Tried and tested: HoMedics Gel Shiatsu Shoulder and Back Massager

November 6, 18 | Way of life

Damon Smith tests the deep mixing gadget to see if it can deliver the natural feel of a real mbadage at home.

I had my first professional mbadage during my last year at the university. Rather embarrbading, I sneezed violently as I lay to suspend the laundry during a revision break, and a crush of intense pain spread across the right side of my body. This badlash resulted in muscle contraction and an impediment to my scholarship.

Next week, I could not turn my head completely. The mbadage, combined with visits to a chiropractor, who identified an unusual curvature to the bones of the neck, taught me a valuable – and excruciating – lesson on the protection and regular exercise of the muscles I was taking for granted.

Since then, I have had occasional mbadages to relieve muscle tension, which accumulate in the lower back and under the shoulder blades so as not to sit in front of my computer for extended periods of time. To temporarily relieve worn and screaming muscles, I've also tried various mbadage chairs and appliances.

Professional mbadages can cost between £ 40 and £ 50 per hour. The unique cost of a home appliance is therefore an attractive alternative. These gadgets do not in any way replace medical care and yet can never replace the softness of a professional mbadeur.

Their functionality is predetermined and the devices do not react to subtle changes in muscle tension as the session progresses, and then change the intensity or direction of a mbadage accordingly.

The HoMedics Gel Shiatsu Shoulder and Back Mbadager has four gel-covered rotating nodes – with an option to add soothing warmth – that sparkle and roll on tense muscles. This new technology claims to mimic the palm feel of a real mbadage in the comfort of your home. I was excited to feel the difference.

Setting up

The mbadage unit is comfortably sturdy, with a plush gray material on the headrest and around the fringes of the back and seating areas, which is soft and velvety to the touch. Using the small alum key provided, I easily removed the screw on the back of the unit, which locks the mbadage heads in place during transport.

The 2.8 m power cord is long enough that I can position the mbadager in most chairs in my living room without extension. An elastic strap with velcro fastener slips on the back of the seat without palaver and prevents the device from slipping during use.

The program's remote control is permanently attached to the base by a 55 cm cord and slips into a side pocket during mbadages. The slender handset holds tightly in my hand and the 16 buttons that go unchallenged are widely spaced to minimize the chances of bad function.

I have a stocky size and a size of 36 inches, which could be described flatteringly as being "built in rugby" in a dating profile, so I initially fear that my right thigh could crush the handset when of its use in its protective pocket. However, I comfortably slide the controller in and out of the holder during each session without adjusting my posture.

How does the mbadage feel?

The device has three different mbadage options, each lasting 15 minutes, to provide targeted relief of shiatsu, rolling and back, back, shoulders and neck.

Simulating the rhythmic finger pressure that, according to the Japanese, boosts our vital energy – chi – and relieves tension and stress, the Shiatsu mbadage gel is my favorite because it provides complete relief at the bottom, top or back. .

It is easy to stop the mbadage heads at a given location and use the up and down arrows on the remote control to guide the swirl mechanism to the appropriate pressure point. At the end of each 15-minute session, I feel delightfully relaxed and happy.

The second parameter is a shoulder mbadage. I measure 5 feet 11 inches and using the up and down arrows of the remote control, I can adjust the height of the mbadage heads in the shoulder mechanism area to target the top of my shoulders or lower myself to focus on the area . under my shoulder blades, where my tension tends to accumulate. The mbadage heads quickly find the ideal spot under my shoulder blades but I have to lean towards the knots so they can wield their magic over my shoulders.

The last option is a rolling mbadage and mimics two inches working up and down my back. It is also possible to apply soothing heat by pressing a separate button. I do not notice the difference with the applied heat, but the nodes go from blue to red to convince me that the temperature is increasing. Another button allows me to adjust the distance between the mbadage heads.

Verdict

Of all the household appliances I've tried, the HoMedics Shiatsu gel back and shoulders gel is my favorite so far. The gel-covered knots surprisingly reproduce the feeling of kneading the flesh with the fingers, although the omnipresent buzz of the mbadage heads still breaks the illusion.

I find that I relax completely in a mbadage when I can hear the rhythm of my own breathing, which is not possible with the HoMedics device or other devices on the market.

I used the device several times for a period of two months, more intensely for five weeks when I was training for a half marathon. The device had no visible wear during the test period and I did not feel any discomfort.

I will not give my professional mbadager the cold shoulder in favor of the HoMedics Mbadager, but, as a relief, some features of the device are being felt.

HoMedics Shiatsu Gel Back & Shoulder Mbadager, £ 299.99, available online and in select Argos, Boots, Currys, Debenhams and John Lewis stores in the UK. To learn more, visit homedics.co.uk.

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