Homedics SBM-200H Therapist Select Shiatsu Massaging Cushion with Heat
This is your massage therapist on demand! Deep kneading Shiatsu massage travels fully up and down your back relieving the tightest knots. With true shiatsu massage at your fingertips, there's no more need for expensive appointments or schedules to juggle.
In fact, it's so good that Consumers Digest has awarded the SBM-200H a Best Buy award! The SBM-200H's state-of-the-art moving Shiatsu massage mechanism travels up and down the back to help knead away deep aches and pains, while relieving the tightest knots. The deep kneading action simulates the hands of a professional massage therapist.
The SBM-200H turns an ordinary chair into an extraordinary massage chair, melting away tension and fatigue. The unit includes a three-program Shiatsu massage for full back, lower back or upper back treatment. There's also a programmable touch pad control for customized massage selection, as well as an integrated strapping system that fits most chairs.
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| SBM-200H | SBM-300H | QRM-400H | |
| Body Area | Back | Back | Back |
| Mechanism | Shiatsu - 2 rotating massage heads travel up and down the back with heat. | Shiatsu - 2 rotating massage heads travel up and down the back with heat. | Quad-Roller - 4 rollers (2 rollers on each arm) travel up and down the back with heat. |
| Massage Styles | Shiatsu - Circular, deep kneading action. | Shiatsu - Circular, deep kneading action. Rolling - Gentle up and down action rolls across muscles. | Shiatsu - Circular, deep kneading action. Rolling - Gentle up and down action rolls across muscles. |
| Heat | In the moving mechanism. | In the moving mechanism. | In the moving mechanism. |
| Customization Features | N/A | Spot Shiatsu - Holds the massage action in the spot you need it. Adjustable Width Control - Adjusts the width of the massage rollers to custom fit your body. | Spot Shiatsu - Holds the massage action in the spot you need it. Adjustable Width Control - Adjusts the width of the massage rollers to custom fit your body. |
| Preset Programs | 3 - in Shiatsu only: Full back Upper back Lower back | 6 - in either Shiatsu or Rolling: Full back Upper back Lower back | 6 - in either Shiatsu or Rolling: Full back Upper back Lower back |
| Warranty | 2 Years | 2 Years | 2 Years |
- Enjoy state of the art relaxation
- Features a programmable control with 3 different programs and a moving dual massage mechanism
- The shiatsu rolling massage and soothing heat travel up and down the back
- The 30-second heat up is perfect for penetrating those sore muscles and the soft spot shiatsu targets just the area that aches
- Fits most chairs and comes with a demonstration feature that shows you how to melt away tension, muscle pain and fatigue
Homedics SBM-200H Therapist Select Shiatsu Massaging Cushion with Heat Reviews
The Shiatsu massaging cushion is shaped like a chair pad. It is portable and can be placed in any type of chair, including, I would assume, the front seat of a car. You'd need the proper plug adapter, though, because it works by plugging into an outlet, not by batteries. The only caveat for what chair you can place it in comes from the product's manual. It says to be careful of upholstery, so I put a towel over my padded recliner when I placed the cushion on it. That chair, by the way, was a great choice for using the cushion because I could recline while being massaged. To add to the relaxation experience, the cushion has a convenient, hand-held control which allows you to access with the touch of a finger the three different massage programs the cushion offers: (1) shiatsu spot massage, (2) regular shiatsu massage, and (3) rolling massage. When you choose the latter two programs, you can select movement up and down the full length of your back, or have the cushion focus on your lower or upper back. For all three programs, you can add heat, which amplifies the healing effects. You can also control the width of the massage so it conforms to your particular body size. There is also an automatic timer within the cushion that shuts it off after 20 minutes, but it feels so good, I did it for a full hour the first night. Be careful, though, that you don't do it too long. The automatic 20 minutes are about right for most people, because you can get, as the saying goes, "too much of a good thing," and give yourself a pain flare the next day if you have the cushion massage you too long.
I rate this product 5 stars for ease of use and portability, 5 stars for looks, 5 stars for how good it feels, and definitely 5 stars for value for the money. While a simple, electric cushion like this can't take the place of a human masseuse, I found it felt almost as good as a very expensive, electric massage table I have used in my chiropractor's office--and a comparable 20-minute treatment by that table costs almost as much as the price of this cushion.
By the way, you don't have to have a chronic back problem to find good use for this cushion. It would make a great gift for most of the adults on your Christmas list. I plan to give one to both of my children. At ages 19 and 22, they don't have the middle-aged aches my husband and I suffer, but they periodically get acute back pain from overdoing it in sports.
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.
