# The "Circulator": scam, for real, or...? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 9, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circulator-scam-for-real-or/233251 "2004-03-09T04:38:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circulator-scam-for-real-or/233251/1 "2004-03-09T04:38:52Z")
On the weekend I was at a friend’s place, and he was demonstrating a device called the “Circulator”. Imagine a plastic box thirty or forty centimetres wide containing an electric motor. There’s a power cord with a remote control. On top of the box is a movable plastic piece with two indentations. To use the device, you put it on the floor, and then lay down on your back on the floor, placing your ankles in the indentations. When the operator turns the device on, the plastic piece oscillates sideways, back and forth, moving your ankles with it. As your ankles are moved back and forth, the motion propagates through your whole body. The guy demonstrating it claimed all sorts of health benefits relating to “improved circulation” which was mechanically induced throughout one’s body by the device. He also said that some of these benefits were available from somewhat-similar manual massage techniques. He did admit that using the Circulator was not for everyone. I tried it, but found that my neck hurt. He adjusted my neck support. A little later, my ankle started to hurt where it touched the moving plastic piece on the machine, and we stopped my demo. Others in the room were on the machine for longer, and ended up extremely favourably inclined towards it. Apparently this Circulator machine has been available in Toronto for some time, but isn’t well known and hasn’t sold well. Any Dopers ever encountered it before? Is it a scam? For real? Uselful in limited curcumstances? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circulator-scam-for-real-or/233251/2 "2004-03-09T05:23:35Z")
Is [this](http://www.teacherhumor.com/QVC/QVC-Detail/F5989.html) it? Haj ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circulator-scam-for-real-or/233251/3 "2004-03-09T16:44:52Z")
That’s precisely the device. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circulator-scam-for-real-or/233251/4 "2004-03-09T16:58:40Z")
So, it’s like walking for those too lazy to walk? ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circulator-scam-for-real-or/233251/5 "2004-03-09T17:23:38Z")
Does it come with a free bottle of snake oil? Lord these things are crap. The New and Improved Circulatormatron! Now with extra side to side motion! Marvel at your fat ass moving against the floor! Reap incredible health benefits while doing absolutely nothing at all! Lose weight, improve your circulation, lower your cholesterol, and get a degree in Molecular Biology, all while you sleep! Delivers oxygen and nutrients to your cells! How, you ask? Simple! **Buy now, don’t delay!** Warning: May cause dyspepsia, heart failure, lupus, hairy palms, and congenital idiocy. Oops, too late.