Thumper has saved us a sum of money on professionals & has finally helped to manage some issues that many years of massage therapy and chiropractic treatment had failed to help us manage over many decades. I was first introduced to the Thumper by a massage therapist and chiropractor in the North East while I was on an extended work assignment. A local chiropractor also uses the Thumper on both his human patients, dogs and horses (yes he treats 4 legged patients too!) prior to making adjustments. I had considered getting a Thumper over the years, we finally splurged some of our wellness budget on this device. It was money well spent!

We now use the Thumper periodically as needed directly on the affected muscles and sore spots repeatedly for short durations (working up to several minutes at a time) which has helped to finally release the afflicted muscles from many years of continuously being knotted also known as adhesions. Now when we are going to the chiropractor or a massage therapist, we use the Thumper FIRST before going to make the visit more productive and to work on some issues in between professional visits including those recurring knotted muscles. Since our Thumper arrived, we have not been scheduling the professional appointments as often nor have as many "emergency" visits thereby saving money from all the co-pays and office visits as well as travel expenses and time spent in their office. Now when we feel the need for an appointment we use the Thumper first for a few days and then if the problem remains we seek out professional assistance (which is becoming more rare, thankfully!)

In just a couple weeks I have been able to move from the weakest setting to the second highest setting, a testament that the Thumper is working out these old knots and adhesions.

This Thumper weighs approximately 7 pounds so due to the weight and size it is best to use with a partner. I recommend using while laying on a massage table or bed of an appropriate height. At home we use a massage table which can be conveniently folded up and tucked out of the way when we need the space. Since the legs are adjustable (we are both tall) this helps to save the back of the partner using the Thumper, afterall it seemed counter-productive to help one persons back while taking out the other's back!

I have also found the Thumper can be used individually with great care particularly on the thighs, the forearms and the abs. I have since combined the Thumper into a good stretching program to begin working out the myriad of issues from too many years of stress, too many injuries and too many years of immobility due to a series of life-threatening medical complications from surgery for an old sports injury while on medications.

Because of anti-coagulation medications, I have experienced some very minor bruising (resolved in a day or two with the application of arnica such as Biotone Dual Purpose Creme Gallon Jar ) while using the Thumper, just be very careful and use with a partner's assistance if this becomes an issue. The Thumper will also very likely cause some minor itching issues depending on humidity, cellular toxin load, etc. In this case use the Thumper for shorter durations initially then slowly build up the duration. The Biotone Dual Purpose has also helped to relieve itching after Thumping. Awhile back surgery was recommended for a serious ankle injury - they said the tendons healed either too short or too long (depending which MD was consulted). I have since avoided surgery and have mostly recovered from the ankle situation which I believe was due to using a combination of NutraBulk Joint Complex 500 Count with Boericke & Tafel Arniflora Arnica Natural Topical Pain Reliever Gel, Maximum Strength 2.75oz and the Thumper (worked out the knotted calf muscles therefore seems to have helped restore the tendons to their proper length and function!)

Anyone suffering with May Thurner Syndrome (MTS) or Post Thrombotic Syndrome (PTS) or Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) or Chronic Lymphedema:
I endure from all of the above; I have found the Thumper can be used safely and effectively but be very careful to have a clean bill of health such as a "clear ultrasound" (with no recent DVTs!) and approval from your medical professional(s). Also be very careful about potential bruising while on anti-coagulation medications - have a partner help you and use gently! I have found the Thumper to be very beneficial in helping to move the lymphatic fluids trapped in the tissue. I highly recommend consulting with someone trained in lymphedema therapy to help determine how to best use the Thumper as each case is very unique (such as where the scarring or blockages are located.) For anyone with May Thurner Syndrome who many have had venous stents placed - BE VERY CAREFUL to know where your stents are located and avoid Thumping those areas without the supervision and guidance of a well-qualified medical professional who is knowledgeable about the stents and Thumping therapy.

I highly recommend the Thumper and will definitely consider replacing it with another unit of the same model if or when the time comes (I expect that will not be for many years yet). The Thumper is very well-manufactured (in Canada) and is designed for a very high duty cycle. I left the Thumper run almost an hour (alternating areas, using it on 2 people) and it barely became warm to the touch. Thumper's customer service is 800-THUMPER (800-848-6737). If anything happens to change my experience with this device I will be updating this review.

This thing rules! I'm the size of a horse so it only makes sense to have a back massager built for horses!

We love this thing. We both use it, but you really do need someone to do it for you. It is too big and bulky to do by yourself with very much success. It really helps loosen up knots in our backs so that we can pop our backs back into place. It is also great for legs and feet if you've done a lot on your feet all day. However, make sure to READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS, since there are very specific rules on how to use it and you don't want to injure yourself. You don't want to bruise your bones of mess up the direction of your blood flow. Remember, this is a professional grade massager so be careful. That being said, it works very well and much better than any other massager you can get at any store. If I use it even for only 5 minutes it helps so much that it really lifts my mood. Well worth the money, especially since it has saved us money for not having to go to the chiropractor. I am NOT saying this is a replacement for a chiropractor. I just mean that we are able to pop our backs back into place(most of the time) once our muscles and the knots are relaxed enough by the machine. This may not be possible for everyone, especially if you have a serious back issue. If that is the case, I would highly suggest you ask your doctor or chiropractor before purchasing one.

Phenomenal massager. So far, it works like new after a couple of years. It greatly helps loosen up tight muscles effectively. I use it religiously in the mornings to reduce pain in my back, shoulders, feet, and even my neck. If my bad back acts up, this is the first thing I do. I always use it before my yoga or inversion table. It magnifies the effectiveness of the other pain management therapies that I utilize. My feet don't cramp up on me so bad when I do my yoga routine since I started Thumping them before hand. This well built machine is great. I hope this one lasts forever, cuz I would definitely buy another one if it should ever break.
I made the mistake of buying an oscillating massager first. That did help me loosen things up, but no where near as well as this Thumper. There are some drawbacks to the oscillating style. #1 it doesn't penetrate deep #2 It brings too much blood to the surface, causing crazy itchiness #3 my wife wont ever use it on me since it makes her hands go numb #4 It was a waste of money since I don't use it anymore after purchasing this Thumper. The one area the oscillator shines is if you need to use it on an area of the body that is bony. The thumper is just too aggressive when it hits bones.
I shyed away from the Thumper due to its price, fear of pinching, and reading reviews that you need someone else to help you in order to use it. Money is always a factor in making a purchase, and who has a spouse that's willing and available to help you when one needs to use a therapeutic tool . Most of us dont. So I made the wrong choice at first. Oh yeah, the pinching. Well, your gonna get pinched. I have fortunately somehow, (almost magically), learned how to Thump on a daily basis with very infrequent pinching. Besides, for me the pinching is nothing compared to the back pain that I deal with. And that's without anyone's assistance. That's right. I thump alone.
I have a few ways of self Thumping that work for me. #1 I put a pillow behind me and under me while sitting on the couch. That way I can lean back against it without dammaging the furniture. #2 I prop it up against the arm of the couch to Thump my feet while I'm proped upward with pillows #3 I lean forward while balancing it on my upper back and neck. (BTW, I don't think your supposed to use it on your neck.) I feel comfortable doing it though. I'm a medium build man, (6' & 200#), and only require my wifes assistance when I'm totally wrenched.
I dont know how well this would work on a very skinny person that might be Thumping more bone than muscle. But this Thumper works great for me. I should have bought one a long time ago. It certainly is not cheap, but it would have been less money spent had I not first purchased the oscillator.
I don't run the machine for more than 20 minutes to avoid overheating. I want to extend the life of it by taking care of it. I also try not to apply too much pressure as that can apparently reduce its therapeutic effectiveness as well as wear it out. I do apply enough pressure to keep it in possition when leaning back against the couch with it proped up to keep it from falling. It was pretty impressive when I discovered how heavy it was. To me, that's a sign of a well built piece of equipment. For example, I've owned junk drills that are light weight and don't last.
If you have chronic back pain, pony up and buy it. It helps. Especially if you take other steps toward a healthy body.
I do have other reviews that you may find interesting if your dealing with back pain. Good luck in your search for relief .

I have some nasty back problems and for a couple of years was relying on a massager purchased through Sharper Image. Those cost 200 dollars a piece and worked fine when they worked, but easily wore out and would need to be replaced way more often than they should. This massager was recommended to me by a doctor buddy of mine so I gave it a shot.

What a difference! My wife works out my back and legs about every other night and it keeps things loose and comfortable. it is very powerful but also quiet. I am on my second one, the first lasting over 2 years with very regular use. The old one is still running but it developed a weird sound that I can't seem to get rid of. I am keeping that one as my travel massager.

This massager will get to those deep aches that no one can seem to ever get to. (You know what I mean if you have back pain.) You can apply some pressure with this massager but i think the best way for those deep knots is to let it sit on the spot with slight pressure and just relax so that your body feels like it's melting into the floor. it feels fantastic and will loosen up all of those tight muscles. it works great on tired, sore feet too, but I have to turn it way down to get that thing near mine due to the tickle factor.

My whole family uses this massager and everyone enjoys it and swears to the benefit of a powerful, deep massage. It has a thumb dial to adjust the power from 1-5 and there is a speed for everyone. Yes, they run 300 bucks, but it will probably be the last one you buy.