Recently, I’ve been working on the list of the 10 Best Back Massagers for 2018. It has really opened my eyes to just how many different kinds even exist! They can be self massagers, percussion, vibration, handheld, or even made like a seat cushion. It can be hard to choose the right one because you have to get the right one for your personal needs. Do you need something that will focus on a certain spot? Full back massage? Gentle or firm? Fast or slow? Heat or no heat?
In today’s article we are reviewing the next back massager on our list, the Body Back Company’s Body Back Buddy Trigger Point Therapy. Check out our pros and cons to see if this is the right massager for your needs!
Things to Consider When Trying the Body Back Buddy Trigger Point Therapy
So, for most massagers, I need to tell you all about the special features. They all have different variations of the same settings and features. But in this case, the massager is very straightforward and it is more about how you use it, not so much about the extra features. It really doesn’t have any. It is merely down to the massage nodes, their placement, and how you decide to use them!
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Convenience: You are meant to use this on yourself, the knobs are conveniently placed. They are meant to make it easy for you. This is very easy to use, although you might look a little odd while doing so. I’d probably just use this in the comfort of my own home to be honest. But the nice thing is the fact that you don’t need to worry about finding convenient outlets, buying batteries, or how long your power cord is. You could even bring this along on backpacking trips. It’s super lightweight so it wouldn’t be a lot extra weight. But it sure would help any sore muscles or cramps after a long hike!
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Intensity: Well, this part all depends on you. This is actually one of my favorite things about it. If you want a fast, hard, and intense massage, all you have to do is press harder or move faster. If you want gentle, soft, and slow, it all depends on you as well. No need to direct anyone. You have full power over your own massage with this simple tool!
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Affordability: So when I first saw the price I was a little surprised. It seems too high for a simple plastic tool. I thought automatically that if it costs that much I definitely want something that does the work for me. But in all reality, this item has been around for a few decades now. They have worked out the kinks, in both your back and in the design of the tool. So if they have put this much time, effort, and dedication into getting it just right, I think it’s really worth every penny. Especially to all the people who swear by this tool.
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Focus Area: You can use this from head to toe. Literally. The reason there are so many knobs all over this tool is because the creators put a lot of thought into it. They wanted to ensure that you could reach any part of your body with ease. As far as all the customers were concerned, they nailed it!
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Uses: You can use this to give you a massage, obviously. But there are many reasons you might want or need a massage. It can help you with chronic pain, soreness, knots, or overall tension anywhere on your body. The S-shaped design enables you to use it anywhere. It even comes with a pamphlet that will help you understand how to use it.
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Drawbacks: I think the main drawback here depends on whether you like giving yourself a massage. There is definitely no way around that. You also may have to dig in pretty firmly in certain areas to get the right kind of massage. Which probably tends to be a little uncomfortable in comparison to a vibrating massage that will penetrate deeply without digging in.
Who Should Buy This Product
If you are the kind of person who needs more control over your massage, I would highly recommend this. It allows you to give yourself the massage that other people don’t quite get right. It can be hard to speak up and explain exactly what you need. Sometimes it’s just time to take things into your own hands! You also don’t really have to worry about keeping it clean because you can simply wipe it down. Another bonus is that you don’t have to worry about plugging it in or buying batteries either! There are no mechanisms that need to be powered, which means that they also can’t wear out. And you can even use it in the shower if you really need heat to loosen up those tense muscles!
So this is perfect if you’re interested in trying something a little new and different. Especially if you haven’t had much luck with other things. You won’t need to worry about being confused by this tool either because it comes with instructions. And if even that leaves you feeling a little unsure, I think it’s worth it to mention that the Body Back Buddy is backed by medical experts!
Who Shouldn’t Buy This Product
If you aren’t interested in a massage device that is entirely made to be powered by your own two hands, this is not for you. It certainly takes more work on your end. That is one thing you will either love or hate. On the upside, you will have full control and a lot of people love that. It allows you to manage your own discomfort. But at the same time, if you’re looking for something that is more relaxing, you might not like this.
The Body Back Buddy Original Trigger Point Therapy
The Body Back Buddy focuses on trigger point therapy. Trigger point therapy focuses on the pain, tightness, and irritation in your muscles and their connective tissue. It will allow you to reach all your aches and pains for yourself. This is the best thing ever for those who really want to be able to have total control over their own massage. Professional massages are expensive and vibrating or percussion massages can be too rough. The Body Back Buddy will enable you to get that one spot that has been giving you a real issue. It is simple, comes with a 100% lifetime guarantee, and an instructional manual that will guide you. Not to mention it is made in the USA and has been around for a few decades now. Certainly long enough for the creators to work out any flaws in the design and make this perfect for anyone and everyone. It is lightweight, but surprisingly durable and perfect to use at home!
Pros
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You can give yourself a full body massage
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Made in the USA
- Comes with a 12-page instruction manual
- Lightweight and durable
Cons
- You can’t use this on inflamed areas
- Expensive
- Made with hard plastic
- Self powered massage
Features and Benefits
While this might seem like a very simple tool, it’s still nice to learn all the in’s and out’s before you decide to purchase. You might learn something new about it for one thing. But even more importantly, learning about the individual perks and features will help you decide whether this is right for you.
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This handy tool is made right in the good old USA. That can be nice for those who like supporting local business. They have been working on and perfecting this tool since 1995!
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It has 11 carefully placed therapy knobs. They will all come together to make it very easy to position this tool in the right spot. They are actually meant for trigger point therapy and allow you to reach every pressure point on your body without any assistance.
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It is the perfect tool to help you deal with any myofascial issues through trigger point therapy. These issues usually have a lot to do with past injuries or working your body hard over the years. It is very common in athletes and people with very physical jobs. As long as there isn’t much inflammation, this would be a huge help in loosening up any tension, knots, and long standing muscle issues that have built up over the years.
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You can use this in the shower if you like heat with your massage! This will improve circulation and make it a little easier to loosen up the tension and knots.
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Since this is a self massaging tool, it’s nice that it is very lightweight. That will make it easy to give yourself a massage without tiring out your arms. This is one feature the Body Back Buddy has over the mechanical alternatives. Even if they claim to be lightweight, they have nothing on how light this product is at just over a 1lb!
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The Body Back Buddy is a little daunting and confusing at first. But luckily, it comes with a 12 page instructional manual! That way you know exactly how to use it for the best results! I think this is pretty important for the fact that it does seem like such an odd tool at first. But if used properly, it will certainly amaze you with how well it works!
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Since they have so much confidence in the product that they created, this comes with a 100% lifetime guarantee! They don’t really expect you to have any issues with the product. But if you ever do, feel free to reach out to them!
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Some customers complained about the hard plastic that this is made of. They thought it was uncomfortable. But I think you should keep in mind that you have total control. They wanted to give you the option of having a hard massage if you wanted it. If not, all you have to do is press gently, rather than digging in for a deeper massage. It’s entirely up to you!
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This is very affordable if you think about it. You pay one affordable price to basically be able to massage yourself forever. I’d say that’s a pretty great deal! This is durable, so it will last. It also doesn’t have any mechanical parts to wear out on you! In the end, this is a price you can pay one time and not have to worry about it lasting!
Social Proof
You might be surprised by the fact that this item has some of the best reviews from customers. Looking at it you might think that this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But for the most part it seemed like people who weren’t interested just didn’t purchase it in the first place. But for those customers who had a hard time finding the right massager, this was a godsend! They loved it most of all because they could massage themselves. By using this, they could reach those hard to target spots that other massaging devices can’t always help with. This won’t just help with one spot, but all of them. You can use this for a full body massage. I think it is the best option for someone who only has trouble in certain areas. It would be a little time consuming to use this all over, since it isn’t hands free like most other massagers.
Alternatives
I know that this isn’t going to be the right product for everyone. It does require a lot of work from whoever is using it. While everyone says it is completely worth it, I understand why most people wouldn’t want this. Most people like something that is hands free and allows them to do other things while they use it. In case you need something like that, I have a few alternative massagers you might be interested in!
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Kemier ET-01 Deep Tissue Massager with Infrared
The Kemier ET-01 is also a handheld massaging device that you can use on yourself. It is a familiar design for most people, but it has built in infrared and the vibration settings that can run higher than most. Anywhere between 3,400-6,000 RPM! That will enable you to get an intense deep tissue massage or stick to a gentler approach. It all depends on what you want that day! It is also good for full body use and will help improve blood circulation, soothe spasms, and relieve sore muscles.
Who Should Buy This Product
I would definitely recommend this for someone who likes the idea of a handheld massager that still gives you control. But something that will also do the work for you while you just hold it in the right position. This will help really get that deep tissue massage with the high RPM vibration. It’s all around more powerful and people loved it for that reason! It is a bit more expensive, but none of the customers seemed to mind. They were really satisfied with the size, power, and efficiency of this model.
Kemier ET-01 Deep Tissue Massager vs Body Back Buddy Self Massager Comparison
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The Body Back Buddy is more affordable
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Kemier has more power to really get that deep tissue massage
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Both are convenient and easy to use on yourself
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Kemier has a silicon coating on the massage nodes for comfort
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The Body Back Buddy is much more durable with no moving parts
The Kemier ET-01 is a very convenient massager. You have a lot of control since it is handheld, but it will massage for you! You can also use this all over for a full body massage and it is very comfortable. If you’re interested in the Kemier ET-01 Deep Tissue Massager with Infrared you can find it on Amazon!
Wahl Deep Tissue Percussion Therapeutic Massager
The Wahl Massager is a little unique from the others like it. This one comes with 4 attachments that can be used for different kinds of massages. It is a huge help when you have a certain area you want to massage and need something that will focus the massage in the right spot. It has adjustable speed and intensity and works entirely through vibration. It helps relieve tension and improve circulation like any good massage. This is also really great if you get muscle cramps like I do in my feet. This will work them right out!
Who Should Buy This Product
I would recommend this for anyone who likes to try different techniques with massages. You have 4 different attachments to test out on your aches and pains! It has adjustable speed and intensity to best meet your needs. It also has a really long power cord and handle to give you all the freedom you need to reach those trouble areas! So overall if you want a relatively simple device that will help you reach all your aches and pains yourself, this could be perfect!
Wahl Deep Tissue Percussion Massager vs Body Back Buddy Self Massager Comparison
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Wahl has 4 different attachments
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Wahl has adjustable speed and intensity
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The Body Back Buddy can be used in the shower
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Wahl is more convenient for a full body massage because it does the work for you
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Wahl relies on vibration for a massage that doesn’t dig in or cause irritation
This isn’t the first time you’ve seen one of these I’m sure. These handheld massagers are pretty common. But the thing that really sets this one apart are the 4 attachable heads. They allow you to pick and choose what you want to get out of your massage! It certainly helps you personalize it to your needs! If you’re interested in the Wahl Deep Tissue Percussion Therapeutic Massager you can find it on Amazon!
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FIVE S FS8812 10-Motor Vibration Massage Seat Cushion
So in case you aren’t a fan of the rolling or kneading massagers, you might love this product! The FIVE S Massage Seat Cushion relies entirely on vibration to give you a massage, and oh boy is it thorough. It will massage your neck, shoulders, entire back, and thighs! It has four programs and three speeds for the perfect massage. As well as a heat setting that focuses on your lower back. I have lower back pain and cramps pretty regularly, so that sounds heavenly!
Who Should Buy This Product
I would recommend this for anyone who is too sensitive for the kneading massages. They can be way too much for some and it’s totally understandable. Someone reviewed a chair similar to this one, but with the Shiatsu massage balls in it. It actually ended up giving them bruises! So while vibrating massages aren’t for everyone, I would definitely recommend something like this to a person who has that bad of an experience!
FIVE S Vibrations Massage Cushion vs Body Back Buddy Self Massager Comparison
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FIVE S uses a vibration massage
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The Body Back Buddy helps you reach all your pressure points for a full body massage
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FIVE S fits perfectly on a chair and is totally hands free
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FIVE S has 4 vibration programs and 3 speeds
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The Body Back Buddy gives you more control over the intensity of you massage
The FIVE S Massage Cushion fits in a regular chair, is totally hands free and is much easier on your body. If you typically find massages to be too hard and don’t enjoy them, a vibration massage might be the perfect alternative! This is great for relaxing, but probably not what you need to work out any knots or major tension. Still, it’s wonderful, gentle, and relaxing. If you’re interested, you can find the FIVE S FS8812 10-Motor Vibration Massage Seat Cushion on Amazon!
Conclusion
It won’t be your favorite if you prefer a device that will let you relax while it does the work for you. But if you’re dealing with a lot of discomfort and haven’t found anything that will really help, I think this will be the perfect thing for you! There are just so many people who loved this because it enabled them to fix any tension on their own. That way you don’t need to rely on anything or anyone else. You have total control over relieving your own pain! If you’re interested in getting the Body Back Buddy Original Trigger Point Therapy you can find it on Amazon!
