“Oh good Lord” was the initial thought that ran through my mind as two small delivery guys lugged the small coffee table sized device known as ‘BackHug’ into my tiny front room. I’ve been doing weightlifting for years so back pain, especially in the lower region, is something I’m all too familiar with. But BackHug is the world’s first robotic therapist that can relieve tension and stiffness in your back, shoulders and neck. Would it be that different to other massage products on the market? Would it actually work? I put it to the test to find out.
Unlike massage tools that target stiff muscles, BackHug is the first device designed to loosen stiff joints. Its 26 mechanical fingers are what delivers the magic which, according to its founder, Chongsu Lee, an engineer-turned-physiotherapist, is the root cause for aches and pains in our body. It’s been eight years in the making, has gone through 100 iterations and now it was in my living room.
