I have Osteoarthritis in my spine, hips, knees, and ankles. I have had a spinal fusion (ACDF) of C3-C7 in my cervical spine. I am in constant pain in my neck, upper and lower back. I also have pain and muscle spasms in my shoulders and between my shoulder blades. Also, pain in my knees and ankles from the degeneration from osteoarthritis. Very few things decrease that pain. Norco and muscle relaxers help when it’s at its worst, but I don’t take either regularly. I just choose to deal with chronic pain.

I bought an $11,000 adjustable Tempur-Pedic bed and pillow. This bed took 50% of my pain away when laying in it, which is the best I’ve had since the chronic pain started.

Until...I decided to take the plunge and buy the Perfect Chair PC-LiVE. This chair is now my go-to for pain relief! It takes 75% of my pain away, more than even the medication! When I’m sitting in the chair, my pain melts away. As soon as I get up, it returns, but anyone with chronic pain will know that getting relief for even a temporary period of time, IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD!

With my old recliner I had a neck pillow, lumbar support pillow, a sciatic pillow to sit on, and a heating pad and I was still in pain. With the Perfect Chair, the neck support pillow takes the place of my other neck pillow, the lumbar support works better than the half dome pillow I had, the fluid-filled seat doesn’t need a sciatic pillow, and the jade heat stones work better than the heating pad. Also, the memory foam seating is like sitting on a cloud. It really is a chair that covers EVERY pain issue!

The zero gravity position is awesome. I can fall asleep in that position with no medication, which says a lot. The other great thing about this chair is that the position I sit in to watch TV or read is just as comfortable. I honestly wonder if it’s magic.

I have no complaints about this chair. Not even the price. The leather is premium and in my opinion, nothing is better than sitting in a chair with that amazing smell of high quality leather surrounding you. It is very easy to use, and I appreciate the 5-year full-coverage warranty! Is it an expensive chair? Yes. Is it worth it and more? YES!

I honestly thought that my Tempur-Pedic bed was the best out there to help with my pain, and it is awesome and worth the money, but this chair exceeds it. If I had to choose one, I would pick this chair. I’m blessed to have the best of both worlds with the dream bed and the dream chair. I foresee a lot less pain medication in my future!

If I could kiss the creator of this chair, I would. 

-Sheri Zwaanstra

Anyone familiar with the world of Harry Potter knows that each of the characters play a special role, and they hold a place in the hearts of the entire world. We were all alarmed when we found out that Jim Tavare, the actor who played Tom the Innkeeper in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, had been in a horrific car accident in March. This head-on collision left him in an Intensive Care Unit in Los Angeles, suffering with a broken neck, a punctured lung, 15 broken ribs, fractures in both breastbones and multiple breaks in his right leg.

While in ICU, Jim had multiple blood transfusions and surgeries, but kept in good spirits as he shared his progress with his fans on social media. His wife, Laura, typed out his updates and shared images of him giving thumbs up signs, despite being rigged up to multiple machines and donning a neck brace. She also reached out to us at Human Touch, having heard of our Perfect Chair recliners and all that they could do for someone recovering from neck and back injuries like Jim’s.

After spending 15 days in intensive care, as well as time in the recovery area of the hospital, Jim was released to his home, where we had coordinated with Laura to provide a PC-610 Omni Motion Classic recliner with several upgrades including Jade Heat and Memory Foam PLUS. Using the PC-610, Jim will be able to alleviate much of the pressure and pain that would otherwise be on his neck and spine, which will help him to relax and to recover faster.

We were so impressed with Jim and Laura’s hospitality while we delivered the chair and were equally movedas Jim announced that the experience of receiving such a gift was “quite an emotional moment.” His dog Mr. Kippy, sat with Jim and also enjoyed the comfort of the recliner. Mr. Kippy’s story is also a miraculous one, as he was with Jim in the car during the crash, and needed the vehicle to be cut open in order to be saved. This image shows them both enjoying the Perfect Chair PC-610 Omni Motion Classic.

Laura and Jim have graciously invited us to join them as we follow along on Jim’s progress and recovery. We’ve already received so many kind words from not only the Tavares, but even their extended family and friends. We are in awe of the support system that Jim has to help him through this journey, and feel very humbled that we’ve been invited to join in with such a gracious group.  

Follow along here on our blog, for regular updates on Jim and his recovery. And feel free to post your own words of encouragement to Jim’s Facebook page here.

Earlier this year, Human Touch was able to help Jim Tavare to recover after a devastating car accident by offering him a Perfect Chair PC-610 Omni-Motion Classic recliner. The actor, who played Tom the Innkeeper in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, had been in a head-on collision that left him in an Intensive Care Unit, suffering with a broken neck, a punctured lung, 15 broken ribs, fractures in both breastbones and multiple breaks in his right leg. You can read more about his accident, and how Human Touch got involved, by clicking here.

We recently checked in with Jim and his wife, Laura, who updated us on his progress. His physiotherapy has been going well, and he currently works with his therapist 4 times per week. After months of being immobile, he is now walking again and feeling much happier to be able to get around. Although he still suffers from residual pain, Laura shared that the PC-610 has been a huge help on his road to recovery. Here is a video message that Jim created, sharing more about how the PC-610 has impacted him over the past few months.

Human Touch recently connected with Hiram Eugene, a former NFL free safety for the Oakland Raiders. He was signed in 2006, and played for six seasons before a dislocated hip forced him to retire early from his NFL career.

Though he was able to have surgery on his hip, his pain continued to resonate from that - as well as many other - injuries resulting from playing professional football. After an intensive regimen of both physical therapy and pain management medication, he finally found a more manageable form of relief in the Human Touch Ascent Series Novo massage chair. He has been kind enough to invite us along for his journey to recovery. Here, you can read Hiram’s first-hand account of how he’s using his Novo to feel his best: 

My NFL career started in 2006 as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders, where I played Free Safety during my tenure. My career lasted until 2012 with a career - ending injury, due to a left hip dislocation.

As most players in the NFL I have had numerous injuries. I suffered from hamstring pulls, both ankle sprains, a torn Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) on the left knee, left calf muscle pull, a torn Pectoral muscle on right arm, a hyperextended left elbow, jammed right hip, stingers (which resulted in me having the thoracic outlet syndrome), an L5 and S1 disassociation in my lower back, and lastly what ended my career which is a dislocated left hip.

Enduring these numerous injuries, I am mostly affected by tightness/stiffness/soreness in my lower back, joint tightness/soreness in left hip, and stiffness/tingling/inflammation/numbness in my neck.

My attraction to the Novo massage chair was that it really does have the touch of human hands giving you a firm massage, and it also has a recliner mode that helps you relax while you receive that massage.

I have been able to use my Novo massage chair 3-5 times a week, depending on my daily schedule. I usually try to get into the chair in the early afternoon, and if possible at night before bed. One particularly helpful way I’ve begun to use the chair is after a hot tub bath, since it helps me to find a more peaceful sleep. I mostly sit down, and put the auto-massage program to the cloud touch/manual knead with percussion and heat, and I love the foot and calf massage.

I have been seeing a doctor for pain medicine, muscle relaxers, and anti-inflammatory medicines. I was also attending physical therapy two times the week and seeing a massage therapist and acupuncturist once a week. However, using my Novo regularly has decreased my pain levels and given me a little better mobility. With better mobility I don't have to take my medications as often, and the combined heat with low back massage generates blood flow which allows me to get a little more done throughout the day.

Hopefully this progress continues, so that I can cut even further back on my pain medication and decrease my need for physical therapy. I will continue to use my Novo massage chair regularly, and update you on my progress! 

We posted earlier this month about our work with Jim Tavare, the star of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, who was in a horrific car accident this past March. The head-on collision was nothing short of a nightmare, leaving Jim with a broken neck, 15 broken ribs, multiple breaks in his right leg, a punctured lung, and fractures in both breastbones. He spent 15 days in Intensive Care at a hospital in Los Angeles, after which he was able to go home. However, he knew that his road to recovery had only just begun.

We worked closely with his wife, Laura Tavare, to provide a Perfect Chair PC-610 Omni-Motion Classic recliner in order to alleviate some of the pain of Jim’s injuries and allow him to properly rest so that he can recover. The Manager of our Backcare Division, Mark Moritz, was able to personally deliver the PC-610 to Jim’s home, where he demonstrated how to use the chair and answered any questions.

In the month that Jim has been able to use his Perfect Chair, he and Laura shared that it’s been a huge aid in his recovery. While they’re still waiting for his surgeon’s permission to bear weight on his arms and leg, Jim has been immobile within his home. Sleeping in his bed was too uncomfortable for him, so he was relieved to find that his PC-610 has provided a sanctuary where he can get a good night’s rest. Because the chair can be relocated to any room in his house, he can also escape the confines of his bed to enjoy more public spaces of his home. According to Laura, “Jim can happily sit for hours in the Perfect Chair. Being able to recline into zero gravity brings him enormous relief.”

It has been so incredible to be a part of Jim’s journey to recovery. While our primary reward has been to help him along as he works so hard to get well, we have received a huge number of comments, messages, and emails from Jim’s friends and family as they share their thanks for our help. We look forward to Jim’s continued improvement, and will continue to update you with news of his progress.

Below are a few x-rays of Jim's "new hardware" that the Tavares were kind enough to share with us, so that our readers can better understand the gravity of Jim’s injuries, and the details of his recovery. As you can see, there has already been extensive surgical work done on his right leg and foot (shown here)

Words cannot express my gratitude towards the Novo Massage Chair, but I will try my best to tell my brief story which I have never expressed to anyone in complete details.

I just turned 27 last week and have lived a very active life style. I grew up working in construction, racing motocross, working out etc. I was blessed at the age of 19 to meet my soulmate who I have 2 beautiful young children with. I started my own company and was living the picture perfect life up until when I started experiencing back pain. I kept powering through them thinking they would eventually pass. 

After 6 months of continuing to decline I elected to see a chiropractor. After a few X-rays their opinion was there was a fracture or defect in my L5-S1 that I was born with.  After some MRIs and meeting with a neurosurgeon I was diagnosed with Spondylolisthesis, and was told that I was limited by my pain and would eventually need a spinal fusion, but was last resort due to my age.

I continued to work through the pain with the hopes one day it would start to subside. I downplayed how I felt to doctors (which was not a good idea) but at I time I thought I did not have a choice as I had an obligation to my employees, current customers and to provide for my family. I continued to do less physically but things continued to decline and I will never forget the day when things hit rock bottom.

I walked up a single flight of stairs twice to check on one of my jobs, and was in so much pain. That night my 2 year old son was crying for me to pick him up, which I could not physically do for the first time because of the pain. Listening to my wife try to explain to a 2 year that I could not pick him up absolutely crushed me, and I ended up going to the hospital in excruciating pain. I was discharged with pain meds and received an expedited appointment to see my neurosurgeon.

I met with my neurosurgeon with the hopes of immediately getting surgery but was informed to do more PT and start pain management, which I was not happy with at all as I felt I had exhausted all my options. I started dieting, having specialized physical therapy, and taking pain management all at once. I started to slowly feel better and would get massaged on my worst days, but then started getting them once a week as I realized they were helping. I realized the days after my weekly massage I felt the best and wish I could get more massages, but mentally could not bring myself to spend more on them as they were only temporary relief.

One day I was walking through Costco and noticed the massage chairs but elected just to walk by. Curiosity got the best of me and I ended up checking out Human Touch’s website. The stretch feature is what really got me wondering if it worked. I tried zero gravity massage chairs in the past at Brookstone, but never heard of one that could do a spinal stretch. I waited until the last day of the sale to take a look but had no intentions of purchasing one. I sat in the chair and 2 minutes into the massage the airbags squeezed my legs and stretched my spine while the rollers ran down and I was blown away. I stopped the massage a minute later and purchased one.

Although I have been very fortunate I am nowhere near a millionaire so I did not take the purchase of the chair lightly. Human Touch generously expedited the chair to me after I explained that I had purchased it for medical issues, and since then my quality of life has greatly improved. The chair has helped me recover faster and get the blood pumping in muscles on the tough days.

I started feeling better and better each week, and thought my recovery was the typical story until I met with my neurosurgeon for a follow up 2 months after my last appointment. The look of shock on his face about not experiencing pain and feeling great made me realize and his exact words of "you were very rough 2 months ago and whatever you are doing continue to do because it is working. You still have back problems so keep that in mind, but if you have no pain then you have no reason to see me.” 

I find myself sitting on the chair answering emails on my laptop due to the comfort and I feel as I am the most relaxed and focused. Words cannot express how thankful I am to everyone at Human Touch. Your product has helped me get through one of the most challenging times in my life. I have enclosed a photo of myself using the chair, playing with my son, so others can see this is a real story. I am able to now enjoy doing things with my family that pain prevented me from doing before.

Robert O'Neil

Cape Coral, FL

“I‘ve been a Computer Programmer, a heads-down coder, for 35 years. After spending about 20 years in the poor posture encouraged by a traditional workspace, I began to experience severe neck and shoulder pain. I am 100% convinced that the ergonomics of the “cubicle” office is what caused my back problems.

My doctor recommended that I have a C4-C5 cervical fusion, which I hoped would completely dissolve the pain. But as time went on, I discovered that my pain was still affecting my quality of life on a daily basis. After a lot of research, I found the Human Touch Perfect Chair, and have been using it for over 10 years now. Not only is it extremely comfortable, but it prevents the poor posture that caused my back pain.

Before I found the Perfect Chair, I was at a point where I would have to end my career due to my spinal issues. Since buying my Perfect Chair, I’ve actually purchased another that I take to work with me. I’m an independent contractor, and I’ve tried sitting in the “ergonomic” desks and chairs that many offices offer now. I can’t emphasize enough how passionately I feel that the Perfect Chair is the best desk option, and I ALWAYS insist on bringing my Perfect Chair into my offices in order to work from my laptop. My chair has received a lot of attention from friends and colleagues, including a friend who had her C4-C5-C6 vertebrae fused together, and now loves the Perfect Chair almost as much as I do!

I believe that if I.T. continues the way it’s going with their long, heads-down hours spent working, they will start to see serious ramifications to their health. These are folks who sit in a chair, without moving, for 10-12 hours at a time, and I can tell you first hand that the results can be detrimental.

The Perfect Chair is an incredible tool for people who spend a lot of time at their desk, and I believe that it has the ability to completely change the way we manage our work space. I would love to see more offices eliminate the traditional cubicle set-up and encourage their employees to use Perfect Chairs with laptop desks, or even a type of dual laptop desk. I am so grateful for my Perfect Chair. It has changed my life.”

Sandy Jeakins
California

Back-to-School is a busy, exciting time for most families. It means new friends, new teachers, and new schedules for all. It also means that kids are exposed to a lot of new ideas, activities, and… germs. And while we can’t monitor their every move during school hours (they have to grow up sometime, right?), we can do a few things to ensure that they don’t suffer too much through Cold Season.

Keep Them Well While They’re Away.

One of the most important things you can do is to teach your children how to properly wash their hands. According to Web MD, only 33% of female middle and high school students use soap when they wash their hands. That number drops to a frightening 8% of boys in the same age group. Yikes! Most illnesses are contracted when kids get germs on their hands and then touch their eyes or nose, so teach them that they are best off just avoiding contact with these parts of their face unless they’ve cleaned their hands first. Instill healthy habits by teaching them to wash their hands for approximately 20 seconds, and make sure that they always, always, always wash their hands before they eat food. Using hand sanitizer is another way to help your children avoid school-time illnesses. Kids older than 6 years old can be allowed to use sanitizer to keep hands free of germs, though visible dirt should still be cleaned off with soap. Some schools provide sanitizer for their students, while others may even allow kids to bring a travel-sized sanitizer. Find what is permitted or provided at your child’s school. Your child should also know the proper way to cough or sneeze- into his or her elbow crease. Doing this keeps germs off their hands, which helps to stop germs in their tracks.

Get Involved.

Another way to help keep your child well is to help his or her school to maintain a germ-free environment. Some schools struggle to afford wellness products for their classrooms, so get involved by offering to donate tissues, hand sanitizer, soap, or anti-bacterial wipes. This also helps you to engage with the administration on what is being done to keep kids healthy, and opens the conversation to allow further discussion on how parents can help make their kids’ schools clean and safe.

Do Your Part.

Of course, keeping your child healthy at home is the primary way to keep them well. Make sure that they get enough vitamins, sleep, and exercise to maintain a healthy immune system. Keeping your home free of dust and mold are also critical to keep everyone healthy. And it goes without saying that keeping YOURSELF well is important. Running yourself ragged and having too much stress on your own body will not only increase the likelihood of you becoming sick yourself, but also impair you from giving 100% of your chicken soup-making, VapoRub™-soothing, bedtime-cuddling self.    

Long Beach, CA –Human Touch®, the U.S. market leader of innovative massage chairs, Perfect Chair® Recliners, and other wellness solutions, has announced plans to place its ZeroG® 5.0 Massage Chairs in select Massage Envy franchised locations across the country.

Also, as a commitment to helping massage therapists recover after providing a Wellness Massage service, they will be encouraged to use the chairs, as well as Human Touch Reflex6 Foot and Calf Massagers installed in break rooms, to rest and rejuvenate between appointments.

Members and guests also can use the chairs free of charge, complementing the hands-on care therapists provide. The chairs will offer therapeutic seating in select Massage Envy franchised locations’ tranquility room, so clients can begin to relax before their appointment or extend the benefits of massage after their service.

“Regular massage helps us take care of our bodies with proven, lasting effects,” said Beth Stiller, Chief Commercial Officer of Massage Envy. “This new program with Human Touch is especially important for therapists, who are compassionate caregivers, and who also need to take care of themselves. We believe the chairs will enhance the Massage Envy experience, and give therapists, members and guests another way to include massage in well-rounded health and wellness routine.”

Massage Envy franchise owners can also sell discounted Human Touch massage products directly to their members for in-home use. These home sessions have been shown to enhance the benefits of regular, professional massage therapy sessions.

“Our new partnership with Massage Envy serves as a way to enhance their members’ massage therapy sessions and the value of their membership,” said David Wood, CEO of Human Touch. “Studies show that a large number of clients already enjoy the benefits of combining chair massage with professional massage. We’re confident that Massage Envy members will discover these same results, allowing them to maximize their potential and feel their best.”

Rejuvenate with the ZeroG 5.0 Massage Chair

The ZeroG 5.0 massage chair provides a remarkable full-body massage using Human Touch Technology® specifically designed to enhance the way you feel. The Smart 3D FlexGlide® massage engine simulates the expert techniques of massage professionals to help restore your body and leave you relaxed and ready to live life to its fullest. Take a seat, recline to zero-gravity, and simply point to where you need relief on the revolutionary BodyMap PRO® remote. Other features include four auto-massage programs, a foot and calf massager, and soothing lumbar heat technology. Enjoy these impressive features bundled into the most modern massage chair designed for any luxury living space.

Soothe your Soles with the Reflex6 Foot and Calf Massager

The Reflex6 Foot and Calf Massager delivers a remarkably life-like massage that emulates the expert hands and techniques of highly trained massage therapists. It massages the calves in an upward, rolling or wave-like fashion, using a patented CirQlation® technology developed by Human Touch that incorporates proprietary mechanics to drive its robotic actuators. The Reflex6 also offers an on-board console, patented Warm Air Technology®, and adjustable tilt for relief from multiple angles.

About Human Touch

Human Touch is the leading provider of high-quality, innovative lifestyle products, massage chairs, and experiences that have been delivering indispensable, life-changing benefits to an ever-growing number of consumers for more than 35 years. Human Touch has been making people feel better by developing state-of-the-art massage products containing patented massage systems that replicate the hands and techniques used by massage professionals, thereby helping to reduce pain and stress caused by today’s hectic lifestyle. Products are available at fine furniture stores, back care specialty stores, and mass-market retailers across the U.S., through international retailers and distributors in more than 40 countries, and online at www.humantouch.com.

About Massage Envy

Massage Envy, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a national franchisor, and through its franchise locations, is the leading provider of therapeutic massage and skincare services. With its membership model, Massage Envy believes total body care is an integral part of everyone’s well-being journey. The Massage Envy franchise system is, collectively, the largest employer of massage therapists and estheticians, with more than 25,000 dedicated professionals that provide best-in-class service to over 1.65 million members. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy has more than 1,100 franchise locations in 49 states that have together delivered more than 100 million massages and facials. The company was recently ranked by Forbes as the No. 1 Best Franchise with an initial investment of $500,001 and up. For more information, visit www.MassageEnvy.com, or follow us on Twitter @MassageEnvy and Facebook www.facebook.com/MassageEnvy.