If you’re looking for a great gift for a loved one that suffers from chronic pain due to arthritis or some other similar type of condition, it may be worthwhile to consider purchasing them a massage cushion. It’s certainly a lot easier on the budget than buying them a massage chair, and a cushion will still give them a lot of the benefits that they would achieve using a chair. My father suffers from arthritis, and as I was researching massage chairs and cushions for myself it dawned on me that such a product would be a great gift for someone with these types of issues.
While it goes without saying that we’d love to buy our loved ones the most expensive high-tech massage chair on the market, it’s simply not practical for most of us. If you’re like me and you have to always be conscious of budget concerns to make sure your family has everything they need, you’ll be pleased to know that the Gideon Seat Cushion Vibrating Massager with Heat Therapy has the ability to provide a great massage at a very reasonable price. You can expect to pay well under $100 for this model.
Multiple Vibration Points
While this cushion doesn’t offer the rolling massage that you get with a true Shiatsu chair, it does a pretty good job of simulating that experience with the use of 10 different vibration points that cover all the main areas of the body. There are vibration points in the neck area, the upper back, the shoulders, the lower back, the hip areas, and the thigh areas – so they’ve pretty much got everything covered.
Precise Spot Massage
If you are in a bit of a rush you may not have time for a full body massage, but you might have enough time for an isolated massage on a particular area that’s causing some trouble. This cushion allows you to choose precise spots for massaging, such as your upper back, your lower back, or your hips and thighs. If you do have the time you can also set it up to perform a full body massage as well – the choice is entirely up to you.
Four Different Massage Modes
As is the case with a real live massage therapist, this massage cushion allows you to choose from different types of massage techniques. The four different modes available to you are pulsating, tapping, rolling, and kneading. It’s likely that you may prefer one technique over another, but it’s also possible that you may enjoy all of them at different times. I was surprised to see the kneading and rolling capabilities built into this cushion as there are no real moving parts, but it’s always amazing to see what a manufacturer can do with a little bit of ingenuity.
Choose Your Intensity
A common complaint that I’ve come across in researching massage chairs and cushions is that they often provide a massage that’s a little too intense. Sometimes these products have been described as pressing a little too hard in certain areas, and in some cases they’ve even been known to produce bruising. There are also a couple of customers that have complained about this issue with this particular model as well, but on the plus side it does include the ability to choose from four different intensity settings so that you can decide how hard is hard enough.
You’re in Control
Operating the seat cushion is simple using the attached control – in fact it’s the only way you can control the cushion. But that’s not a problem as all features are accessible using this handy remote. With this instrument you can control the intensity of your massage, choose which area of the body on which you wish to concentrate, and decide if you want to turn on the heat as well, just to name a few of your choices.
Extra Long Massage
Of all of the different massage chairs and cushions that I’ve researched so far this one has the best settings when it comes to the length of your massage. You can choose between a 15 minute massage, a 30 minute massage, and a 60 minute massage. Until I came across this cushion I hadn’t seen a massage chair or cushion that would allow you to automatically set the timer for any more than 30 minutes, so this is quite a difference.
Buckle Up
As you’ll find with other massage cushions this one also comes with a strap that’s designed to lock it in place so it doesn’t move about while you are trying to use it. Apparently, it works great on office chairs and in the car, but not so well on larger chairs such as the recliner in your home – the straps simply aren’t wide enough to handle a chair like that, so if you’re using it at home you’ll have to do without.
Two Heating Zones
Another feature that I really liked about this product was that it actually has two different heating zones. I’ve been disappointed with a number of similar products that only have one heating zone concentrated on your lower back. This one actually has a heating zone for your lower back as well as for your buttocks. It’s a nice added feature and definitely one that caught my attention.
Some Caveats
It’s important to point out what this product can’t do for you before you rush out to purchase it. It won’t compare to a true massage chair with built-in Shiatsu functionality as it has no real moving parts. These types of chairs have rollers that move up and down your back, re-creating an almost human touch, but this cushion relies exclusively on vibration points to provide you with an overall relaxing massage – it’s not bad, but it’s not as intense as a real massage.
Another concern that some people may find with this cushion is that the lower back motor may have a tendency to dig in to your back a little bit – at least some customers have complained about this issue. This may have something to do with your height and how you sit in the chair, but it’s important to keep in mind nonetheless.
Great for a Present
This massage cushion is an ideal present for any family member. You certainly won’t break the bank, but you’ll still be providing them with a gift that they can really use and that can actually help them. With multiple different vibration points, the ability to target specific areas, and the different heating zones, it’s a great way to help your loved ones relax or deal with a minor injury.
