Homedics QRM-400H Therapist Select Quad-Roller Massaging Cushion with Heat

The Quad-Roller Massaging Cushion is easy to set up and begin operating. You just prop it on a chair or couch (there are straps you can use to tie it in place if your chair allows) and plug it in. There is a remote control pocket attached to the chair on the right. The remote is attached to the chair by a cord: in other words, it won't be joining other remotes in your couch cushions, which is great. The remote control itself is laid out very sensibly, so that it's very easy to operate.

There are two types of massage, shiatsu and rolling, either of which can be used with or without heat. Shiatsu massage is a deeper massage and feels like a knobby ball is being rolled around your back. Rolling massage is gentler and feels like wheels are rolling up and down alongside your spine, which is pretty much just what's happening: there are two rollers on either side of the chair. The horizontal distance between them can be adjusted using the width button. (There is a demo feature on the remote which gives a quick run-through of all the cushion's settings.)

Both types of massage, shiatsu and rolling, can be concentrated on the upper or lower back or set to massage the full back. In addition, in the shiatsu mode you can concentrate the massage on a single spot, adjusting it using up and down buttons.

I haven't tried other massage cushions/chairs, so I can't compare this product with the competition. Nor can I speak to the product's endurance, as I haven't used it yet for a long time. But these are the cushion's pros and cons as I see them:

PROS:
-- Easy to operate
-- Sensibly designed remote control
-- Remote can't get lost
-- Light weight
-- Auto shut-off after 15 minutes
-- It feels pretty darn good

CONS:
-- The rollers don't go up high enough to reach my shoulders (I'm 5'9"). People with upper back problems may not find this cushion helpful.

I used to wake up every morning with a stiff back, feeling like my spine would splinter if I twisted at all. That doesn't happen anymore, but boy would I have wanted this chair then, particularly the rolling full-back massage.

The video should give you a good sense of how the chair operates. Enjoy.

-- Debra Hamel

This is a great product if you don't want to spend too much but want a "real" massage each time. The massage cushions don't seem like they would give such a strong massage but as soon as you turn on the power you know this is a cushion that means business. If you lean back too hard it becomes actually painful.

Having tried out some massage chairs such as iJoy and others which come with hefty price tags, I think Homedics is a great option if you don't want to spend too much and still get a decent massage. Added to that the cushion gives you the flexibility to use any chair you like as your massage chair. However, the best feature about these new models from Homedics is the HEAT...(oh yes!) which you will not get even in most expensive massage chairs.

Aaah! The heat makes such a difference! The four rollers move up and down your back to give you a strong massage, but when you turn on the heat the same rollers feel so much better. The wonderful warmth just relaxes your tense back. Let me caution you however, the massage from this cushion can be too intense for if you just want a comforting light massage in front of the TV. These rollers literally dig into your back, especially if you have a very bony back. So you can either wear a light cotton jacket or just put a towel over the cushion. I prefer to put on a light jersey jacket to get my massage as putting a towel over the rollers (discouraged by the manufacturer) can mar their efficiency. It may also heat up the cushion too much and may damage it.

Each time I've used the heat feature on this cushion, I've been lulled into sleep despite the uncomfortable cushion. The rollers thankfully stop after 15 minutes on their own or I'd wake up with a burned and sore back. Even after the massage stops the cushion stays warm for some time due to the heat, and I don't want to get out of the chair. It just feels so good!

Other reviews have illustrated how the chair works very well so I won't go too much into detail here. It gives you an up and down Rolling massage where rollers move in a straight line up and down. In this mode, you can adjust the width of the rollers. The other mode is Shiatsu in which rollers move in a circular pattern up and down your back and you stop them where you like by using the "spot" feature. Usually, you'll want the shiatsu to get those kinks in your back. Which is why you should also consider the Homedics SBM-300H Therapist Select Shiatsu PLUS Massaging Cushion with Heat cushion made by Homedics.

Although the SBM-300H only has 2 rollers (and therefore is a little cheaper)it also gives the rollers the freedom to spiral up and down in a circular motion during a shiatsu. In the quad cushion, although there are 4 rollers, the 2 on each side are joined together and when they move up and down for the shiatsu they move more in a zig-zag kind of pattern compared to the circular spiral of the 2 rollers in the SBM-300H. The 4 rollers also don't go up as high on your back as the 2 rollers in the SBM300H. Some reviewers in the past (for earlier models without heat feature)have commented that the SBM-300 delivers a more effective shiatsu than the quad QRM-400, which I agree with. To check out how the rollers move up and down in the new models look at the video reviews of both (in the spotlight reviews). They give a fairly good idea of the movement of these rollers and will help you make your decision.

Whichever Homedics cushion you choose, this is a great product at a very reasonable price (cost of 3 massages or less!) The only negative is that the rollers don't go further up your back up to the neck (in SBM-300 they seem to go a little higher than this cushion). Usually, I slide down further into the chair to address that problem. This is perhaps the only point where the massage chairs win over the Homedics cushions. However, given the price difference between a full blown massage chair and the Homedics massage cushions with the wonderful heat function, my vote is for the Homedics cushions!

I opened this baby the moment I received it. I was really looking forward to using this massaging cushion. I read all the scary instructions with a LOT of cautions. Do not use if you are: pregnant, have a pacemaker, diabetic, or have any concerns regarding your health. I attempted to attach the cushion to my chair with the velcro straps provided but they were not long enough (this should have been my first clue). No matter, it fit nicely in my chair with no sliding. The remote is attached to the cushion and has a easy slot, clever little idea. Finally, I plugged the cushion in and pushed the rolling full back massage button. Ahhhh. It felt good on my lower back but when it got to the middle OUCH and then a distinctive CRACK was heard and I jumped off the cushion. There now was a tear in the upper back portion of the cushion and a slight burning smell. This cannot be good. My attempt at relaxation by using this product lasted for about 20 seconds. I am not a happy camper, perhaps the warranty and/or customer service for Homedics will change my view?

Spoke to Homedics representative who stated that this cushion is ONLY TO BE USED ON AN OFFICE CHAIR. They have it displayed this way in-store but there is no way of knowing this if bought online. They were very helpful and told me to mail it back (at my cost) with the authorization code given for a replacement. Replacement received and it works great. I use this cushion often and there have been no problems. I LOVE THIS THING! It's nice to know that this company stands behind their products!!

UPDATE 6/4/10: 3 years later and this massage pad still works nicely. I use in on a leather office chair around 2-3x per month.