Homedics SBM-300 > Reviews > A little rigorous rubbing makes me ooh and aah

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money

Excellent

Advantages:	Easy to use, effective, easily accessible, versatile
Disadvantages:	None what so ever

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Back ache is hereditary in my family, it has travelled through generations on my father's side and much of it is linked to ankylosing spondylitis which is best described as a type of arthritis that affects the spine or backbone. This form of Spondylitis tends to cause back pain and stiffness and in the most severe cases the bones of the spine, known as the vertebrae grow or fuse together resulting in a rigid spine. So to control the pain I visit a chiropractor every 4 months and because there is no cure or medication available for the pain other than the odd painkiller here and there, a hot bath often helps but one of the best ways to cure back ache is to have a massage. I tend to like having my back massaged when the pain is quite bad.

The problem being that massages can become quite expensive and if you get someone who is rather rough it can leave you in more pain than necessary. That is when a friend told me about Homedics SBM 300 which is an American invention which she uses to cure her backache being heavily pregnant. So I took her advice and ordered one from Amazon at a coast of £140 and waited with excitement for the day it arrived so that I could test it out.

Homedics is in essence a cushion which is shaped like a chair without legs; it actually reminds me of a car seat. However it has been designed this way so that is can be used on your sofa, armchair, work chair and even in the car should you choose that option, in essence it is very versatile and easy to use.

The type of massage this cushion gives to you is Shiatsu and it works using the dual mechanisms which are located in the backbone of the cushion. The best way for me to describe it is that it feels like there are two hands, quite small hands, that move up and down your spine massaging away all the tension that has built up to make your back feel tight, muscle pain which can be brought about my bad a posture or sleeping in an uncomfortable way and fatigue.

Now the dual mechanism that I have mentioned hidden within the depth of the cushion is controlled by a remote control which is touch type friendly. If you need to have the whole of your back massaged them you can control how wide the dual mechanism goes so that it can right harder to reach places, you can have it aimed towards the middle of your back, going from top to bottom. There are 3 variable speeds for the vibrations when massaging and depending on rigorous you want your massage to be would depend on the setting you use for your massage, those settings are low, medium and high. I tend to start off with the slightest setting because if I am in real pain then the last thing I need is to add to the agony, so light vibrating pulses are sometimes enough for me.

Also on the touch pad control which is no bigger than a Wii controller there are 6 different programs to choose from when selecting your massage and they are: Full, Lower, or Upper Back in Shiatsu PLUS Rolling. Shiatsu massaging is the control option you would use when you know where the ache is coming from be it the whole of your back, lower or upper and the other setting which is Rolling is the setting you would use when you just want massaging. I tend to use Shiatsu more often than rolling because it gives me a much deeper massage and if I know where the pain is coming from I can soothe that area.

Now the technical bit from this machine according to the box is that the dimensions are 685 x 146 x 482 mm so it fits over any chair easily as I have mentioned and I do take mine with me to work if I am going to be sat down at my desk for long periods of time if I wake up with twinges in my back. It is mains operated so you don't have to worry about the batteries running out half way through your massage and it comes with a 2 year guarantee. Sadly this contraption is only available in black and silver which is quite dull.

So how does it fair? Well it has to be one of the best things I have ever bought, I know how good I feel after a massage when I have back ache but with this Homedics cushion it does exactly the same job, except I have probably saved myself money in the long run. I have been using this machine daily now for just over three months and I love it. The one suggestion I would make to anyone who is thinking of buying one is that for the first two or three times you use it fold a towel in half and place it over the back of the cushion because the massage is quite intense and powerful and until you have got the hang of how to use it properly, the last thing you will be wanting is to give yourself backache when trying to cure it. Also note that when using it, the further you lean back into the chair, the more rigorous the massage gets and most importantly of all, you will need to ensure that you set this massager up inline with your spine to get the best use from it.

After use I really do notice a difference in how my back feels generally, gone are the twinges which are sometimes so powerful they make me gasp and I feel much freer with movement when bending down to pick things up and just sitting on the sofa for a longer period of time is less stressful .

This Homedics SBM 300 is widely available online from places like John Lewis and Amazon but the price does vary quite a lot, it currently ranges in price from £74.99 which is almost half price compared to what I paid up to £179.99 so if you are thinking of getting one, then shop around. I wouldn't be without this massager now, it has made life a little more bearable and for that it is priceless.

For more information you can visit their website which is http://www.homedicsshiatsumassager.co.uk/homedics-shiatsu-massager-sbm-300. htm