The news
With Christmas starting to loom already (what, you haven't been in a supermarket recently?), that perennial problem will soon be upon us - what presents to get for older family members? Trouble is, if they'd wanted anything (Ferraris and yachts aside), they'd almost certainly have it by now.
While oldster don't particularly like to be reminded of health issues (hearing-aids for those who refuse to admit they're deaf is a no-no, in our experience), they might not be averse to a present that shows that you care, especially if it's something that helps them better enjoy their leisure time or retirement (yes, we had thought that a hearing aid would do that!).
And, with that rather long pre-amble out of the way, let's talk about the High Tech Health CB Mobile or, to give it its full name, the Circulation Booster Mobile.
This £100 gadget (£104 with post and packaging) is claimed to significantly reduce the risk of life-threatening deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) during long journeys in planes, cars or coaches - or when just sat still at home.
It's said to send gentle electric impulses through the skin via conducting-fibre socks - a pair is included but there are no clues on the company's site about what you'd do if one or both got lost; or, indeed, about washing instructions.
My, my grannie, what
lovely legs you've got!
The site does, though, elaborate on how the device is supposed to work - using "medically approved static currents and a series of varying waveforms". In this way, it's claimed to stimulate the nerves "to promote muscle action, improving circulation and providing a general full-body reflexology treatment".
Apparently, nerve endings in the feet are stimulated by pulses, causing the muscles in the calves to contract, resulting in a pumping action that forces the blood in the deep veins of the calves towards the heart.
One obvious downside to this as a gift - apart from the price and the fact that it might not actually work - is that the more cynical recipient could see it as nothing more or less than a pair of high-tech socks. Or, worse, just socks.
Not socks again!
Another is that you can hardly buy one for one parent and not the other. Not without implying that you don't mind if the non-recipient has a fatal pulmonary embolism!
Check out the Circulation Booster Mobile site and High Tech Health's press release on page two, then tell us about your ideal (or hopeless) Christmas gifts in this thread in the HEXUS.lifestyle forum.
HEXUS.links
HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about this articleHEXUS.lifestyle.news :: 'Portable' TMS Migraine Zapper
External.links
Circulation Booster Mobile - home pageHigh Tech Health - home page
