As a person who spends most of her waking time sitting, having a product such as a Therapist Select Shiatsu Back Massager by Homedics is a necessity. For someone like myself with chronic back pain, I keep mine secured to my office chair and turn it on about once every hour and let it run for about 5-10 minutes while I continue to work. All models come with an integrated strapping system, which makes it conveniently and easily attachable to almost any chair. Rather than invest in a very expensive office chair, you can transform almost any chair into an incredible massage chair. On chilly days, I use the heat option to warm-up my muscles before stretching, which I must do several times a day. The heat helps ease muscle tension, while the massage mechanisms help to stimulate circulation. The Shiatsu back massager takes under a minute to warm-up to full heating capacity.
Since the Therapist Select series is flexible, I also lay it flat on my bed – a great way to relax myself to sleep. I can lie on either my back or side and then set the controls for a full or a spot massage. If you want to be creative, you can wrap the massager around a specific body part – such as your leg, if that is where your body needs attention. The independent controls allow you to turn on and off specific areas of the massager as well as adjust intensity levels. The Shiatsu back massager is designed to work your lower back all the way up to your shoulders. As a bonus, at any given time, you can alternate between two massaging styles – either Shiatsu or rolling massage. Even more incredible is that you can adjust the massager dials to conform to your height!
Most working people today hardly have any spare time for themselves, and going to a health spa is not always very convenient or affordable. The cost of one Shiatsu back massager is approximately equal to 1-2 hour massages at a health spa, and is therefore very cost effective. Homedics currently offers five different Shiatsu back massager models designed specifically for chairs. They also have a specifically designed rectangular, portable massage mat. Actually, all of their models are portable, soft, and lightweight.
For even more portability, try the Shiatsu Portable Massaging Cushion, which although marketed as a Shiatsu back massager, can be used as a seat cushion to massage those sometimes very tight gluteal muscles. The gluteal muscles consist of a group of three muscles in the buttocks, which when tight or stiff can cause lower back pain and hip pain. Tightening or stiffening of these muscles can occur even with the average person, such as me, who leads a more or less fairly sedentary lifestyle, as well as athletes and professional dancers who are sometimes prone to overwork their muscles. Using any of the Shiatsu back massager models will do wonders, in most cases, to relieve pain as well as help in the recuperation process. However, as with any product, always consult your doctor before use.
