so fast from the factory (think they are made in China), the glue does not have time to cure (dry). They are wrapped in sealed plastic bags and boxed. They said the smell will disappate over time. I put mine in the garage 5 days ago. Checked today and the smell is much less. Will keep it in the garage for a few more days.
  
  
• Very pleased.....bought model with vibrating seat
  By AQFQ7ML7D7AGB on 2004-07-27
  Based on other reviews I just purchased the older model with vibrating seat. No strong glue smell which was good. The shiatsu massage is great. Much better than a simple vibrating massager. I found that sitting on a pillow raises my back enough to catch the very low back area where I really need it. Worth every dollar.
  
  
• The Best Chair Cushion, but Has Its Limitations
  By ATI8A7RHH7VRO on 2005-07-31
  First off, let me say that of the chair cushions, this is the best I've tried. The shiatsu rollers are a fabulous improvement over those horried vibrating doo dads. And the rollers DO feel very good on the back.
  
  I didn't find them too hard, in fact they were NICE and strong. But I've been using another shiatsu massager for a while and do like my massages to really get in there. More sensitive folks or those who are not used to it, would probably want to start off with a towel.
  
  For $100, it's a much better deal than the massage chairs. In my area (Boston) I get 20% off coupons to Bed Bath and Beyond every
  couple of weeks. So I used one of those and only paid $80; a very reasonable cost.
  
  I didn't notice any smell.
  
  However, this has some limitations that have made me decided to return it.
  
  1) You can't park the rollers. So if you have a specific spot, you have to wait until the rollers move to that spot on the track as part of the rolling-up-and-down-your-back sequence. And then they only hit each spot for a few seconds. So if you need to concentrate on a few spots, you really can't.
  
  2) If your problem areas are in your lower and mid back, you're good to go. But my problem areas are my neck and shoulders and this just doesn't get at them at all. I'm only 5'1", so I thought I'd be able to get at those higher spots anyway. But the shape of the cushion doesn't allow the proper reach.
  
  3) It's set up to work the back, which is fine, but you can't really move it around. It's also bulky and a little heavy.
  
  4) The Demo button is pretty useless. I guess it's there for use in the stores. But once you bring it home, it's completely unhelpful. Homedics should maybe limit the demo feature to cushions that are actually to be used as demos.
  
  I'm going to stick with my
  HoMedics SM-100 Shiatsu Massager with Bonus Head Rest
  (...)
  It's much less money ($24 on Amazon), and gives me the versatiliy
  I need and does an amazing job on my neck and shoulders.
  
  
  
• Consumer Digest Best Buy!
  By A3UKBO659RJ0QP on 2006-05-06
  This is by far the best massage chair pad for the money. After doing extensive research on several similiar massagers, this one came out on top. Comsumer Digest thinks so too! Research Bizrate.com for the best deal!! It's alot cheaper at Drugstore.com. Only $71.99 w/$6.00 shipping! BUY IT!
  
  
• a short life massager
  By on 2004-02-13
  I was satisfied with the pad. It's superior to any other massager pads I have had. While I was recommanding it to all my friends, this baby died in just two month. What I can do now is to wrap it up and send it back for service. Besides, I have to pay the shipping for the 'round trip'.
  
  
• this massager is well worth the money
  By AJZ63MYQY8CXK on 2006-07-14
  I tried this shiatsu massager at a friend's house and ordered it for myself the next day. I have not been disappointed so far. It is the best of all the 'at home massagers' I've tried and I've been using it every night after work. the only downsides I've encountered are that it doesn't quite get to the upper shoulder and neck the way I wish it would and the running time is only 15 minutes. I would most definitely recommend this product to anyone who comes home with a stiff or sore back. Well worth the money!
  
  
• Disappointed
  By on 2004-02-09
  Although I would agree that this gives quite a vigorous back massage, I was disappointed that after only 5 weeks the shiatsu mechanism malfunctioned. We now have to box it up and send it back for replacement/repair. For the money, I think the quality could have been better.
  
  

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