Review on Thumper Sport Percussive Massager: Deep Tissue Home Use for Muscles, Back, Shoulders, Legs, Arms - Portable Electric Handheld Therapy Massager by Allison Sanchez

I'm giving it 4 stars out of 5, although that's partly because I've used a (double the price) Brookstone block for years. I got this machine a few months ago as a replacement for this Brookstone and have mostly positive feelings about the Thumper with some critical thoughts on the differences between the two. this is for myself, here is my backstory (semi-intentional pun). I finally began to feel the effects of sedentary work almost ten years ago. I've always felt uncomfortable in chairs and tables made for taller people (I'm 5'5") and sitting just isn't good for you, but 9 hours a day + 2 hour drive to work means exactly that, what that means what I've spent most of my time on. It started with a lot of discomfort and progressed to sciatica, with shooting pains in my right leg that almost knocked me out a couple of times, and a huge numb spot on the outside of my right thigh. The spot that always seemed to be pinching in my lower back eventually slipped out of the disc. I could hardly walk. The doctor put me on light muscle relaxants, and when the tension eased, I used two thumbs to push the disk back into place. an audible *click* as he returned to his seat, and an instant wave of relief. I myself rely on this type of machine to align my discs, which are sometimes a bit out of place, and to relieve muscle tension near my spine. I've tried many other remedies and oh my good back brace when I'm feeling prone, or my Yogi Joint tea that helps relieve some of the pain - this thing is definitely a lifesaver for a sore back. It also feels good on the legs, buttocks and, with careful application, on the neck and shoulders. After a few months of use, here are my thoughts - positive, negative, neutral - on Thumper. PROS: Quiet: Thumper is the quietest two-headed percussion massager I've ever used. The Brookstone has always led me to think that when I use it, the neighbors might wonder what's going on in the neighborhood, especially on one of the noisy programmed cycles when the pulses are changing. Simple: Brookstone had a lot of buttons and settings. Has on/off and strength 1-5. Nothing easier than that. Efficient: I went without one for a few months before I went looking, did some research and settled on this device. When it came in the mail I was glad to receive it. The knots that wrap around the spine and the shock vibration are just what I need to keep my back from getting hit. Quality: I've mostly used Brookstone, but I've had Homedics and other cheaper brands years ago. They're not as percussive as the Thumper (or obviously the more expensive Brookstone) and feel a lot more wobbly. The knocker, despite being made of plastic, appears to be quite sturdy and durable. Cheaper brands feel like they'll break if you think about it too much, and it's possible the motor isn't very robust. While the Thumper motor is less powerful than the Brookstone, it still feels premium. With quality and performance comes a heavier machine. This helps the machine work your muscles without having to press on them. It's heavy enough to feel more solid and premium compared to the semi-light Homedics brands, although it feels slightly lighter than the Brookstone. Price: This is the average price of a pack. Brookstones are $200-$300 and Homedics models are likely in the $30-$60 range. At $120 (well, because Revain's prices fluctuate so much), it's only average. And I have to say that it seems to cost twice as much as a brand like Homedics. The Thumper isn't cheap, but it's a quality device that can really relieve aches and pains, so it's more than worth the money if you can afford it. And I imagine it like this: If it means one day off work because of back pain, that alone pays off and then something else. Cons or things to consider: Simple means simple: there aren't many programmable settings like the Brookstone with various boosts and a million power settings. If you need that kind of flexibility, Thumper isn't for you. It also has NO adjustable knots. Brookstone made it possible to use three variants of narrow, normal and widely spaced knots to get more space. I miss it, especially the narrow one I used around my neck, but I can get by with a stationary Thumper setting. Powerful, but not the most powerful: The Brookstone is louder, in part because it's SO powerful. This is what I miss most about my old Brookstone device, but the Thumper is adequate and reliable for half the price. It works for me. It just ain't cheap: maybe less than Brookstone, but Thumper ain't cheap. My friend paled when I gave him the price as he wasn't there when I bought Brookstone. But on the other hand, he knows how often I use it and what he does for me - and for him when he needs it occasionally. Conclusion: I am satisfied with Thumper. It has helped me get my spine back into place dozens of times over the past few months. It seems strong enough to do this for quite a while. If I run into any issues I'll update this review asap, but other than that I might as well come back after a while and say "It still works, love it!" or if I find a new tip, which might be helpful. If I hadn't had a Brookstone before and missed the power and adjustable knots a bit I think I'd give it a 5. As it stands I'll give it a 4 or 4.5. I hope this review was helpful to you, and I hope Thumper is of some help to you! Much luck! UPDATE 10/04/2016: Having worked with this product for a little less than a year, I have to say that the only thing I miss about my Brookstone is the power when something stubbornly fails but fails 9 times. 10, this machine does the job and either: puts my swivel back in place, unties the knot and puts everything back in place. It stays next to the bed and I can use it before I go to bed when I'm deaf or out of order to ensure I sleep with things as evenly as possible. For that it is very helpful. It can also be used on the buttocks, legs and shoulders, which my boyfriend really appreciates. It also lacks the performance of the other machine, but this one is half the price, feels very solid and performs very well for its price.