Customer Reviews

Human Touch HT-1470 Back Massage Pad - Quad Roller Massaging Chair Cushion with real rollers and soothing heat

5 star:		(1)
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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The HT-1470 is well-made but like any back massage pad it is limited in power and precision. It can't provide a deep massage where you really need it but can uncomfortably roll over certain spots over and over again. It has a full-, lower- and mid-back option but no upper-back. It doesn't reach above my shoulder blades (I'm 5'6") but it does have one of the highest backs out there--26" from the top of the seat and 28" from the bottom. After about 15 minutes the heat is good at the lower back but less so elsewhere and there is none at the top; you can run the heat separately from the rollers. The noise is distracting but you could put headphones on. Finding the right chair to put it on is important--the firmer the better although it says any chair or sofa is fine--and the instructions warn you to lean back no more than 30 degrees. A futon frame sans futon works pretty well. It's not something you'd want to sit on unless you were running it. The upshot of all this? I've tried it for three days and am returning it. I think other options would work about the same, including the Homedics SBM-300H and the Obus Forme Deluxe Shiatsu Massaging Cushion. Instead I'll rely on my old standbys: a heavy wand-style percussion unit, heating pad, and Backknobber for those knots. All three can be bought for the same price as a back massage pad (or less) and work MUCH better. It's possible that someone with less upper-back/shoulder pain (computer work!) and no experience with an actual massage therapist might like the HT-1470 better than I do.

If you only want a gentle massage to relax this isn't for you. We have used all kinds of massagers including handheld, other seat types and chairs and nothing else comes this close to replicating a good human shiatsu massage. This thing works!!!! And if you work through the pain with it, you will get some serious relief to long term back pain.

As to the area covered on your back, it will do a full back massage, but not at the same time, because of the natural curves of our backs; so I do one for my mid-back to shoulders and then another for my low back. The heat is a requirement for the muscles to relax. We love this and I have visitors to my home just to visit my massager. If you want relief bad enough to go through the pain of working out the muscle spasms, buy this! The price is totally incrediable, mine cost $300. My Dad loved mine so much he came to visit it and then bought one for himself.

This chair is weak. You can hardly feel it working and it's so mechanical that we were extremely unhappy. For the amount of money spent we really thought it would have been a higher quality product. We exchanged ours for a HomeMedics chair massage pad - it cost less and it's way better!