WahlDeep 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 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, 2016I 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.

This works great for a hip or knee. I just put it under either one while using the laptop. It's heavy and durable.

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.

Excellent quality, Just as described. Sturdy material. Easy to use and strong. Adjustable

Pro: My 10 year old Massage Wand gave up the ghost last week and since I have severe muscle, bone injuries that prevent me from doing much of anything now I was desperate for a replacement. They no longer make these like the one I had before unfortunately. All of the ones I looked at seem to have a pulsing wand that pumps rapidly and hard now. I miss the older versions that were much lighter in weight to hold and had a 3 speed softer vibration, and gentle on old bones like mine! This new one is twice as heavy, but it does have a longer handle than others so I can reach further down on my back. It has a lot of attachments, but the larger flat disc one is better for me as it distributes the pulse over a larger surface which eases the pain in shoulders and back. I was able to sleep better and longer so I'll keep it.Con: I can't use this on my head to relieve headaches and stimulate blood flow because it just plain hurts. Less power would help, but apparently the motto of 'no pain, no gain' is driving these changes now. I'm needing a company that caters to seniors with osteoarthritis. Better than nothing, but I can't recommend it to seniors.

This is an option product

One of the best massagers I have owned. The handle is long enough to reach every spot on my body by myself. I use it on low because it’s intense. But I love a deep tissue massage. Bought my mother in law one for Christmas because she loved ours so much.