OMG, OMG, OMG!!!! If you are in need of a dependable, well built, versatile hand held vibration for massage unit, this is what you want!!!!! I had a very old model I had bought at a yard sale years ago and loved it. It was way past its prime when I bought it, and yet it worked for years longer for me. That has to address any question on quality parts and construction. As a single woman (ok get your mind out of the gutter) and trying to work on the kinks involving pulled muscles, cramps, back aches or just very tense neck or shoulder muscles is near impossible. Stupid heating devices do not work, neither do long soaks in a bath. Sometimes you just need some kind of muscle manipulation. Here in S. FL. just one short massage at my local spa cost me $65 + tip (about a half-hour session). That hurt worse than the strained rib muscle. With this hand held device you can be a truly independent person (again, no gutter thoughts), and not waste your coins on a professional massage session that is ridiculously over priced. Now for the performance operation report. What it will do for you...............This item has three levels of massage/thumptation. That's a new verb in old Webster's book. But this is not a rotational head massager. It is totally stationary with two humps/thumpers that are covered with removable couplings. The nubs feel as if they are going up and down, but are not moving at all its just the vibration. Depending on the speed setting determines the type of vibration/thumping you receive. On lower speeds you feel a soft & gental palpitations. Good for just a little kneading, maybe for a charley horse in your thigh or calf. Medium speeds are a more pronounced thump/palpitations that go deeper than just the surface. This would be better on side, back, upper leg muscles that are uncomfortable. The highest speed is a beatdown and is not recommended for weaklings. This device is capable of giving deep tissue be using if not properly respected for it's intended use. At this setting it is important to keep the massager moving. You don't need to set land speed records. But gently "walking" the device from side to side and letting it move more freely will put you in relief heaven. This is best used on thicker muscles like the hips, back and depending your size your shoulder/neck muscles. You will not need it at this level over a long period of time. It goes down deep in the muscle, and it is only natural to tense up against the thrust. Thus the need to keep moving, heavily muscled areas and in short time frames but on a more frequent schedule. The machine is somewhat weighty. Single handed will work on low & med settings. For the higher settings, I suggest placing it between you and the back of the couch, a chair or just a couple of pillows. There are 3 different massager head covers. 1-smooth, 2-nubs, 3-covered with dull spikes. The electrical cord is for 110-undercurrent (US ELECTRIC), you will need the power adapter for use overseas. It measures approximately 7ft. Once you use this device you will never waste your money on any other unit. I RECOMMEND IT 5'''s Read more
I give this a 4 of 5 stars, though that is in part due to having used a (twice as expensive) Brookstone unit for many years. A couple months ago I got this machine as a replacement to that Brookstone, and I do have mostly positive feelings about the Thumper with some critical thoughts on the differences between the two. So that you can maybe better get a feel for how you might use this thing for yourself, here is my backstory (pun semi-intended). Almost ten years ago, I finally started feeling the effects of desk jobs. I was always uncomfortable in the chairs and desks that felt designed for bigger people (I am 5'6") and sitting is just plain bad for you, but 9 hours a day + two, hour long commutes mean that's what I spent most of my day doing. It started with being uncomfortable a lot and progressed into sciatica, complete with shooting pain down my right leg that almost knocked me off my feet a couple times, and a huge numb patch on my right outer thigh. Later on, the place that always seemed to pinch and go out in my lower back finally slipped a disc. I could barely walk. The doctor gave me mild muscle relaxers and once the tension subsided, I pushed the disc back in place with my two thumbs. There was an audible *snick* as it went back in place, and an instantaneous wave of relief. For me, I have come to rely on this kind of machine to help realign my discs that sometimes get a little out of place and to relieve tension of the muscles near the spine. I've tried a myriad of other fixes, and aside from a good back brace for when I am feeling prone, or my Yogi Joint tea to help mitigate some aches and pains - this thing is hands down a lifesaver for a bad back. It also feels great on the legs, bum and with care - neck and shoulders. After a couple months of use, here are my thoughts - positive, negative, neutral - on the Thumper. PROS: Quiet: The Thumper is the quietest dual headed percussive massager I've ever used. The Brookstone always made me feel as though the neighbors might wonder what was going on next door when I used it - especially on one of the noisy, programmed cycles where the pulses varied. Simple: The Brookstone had a bunch of buttons and settings. This has on/off and strength 1-5. Doesn't get much simpler than that. Effective: I had gone without one of these for a couple months before I went looking, did some research, and settled on this unit. By the time it came in the mail, I was glad to have it. The nodules that span the spine and the percussive vibration really is exactly what I need to keep my back out of whack. Quality: I've used the Brookstone mostly, but many years ago I had some Homedics and other cheaper brands. They aren't as percussive as the Thumper (or obviously the more expensive Brookstone) and they feel much more rickety. The Thumper, while plastic, feels pretty substantial and sturdy. Lower-cost brands feel like they would break if you thought about it too hard, and perhaps that the motor wouldn't be very enduring. The Thumper motor, while less powerful than the Brookstone, still feels high-quality. Also, with quality and power comes a weightier machine. This helps the machine do it's thing to your muscles without having to press down. It is heavy enough to feel much more substantial and high-quality compared to featherweight Homedics brands, though feels a little lighter than a Brookstone. Price: This is a middle of the pack price. Brookstones cost $200-300 and Homedics types are probably in the $30-60 range. At $120(ish, since Amazon prices flux so much) this is right in between. And I have to say it feels it's worth double the price of a Homedics type brand. The Thumper isn't cheap, but it's a good quality machine that can truly help alleviate a lot of pains and strains, thus is more than worth the cost if you can afford it. And I think of it this way: If it means one sick day due to a bad back is missed - it's paid for itself and then some. Cons, or things to consider: Simple means simple: This doesn't have a lot of programmable settings like the Brookstone, with varying pulses and a million power settings. If you want that flexibility then the Thumper is not for you. It also does NOT have adjustable nodules. The Brookstone allowed for three settings of narrow, normal and wide-set nodules to get more places. I do miss this, especially the narrow which I used on my neck, but I can make do with the stationary setting on the Thumper. Powerful, but not the most powerful: the Brookstone is louder, in part because it is SO powerful. I miss this the most of my old Brookstone unit, but Thumper is sufficient and sturdy at half the cost. For me it works. It's just not cheap: It may be less than the Brookstone, but the Thumper isn't cheap. My boyfriend blanched when I told him the cost, as he hadn't been there for the purchase of the Brookstone. But on the other hand, he knows how much I use this and what it does for me - and for him when he needs it on occasion. Bottom line: I am happy with the Thumper. It has helped me put my spine back in place dozens of times in the last couple months already. It feels like it is sturdy enough to do that for quite some time. If I have any problems I will be back to update this review ASAP, but otherwise I may just come back some time from now to say "Still works, love it!" or if I find a new tip that may be helpful. If I hadn't had the Brookstone before, and somewhat miss the power and the adjustable nodules, I think I would give this a 5. As it stands, I give it a 4 or a 4.5. Hope this review helped you and hope the Thumper can help you! Best of luck! UPDATE 10/04/2016: After having this product for just under a year, I have to say the only thing I miss about my Brookstone is the power for when something is stubbornly out of whack, but 9 times out of 10, this machine does the job and either: puts my vertebra back in place, loosens a knot and gets everything back where it should be. It stays by the bed and I can use it before I lay down when I am stiff or something has been out, to help make sure I sleep with things as aligned as possible. It's very helpful for that. Also, it can be used on the bum-cheeks, the legs and shoulders, which my boyfriend appreciates. He too misses the power of the other machine, but this one is half the cost, feels very sturdy and works pretty well for the price point. Read more
