Bodi-Tek The Original BackMagic Back Stretcher (Black, N/A)

I have to admit I was sceptical about ordering this, but needed to try something that would save me excessive trips to see an osteopath. I am a 42 year old woman, relatively healthy but due to having worked in an office for more or less my entire career, back pain is something I have suffered with since I was 25. I saw an osteopath regularly from the age of 25 until my early thirties, and then had to go back every few months for top up sessions. I periodically suffer from all the typical symptoms of sitting in an office chair for 8 hours a day. Tension in the shoulders and arching of the top half of my back leaning forward to use my keyboard (all things I do try to stay conscious of to correct myself from doing throughout the day, but hey... in an ideal world!)Anyway, this product arrived quickly and as expected. Packing nice and simple. Just have to clip the arching section to the base,...ladies this may give your arms a brief workout to bend and slot into position. Now I find the lowest arch works wonders! I really don't think you need to go to the higher levels unless you are into yoga or like an excessively good stretch and are perhaps more flexible than those of us with real back trouble.I have used this several times now when the top half of my back feels really tight and I become aware that I am hunching slightly. Simply rest it on the floor, on carpet is best (I wouldn't attempt this on laminated or hard floors), place the widest end at the base of your spine and slowly allow yourself to lay backwards. Then breathe deeply until you can feel your back sinking more and more into the corrector. I find when I first do this, initially I have so much tension I really can't relax into it, but after about 5 minutes or so it feels so lovely I have very nearly fallen asleep on it. I have only used the side with the little nodules on it, but I find this has a way of pressing into the muscles down either side of the spine to free up most of the tension which is great.This really does help to open up the spinal column and provides relief for all those tight knotting sensations. For me this was a major find and I have no hesitation in recommending this product.

After only using twice a day, for a single week, my lower back/hip pain has dramatically reduced and I can feel myself slouching less than before - as my back and spine are most likely slowly being eased/stretched into their correct position. The dimples aren't remotely as uncomfortable as some suggest, unless they are pushing directly into the spine (which they shouldn't be); if one wears a top or a second layer, they cannot really be felt.Construction is fairly solid, I weigh ~16 stone and it supports my weight with ease, but if left in a higher position/deeper stretch position, it will take a short while to lose the bend, if wanting to use a lower position.Even if the unit doesn't alleviate or reduce your pain immediately, it will at least give you an indication of the position which your spine/back should be in.

I stumbled on this by chance and after reading all the positive reviews for the original product I decided to give this one with the 'knobbles' a go. I have been using it for around 3-4 weeks now on level 1 and I have gone from waking up every morning with pain radiating from the middle of my spine (if I was lucky enough to make it through the night without the pain waking me) to waking up feeling fine. I have mild scoliosis, which I can tell is still there, but I'm really happy with how much better my back is feeling and so quickly! For note I am quite young and active, so I have strong back muscles so the knobbles are not the least bit uncomfortable on my back, but they may not suit everyone. You can just turn the arch round though, there is a smooth side too. I have also recently been using a foam seat wedge while driving and an MSM cream every morning, which may have assisted. I really believe it's this product which has made the biggest difference though.

Feel better and less stiff after one day, upper back tension and lower back pain has diminished to say 20 - 30% of the previous pain levels after less than a weeks use. I'd been seeing a chiro for a while with fairly short lived but good results and this seems to have taken it to another level. I'm not saying it's perfect for everyone, everyone suffers from different issues but it's working for me. I've found that I can use it in the car (although they sell a different one designed with a strap for it), and I use it as designed on the floor twice or three times a day for about 5-10 minutes. You can feel it working by stretching the deeper muscles, and I have to roll off sideways afterwards (in a bit of pain which eases quickly). Looking forward to seeing what the results are after a few weeks off use.

The price of this item is very high as compared with "Kabalo Back Magic Spine Alignment Arch and Lumbar Support Muscle Stretcher Relieve Pain (Price: £12.99)" which I bought from Amazon UK earlier. Attracted by the "pressure points" which was not explained in detail and the effect was not obviously different when compared with the use of the other lower price version I bought earlier without the pressure points.Pros: None (as compared with Kabalo Back Magic ... )Cons: The quality of the plastic is slightly not so good. Significantly higher price, nearly double. Does not have the strip for fixing to the back of a chair.Recommend to buy Kabalo Back Magic ... which serves the same purpose at a much lower price.