HoMedics Shiatsu 2 in 1 Back & Neck Massager SBM-500H

A massager for small pets – I expected an adult and ball back massager. Been looking for years. Had one once but lost. Excited to see something very closely resembling this. It's not all bad. It arrived and was only 4 inches long and the wheels joined by a precarious piece of wire. My 3 cats are loving it. Can't say the same for my son.

use it every day – got it for xmas from the kids use it everyday , it helps with my problem , its a bit rough on the lower part of my body but it helps. recomended.

Good – Its a good massager and I use it regularly. The heat aspect is good too and the Shiatsu massager does help my back feel better and more relaxed. If someone has a history of serious back problems, I wouldnt reccommend any massager because it may make it worse. It is something nice to have at home and to use because this product is enough for us and… Read more

we don't need to buy anything else. The adjustments are great too because they give you a lot of variations on the massage level and width too. It is relaxing and the heat provides greater relief and relaxation too. It is great to use while watching tv. We first had it on an office chair and now have moved it to the living room sofa so we can use it more regularly. Its really relaxing and if you can zone out, it provides a great experience. It turns itself off after a while, so thats a good safety asset. It gives you a variety of massages, so investing in this one is enough so you don't need to buy any other massager. Maybe I am a bit short, but I cant reach the shoulder massage area, so that part is a bit useless for me. You have to sit properly to full access the benefits, and once you get used to sitting straighter, you can feel it working.

Maybe I got a bad one but – If this is the SBM-700H then there are a couple of issues with it. Firstly the height of it means that unless you're very tall or have a chair where you can slide it down further you're never going to get much of a shoulder/neck massage. There appears to be a piece of foam that's only one one of the back rollers on one side of it. When you… Read more

change from roller to shiatsu or when you power it down it returns to its "home" position. That position on mine, the one in the shop, and where I've seen pictures of them is at the far bottom right (as you're sitting on it). That puts the left roller right in the middle of your back which is not only painful when it goes there, but you can't use the chair its on as its too uncomfortable, so you'd be forever packing it away which invariably means you will use it less.

When you set it to roller, as soon as you touch the joystick it reverts to shiatsu. If you tell it you want it to roll on the lower back it'll revert to shiatsu, basically pretty much anything you touch after selecting roller makes it change to shiatsu.

The one I bought developed a fault right away with the verical movement, it would click like it had a tooth missing from one of the cogs and stall trying to move up my back. I took it back because of that, but I got a refund rather than replacement when it became apparent that the "home" position was the same on them all. good strong massage and vibration, nice controls, like the "spot" massage option mechanical fault, and programming fault means I can't leave it in a chair setup, too tall for most people/chairs to use the shoulder massager.

Good – A nice option to have at home if you are feeling a bit tense or want a quick relax. Won't replace a human though! This is the first time I have used an at home massager. I have had the product for about 1 year. It has good pressure and the deep kneading does get in deep. The heat function is also a bonus, which adds to the relaxation experience. I… Read more

like have the four separate kneading heads, as this seems to give you maximum benefit in a short time.

I am 5ft 2inch and the shoulder function works fine for me at its lowest setting. Having the shoulder and back kneading heads does result in a portion of your back being missed. Also, I must admit I don't use it as often as I thought I would, but that might be because I haven't found anywhere to put it that is convenient. I still much prefer going to the masseuse, and in fact now go more than I did before - so I'm not sure it saved me money!

Excellent – Finally it come out with the shoulder version. Best to use with your feet up so that your body weight lean onto the machine. The machine is quite heavy. I put it on my sofa and eventually my old sofa cushion sunken down a little due to the weight of the machine. Every now and then the machine will start leaning sideways as the velcro rope not long… Read more

enough to wrap around my sofa chair. This machine is good value for money. I always use it while watching TV. Nice and comfortable to use. Just the right pressure for my sore back and tired shoulder. It will automatically switch off after sometime to prevent injury especially with the heat function. Need to find something like a cushion to adjust to the proper position so that the massager can reach my lower back. Got to keep on adjusting the shoulder massager to the right position as it will return to the its neutral position whenever you switch it off.

Good – it really does help muscle tension and the rolling mechanism is fantastic after a day of gardening. i like the shoulder massage section as you can move it up and down to suit your height. certainly helps relieve the muscles and you can move it to certain spots to adjust for your height there are spaces it misses

Good – great product highly reccomend it does a good job & the tention is pretty firm good thing it does come with a 2 year REPLACEMENT WARRANTY yes u did hear right they actually replace it for u if but u must keep your receipt ... the reason y i know this , is because i use to work at harvey norman for 3 years & i worked in the small appliance… Read more

department ( didnt have many come back as faulty ) at last a massager that can reach the neck!! i seem to always want to have music or the tv going cos i dont like the noise it makes when its on its nothing major but its just that im fussy lol

Good – Easy to use, would be better if you could put it on the couch, instead of lugging a big chair or desk chair infront of the TV. It is great for your workplace as well, which is fantastic it is rather heavy but I love don't move it so that doesn't matter. This massager seat is fantastic, I love it, I have severe shoulder problems and shiatsu is… Read more

great, even my massage therapist likes it (which is very hard to come by). The heat on it is really good temperature and makes it even better in winter. You need to have a chair high enough for proper usage or else it doesnt work as well.

Excellent – i finish this with my back warm, numb and tingly in a great way.dont put it on an office chair if you want to get any work done btw!well worth the $250 it sells for, though i picked mine up on an online auction.wanted this for years before i could finally afford it! double massage for your shoulder and neck area and for your back.i love that you… Read more

can adjust how far in the nodules sit to your neck ad shoulders as i have quite petite shoulders and my partner has broad shoulders and we can bot use it. i love the shiatsu effect on your back and the heat setting as oh so comphy. i also love that ou can do spot masage so if you notice 1 area in particular is sensitive then you can set it to keep massaging that area! i have no dislikes though the only thing that could make it any better would be if you could adjust the width of the nodules on the back massager.then you could massage very close to your spine, or further out.

OK – Overall, it is a really great product. There are lots of improvements that it needs though. There is this annoying gap between the neck and shoulders that doesn't get massages. I don't find the shoulder massager fits me that well- it feels like it's for someone bigger. I really like the demo mode, but it only runs for 15 minutes then turns off. I… Read more

would have liked more programs like that, rather than having to do it myself. I wish it would do a better job with the shoulders. The heating, different modes Not portable (heavy and hard to move around), difficult to store.

Good – definitely a good brand and good quality! great functions on the remote, and you can have variety and adjust height and width of rollers. not too noisy - it kinda puts you to sleep the humming! make sureyou have a high backed deep seated chair to fit. i think they should sell it with the demo chair they have in store for it, as it was hard to find… Read more

a matching office chair that would fit it. i had to pay for a Manager's style office chair, so ended up being more expensive than i could afford at the time. otherwise, a beloved product! Love the heat function! love the variety in settings, you can adjust the width of hte back rollers, plus the height of the shoulder ones. the Demo program is great. i tried it out in store first, and fell in love with it! i hadn't felt so good in years!!! it really is worth the money i paid though! wouldn't part with it! As it is a high back, i had to buy a separate deep office chair so i could use the massager, so that added $189 to the already $250 price tag! :(

you can't store it anywhere really, mine just sits in the corner of my bedroom on the office chair i had to buy for it, but at least i use it more if i see it each day! :)

Good – You do need to have a high backed chair to sit this massager on, as it needs the support all the way up the back. But it is an absolutely brilliant massager, and so relaxing after a long day. My hubby loves that he doesn't have to massage me all the time anymore! The kneading shiatsu massage is absolutely amazing!! Add in the heat function and… Read more

you have a brilliant deep tissue massage that really works out the kinks. The neck part is a little bit high for me as I'm only short, so I have to sit on a cushion. Mine only intermittently wants to turn on, but it is something I could have fixed under warranty, I just never got around to it.

Good – I feel that this is a really effective massage product -- and so much better than some of the terrible massages that I have had from poorly trained masseurs I love the fact that this product gives your back and neck such a deep tissue, really effective massage and that it also gives your shoulder area a great work out. I also enjoy the feeling of… Read more ·  1

stress relief that it brings to all your sad aching muscles as it increases blood flow and assists drainage of the lymph vessels in these vital and tender areas it is a bit bulky to store

Good – I quiet enjoy using this product! It massages and kneads from neck, upper back and lower back. With added heat, it is also wonderful particularly to pain. It is a handy device to have in the comfort of your own home; very soothing on tense days, method of relaxation any day of the week or simple to use with the urge of a massage! The kneading… Read more

motion is fantastic, it does the job well but it could never replace a professional masseur. I believe an office chair works quiet well with this product as not every chair is suited to this piece. Definitely a great gift idea! I absolutely LOVE the kneading massage! Especially with the added heat function! Great quality and reputable brand. You need to have a slightly elongated back to experience full benefits; short individuals may have a bit of trouble. Perhaps make sure you just have a more suitable chair!

Excellent – I love all Homedics massagers. This seat is really great. Everyone in our family uses it. It's become our habit. You can easily put it on any chair in your house, its quite versatile. Feels great after going the gym gives good massage, easy to use, good beads pressure, penetrate quite deep into the muscles not the cheapest…

Good – Gives a strong, deep massage if you're targeting the lower back and shoulders at the same time. But for the upper back and shoulders, I find that I need to reposition the cushion so that the back massaging beads actually get in between and around my shoulder blades where I need it the most, which means the shoulder unit is redundant. Definitely… Read more

try before you buy. Has deep penetrating massaging beads that warm up quite well. Option of either shiatsu or rolling. Has separate units that do shoulders and back. Doesn't massage upper back that well. As mentioned before, there is a gap between the shoulder massage beads and back massage beads so you can't really massage the shoulders properly at the same time as the back and I'm 5'11". My wife is 5'6" and she has even more difficulty! The shoulder massage unit is more like a neck massager, although you can't adjust the width of the beads so that they're in contact with your neck. Also, a bit pricey.

Excellent – Try before you buy to make sure the height suits you and decide what's more important - having a chair that reaches all the way up your upper back or one that can do on top of your shoulders. Apart from that all the new homedics chairs with shiatsu style massage / heat and a set to stay at any point facility are amazing, especially for the price.… Read more

I think i've made my money back with less physio appointments already... The big thing about this one is it's two massage units - one for the shoulders and another for travelling up and down the back. Features infra-red heat which helps soothe muscles and it's a decent amount of heat. The rollers can be stopped at any point to stay on a sore spot stopping you from having to 'slide' down the chair trying to keep the massager working on the right space! You have to be the right height! by that I mean that for me the shoulder massage unit even at it's lowest point (you set the height and have it sit directly on top of your shoulders) it still wasn't low enough for me - and i'm 160cm tall. You could sit on a cushion but it seems unnecessary. One other thing is that you have a trade off in getting the double mechanism - this chair now doesn't go as far up the back as the previous models (which are still out) as there must be a gap between the two mechanisms, so you have to decide what it more important - upper back or on top of your shoulders.