Wahl Deep Tissue Corded Long Handle Percussion Massager, Handheld Therapy with Variable Intensity to Relieve Pain in The Back, Neck, Shoulders, Muscles, & Legs, FSA Eligible, Model 4290-300

This massager works well. It does have plastic parts so you wanna be sure not to over tighten the attachments. If you over tighten, you probably will break it. I saw notes that people think it’s loud. It does get loud if you don’t tighten the attachments correctly and if they’re loose, yes it’s very loud. But if you tighten correctly, it’s not that loud. It’s actually rather quiet I find. I strained both my calves and this product did very well to work that out and speed it up my recovery. I think it could last quite a while so long as you’re respectful of the plastic parts and don’t overdo it when tightening. I like that the handheld device has a dial to regulate how rapid the pulses are. Easy to use and operate. Yeah I think it’s a good product. Sure can’t beat the price.

I'm not one of those people who throws my arms around people's shoulders, proclaiming, "I love you guys!" So when I say I love this thing, I mean it. Unlike vibrating massagers that only make my skin itch, this one goes deep and untangles knots. The up-and-down motion of the head is akin to the masseuse you see on TV, pounding on someone's back with karate chop motions. It loosens up my tight shoulder muscles, which I have every day from working a nerdy job all day long in front of a computer. You can crank up the speed, but I rarely need to do that, as the low setting often yields an extra pounding if I hold it a certain way, as the head bounces off an especially knotted muscle. I've also mashed the thing into my butt, trying to get those elusive tight bands nestled deep within my luscious cheeks from sitting too long, and it does not slow down or get labored. It keeps right on cranking at the same speed. It feels reliable and solid, even after using it every night for a month. As a side note, for ladies wondering if this can double as a vibrator for those lonely nights, I would say NO. The movement on this head is percussive, meaning it whacks at you, rather than vibrating. You're likely to injure yourself trying to use it down there, unless you happen to like it really, REALLY rough. TIP: Using this on your shoulder blades can cause new cramps in the arm that's holding it. What I do is to sit with one knee bent up, then rest my arm on that. If you don't rest the gripping arm on something, it'll tire very quickly, because this massager isn't all that light. I'm not complaining about the weight though, because I'd rather have a sturdy device than a shoddy one. UPDATE: This thing finally died on me... after SEVEN YEARS of almost daily use! And it wasn't the percussive mechanism either. The cord got too stressed from the angles I put it in and eventually stopped conducting power due to loose wires or something. I'm definitely getting another one.

I hike, or I should say that, up until 18 months ago I hiked. These were decent sized hills with 200 to 1,000 foot ascents on relatively steep trails. Then, after losing some cardiac function - and regaining - every hike and even some walks would result in painful trapezius (shoulder) muscles and two muscles in the neck that allow you to hold your head up and turn from side to side. Aside from the pains and aches, it was as though my head weighed 50 pounds. This of course affected my stamina, and my doc finally recommended physical therapy (PT). I hate PT; that's why he held off pushing it. Anyway, PT really worked. I'm hiking again, BUT that doesn't mean that AFTER a 5 mile hike, my shoulders and neck aren't uncomfortable. I'm no spring chicken. Considering that the physical therapist was using deep percussion and regular massage, I asked her what she thought of using a deep tissue massager, showed her the specs for this one, and she said she thought it would be a good adjunct to my twice-a-week PT. This 4290-300 does the trick, and helps with blood flow to those muscles, the lack of which causes much of the weakness and aching. It also just feels good, and much as I hate to turn it off, 10 minutes each side should be max on the shoulders, and 5 minutes each side on the neck. Mobility continues to improve though it should be noted that I also do 10 minutes of neck and shoulder exercises five times a day. So, why four stars? 1. There's an identical Wahl on Amazon (without the model number) that is almost twice as expensive. I spent considerable time trying to find the difference, and finally after getting one answer here (thanks, Evert), I went to Wahl's web site and called them. There is only one "Deep Tissue Percussion Therapeutic Massager." The one for $64 is the same as this. See their chart. 2. It was sent to me in the box that would be displayed in a retail setting (see picture from Wahl on this page), and left on my door step. There was no Amazon packing box. This could have been a restocked item, but it looked pristine inside. 3. I love this vibrator because it has variable settings and 4 heads (see following comparisons). However, since neck muscles are very sensitive, I can't use the "Accupoint Attachment." It "bounces" and it can hurt. I'm not bruised, but I can see how someone could be. It's actually worse at the slowest speed: that's when it actually bounces, and if you apply pressure, it starts dancing all over the place. 4. The "Four Finger Flex Attachment" does not "replicate a human touch massage." Maybe a baby gorilla, but not a human that I would want working on me. If you use this through clothing like a t-shirt, the shirt will start to gather. And if one point dances, four point attachments do the jitterbug. This may be a good thing on your back or calves, but never on your neck. 5. The best has been the "Raised Bump Attachment." For shoulders, I set it at about an 8 (if you think of this going from 0 to 10). For the neck, about a 3 or 4. It isn't what I'd call "gentle," but it ultimately is soothing. At the end of 10 minutes, your shoulders will feel relaxed, and your neck will be able to swivel like a barn owl. Okay, not a barn owl, but you will be able to turn your head without bringing the rest of your torso with you. 6. The "Deep Muscle Attachment" is also the same as "Raised Bump," but I prefer it on my lower back and my brand spanking new hip pointer (which is actually a touch of bursitis in my hip). I may be a mess, but I'm a happier mess with this Wahl. 7. I wish the massager was a little shorter. The unit from top to cord is 16.5 inches. It's fairly comfortable, and does allow you to reach your own lower back although you may contort just enough to make your shoulders ache. It could be a vibrator loop. And it is relatively heavy which is both good and not-so-good. It's good because this has a heavy-duty motor, and it should last years and years. Footnote: When it comes to vibrators of this type, there's probably no name with as long a history as Wahl. My dad had a Wahl that fit over his hand with four springs on top. That was in the 1940s, and we found it 50 years later in his stuff. And yet with all of these great things I have to say, there are just enough annoyances to give it 4 instead of 5 stars. I'll update this review as soon as my knees give way. That could be next week, but I'm rather hoping for no sooner than 2020 when hindsight will bring me back to this writing.

As an ageing leg amputee with increasing phantom limb pain associated with lower back muscles and nerves this massager has made a huge difference! I can't imagine not having it to calm those sciatica-like shooting pains that otherwise incapacitate me. This will replace the acupuncture I've been using, and may be a replacement for spinal steroid injections. The Wahl quality seems to be consistent with a Wahl hair clipper I bought years ago. The plastic is sturdy, and if the connector remains good then this should last a long time. I like the long cord and I like the variable speed. I love this product and glad I went for the mid-range price rather than something cheaper.

Gave a 1 star because you can’t give 0! It is great while it works! The first one lasted over a year. 2nd about 6 months. This time I ordered it from Amazon and this one only lasted 3 months! The good part is the larger flat disc is good for my back and legs. The long handle makes it usable for me with my shoulder replacement. Loved it till it just quits! This time when it quit it had sparks where the cord went into the unit. I was very careful to not pull on the cord and only handle with the actual handle! Seems kind of expensive to only last 3 months and 2days. It was probably only used an average of 3 times a week!

Nice unit however, shoddy manufacturing from the performance of the unit I received. A couple months after getting it the screw that holds the motor armature came out and was rattling around inside it until the screw eventually jammed the operation. The warranty is timed perfectly for the seller because every one of them lasts 30 days at least. I took apart the two casing halves and found that the screws golding them together were loose too. I found the damaged screw that had jammed the motor and replaced it applying Loctite to the screws so they would not loosen again. If the original assembly used 10 cents worth of Loctite to begin with it wouldn't have came apart on its own with mild usage of the unit. The manufacturer should know that but didn't apply Loctite it shook itself apart. I noticed another reviewer had the same problem and was nice enough to include pictures so I didn't have to. I want to thank him for that. Good luck with your purchase because it's obvious the assembly is shoddy at best. They need some quality control at thier assembly plant.

This has been a lifesaver and will change your life, guaranteed. I am an older male who is still active and sometimes I push myself pretty hard. My muscles tense up and my wife is unable to massage with her hands alone. THIS is better than a "normal" massage. OK, that is, it costs only electricity and the time of your partner, is more easily available and I have found that the percussion quality of this device works every bit as well as a typical therapeutic oil massage. Granted, it doesn't provide massage to the face, scalp, fingers, etc., etc., that a skilled massage therapist can do, but hits all the main targets, never gets tired, cramps, etc. and with its' long handle, one can get a fairly decent self-massage if a willing "masseuse" is not available. The length and weight of this device permit the user to apply just enough pressure to really get into the deep tissue where knots and pain reside. Sometimes, depending on the head used and the operators' technique, pain will be "discovered" residing in the shoulder blades, back, ribs, glutes, etc. that can then be massaged "out" through this device. Once that is done, vast amounts of tension leave the body, allowing for complete relaxation, deep, uninterrupted sleep and a much more relaxed state of mind. The vibration speed is fully adjustable. I like High, my wife likes Low. Technique is very subjective, but I recommend the following for best results. 1) Near the edge of the long side of your bed, pile 3-5 pillows on top of each other and place your upper body on the pillows. This allows your ams to fall downward, not outward and is similar to the experience one might have when on a massage table. Here, your Trapezius and Rhomboid muscles are accessible, as your shoulder blades have moved outward. Your legs and feet can be open naturally on the bed. You may wish to have just your feet off the end of the bed. A rolled up towel or blanket under the ankles may help here instead of feet off the bed. The downward facing head can be supported with a small pillow or two under the forehead as well, allowing access to the length of the back of the neck. 2) Start gently with the top (neck, base of the skull) of the back side of the body and work downward doing one side at a time. Use care and avoid bony areas such as skull, ribs, elbows, ankles, etc. Small circles are best. Vary the pressure depending on the size, mass and direction of the muscle tissue. Larger muscles require more aggressive application and more massage time to relax. Experiment with your partner to find out his/her needs. Some slightly lighter pressure long strokes may feel great horizontally across the back/ribs, femurs, calves, or you may hate having that area massaged. Everyone loves having the bottoms of their feet massaged, especially the arches. 3) Some areas on the front of the body may be massaged using this device, but use caution here. 4) Use of a cotton sheet over bare flesh keeps you warm and prevents the massage machine head from pulling hairs, ouch! These machines will last about 2 years with daily use. I highly recommend this item and would buy it again. UPDATE Dec. 2, 2016 I purchased this item on March 7, 2016. It makes a LOT of noise and is starting to fail. My earlier assumption that it will last 2 years was wrong. It has not lasted one year! I know from past experience that if you use this item daily or 3-5 times per week, that is considered a lot. The internal parts are often made of plastic and wear out. This item is made cheaply to a specific price point. This has been used for only 9 months and is near the end of its useful life. I still recommend it, but now am disappointed that it didn't even last one year.

If using this, achem, off label, and you're a power queen, you will not be disappointed. It's frighteningly powerful. If it isn't, yours is defective. This is NOT like a wand vibrator that you gently push on your skin. This is a beater. It's meant to pound on your muscles, and it does this well. And relentlessly. I would suggest wearing sweatpants. I have to sit on it to make it not run. On low, it's a pleasant rumbling. On high, it will knock your socks off. If you feel like wands just don't have the oomph you need, this is the thing for you. If you like something that is softer and takes its time, stick with your Hitachi -- this is a whole different animal. -- The heads are screw-on, and it has a big rubber boot right above the head. This is good because it is very hard for it to pinch your skin; Dual head thumpers usually have that problem. Compared to a 'thumper', it has slightly less 'push power'. An example of what I'm talking about: Naipo Handheld Percussion Massager Electric Dual Head Deep Tissue Massager with Heat and Interchangeable Nodes . I did not find this to be a problem, it was just as good at working out knots. I have to sit on it to stop it, so there is ample power for anyone's needs. Thumpers usually come with a somewhat more spongy head, and some are interchangeable. Dual head models are a little easier to work with one-handed, and are usually a little bit heavier. It's a matter of personal preference. The Wahl comes with 4 different heads. There's a similar model that isn't 'deep tissue'. I've used that one before too, and it seems they're identical except for the heads that come with it. Except for the "4 finger" attachment, they're all made of very hard 'impact' plastic. These heads are not the spongy kind. Be careful not to hit bone with it! It will hurt. Especially the pointy head attachment. There aren't any aftermarket head attachments offered, so what comes with it is all that can be used with it. A lot of these corded massagers have had a problem with the cord coming loose and causing a short or fire hazard. The Wahl has a very sturdy rubber connector at the base -- I don't think that will ever be a problem. Trying to use it on the upper back by yourself is a challenge -- I suggest sitting in a chair with a lot of cushioning, and then positioning the massager and leaning back into it for this. Same if you want to use it in bed on muscles. The adjustable speed/off-on is continuous like a volume knob - it's not notched. It's very easy to move and can sometimes rub over clothing and change its speed. That surprised me a few times -- I wish it were a little bit harder to move because of this. It's about as strong on low as high. I have run it up to an hour and it will get warm, but not uncomfortably so. As a theraputic massager, it will definately get the job done. The downsides: It doesn't have a heating head. That's okay for me, as I put a heating wrap on after, but some people may want that feature. The hand grip isn't the best - the plastic is a bit slippery. If it's a problem, grip wrap is easy enough to put on; If you plan on using this after a workout, you might want some.