Hearth Record

Back Massagers Recalled by JB Research

Home product recall 98-078. Announced by CPSC on Mar 11, 1998.

CPSC’s own notice, on cpsc.gov

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The short answer

Announced by CPSC on Mar 11, 1998. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.

Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

Fire & Fire-Related Burn

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What should you do?

The notice gives no remedy in a field of its own.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Which ones are recalled?

Back Massagers Recalled by JB Research NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Originally issued March 11, 1998, Revised December 11, 2001 Release # 98-078 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Mark Ross, (301) 504-7076 Note: Firm is out of business. Do not use these products. Discard or destroy the products. CPSC, JB Research Inc. Announce Recall of Back Massagers WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), JB Research Inc., of Bellflower, Calif., had voluntarily recalled about 15,000 back massagers sold under the Relaxor, Deep Knead? Shiatsu brand name. The motor for the massager’s Deep Knead? mechanism can jam and overheat. This will cause scorching to the foam and fabric on back of the unit, presenting a potential fire hazard to consumers. JB Research Inc. has received 46 reports of units overheating. No fires or injuries have been reported. To determine if a Relaxor, Deep Knead? Shiatsu back massager is involved in this recall, check the control wand of the massager. Only massagers that have the words “Deep Knead” on the front of the control wand and the controller model number JDK46H and serial numbers from 000001 to 020000 on the back of the control wand are included in this recall. These massagers come in 2 sizes, a “seat topper” (measuring 46 inches long by 20 inches wide) and a “seat lounger” (measuring 69 1/4 inches long and 20 1/8 inches wide). The massagers are covered in solid black or gray tweed fabric. The word “Relaxor” is imprinted on the front of the unit and elastic straps on the back of the unit attach the massager to a chair. The massager comes with an AC plug-in/auto adapter and the control wand. Specialty stores nationwide, including The Sharper Image, Brookstone and Nordic Track, sold the massagers from October 1997 through December 1997 for about $200 to $260. Consumers should stop using the recalled massagers immediately. Since JB Research Inc. is no longer in business, recalled massagers should be discarded or destroyed to prevent fires and injuries. No other models of Relaxor massagers are involved in this recall.

Relaxor Deep Knead Shiatsu back massagers.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Who made and sold it?

  • Made by NordicTrack.
  • Made by Brookstone.
  • Made by Sharper Image.
  • Made by JB Research.
  • Made by Deep Knead.
  • Made by Relaxor.
Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Was anyone hurt?

The notice doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
  • The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.

    Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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