Massage Chair Buying Guide
Have you ever had one of those days at work where every inch of your body aches at the end of the day? We have all been in that situation. While a hot shower, a delicious meal and a good night’s sleep can help, sometimes you might just need some extra help relaxing. A massage chair can be really handy in this situation. At some point, you have to have considered booking yourself in for a full-body massage. The relaxing atmosphere and the masseuse kneading through all those knots in your body can feel like heaven. However, you shouldn’t have to go through the trouble of booking an appointment, waiting for the set date for the massage and then finally getting one.
What is a massage chair?
The concept of a massage is thousands of years old. It was said to have originated in India where it was considered a form of natural healing. The process was said to relieve stress and pain along with preventing and curing illness. Ayurveda, a natural form of medicine in India, believed that a person fell sick due to their body being out of sync with the environment. Massages were supposed to restore balance in the human body.
Robotic massage chairs were first seen in Japan after World War II around the 1950s. They provide the comfort and relief you get from a real massage through technology built into a chair. Over the years this technology has developed to include different massage styles with the help of airbags and different intensity rollers.
The modern-day massage chairs include all the good qualities of a comfortable recliner or sofa chair combined with innovative technology. These massage chairs have been made to provide you with ultimate comfort whenever you need them.
Common features
There are certain features that most massage chairs have today. Make a note of these features because some of these features might just be what you are looking for.
Recliner
The recline function is quite a common feature in most massage chairs. It is always better to actually feel like you are lying down while getting a massage without actually lying down on a massage bed. One of the most well-known options amongst reclining massage chairs is a zero-gravity reclining chair. These massage chairs mimic the feeling of being complete weightless in a zero-gravity environment.
A zero gravity massage chair reclines to a level where your legs are positioned above your head. This position eases the stress on your joints and especially your spinal cord. This way your body weight is completely being handled by the chair leaving you feeling weightless. Additionally, some chairs offer inversion therapy that raises your legs much higher in order to improve blood circulation.
Airbags
A compression massage is what you get with airbags. This is great for increasing blood circulation and getting rid of any stiffness in the body. The airbag features use the inflation and deflation of airbags to compress certain parts of your body. Just like normal massage therapy, airbags tend to inflate providing pressure to a certain area and deflate quickly mimicking the pressure created by a masseuse.
The gentle squeezing provides immense relief, especially in the arms and legs. Furthermore, the pressure in the airbags is usually adjustable. So, you can control the amount of pressure to give yourself the perfect massage every time.
Massage Tracks
They can make a big difference to the kind of massage you get from your massage chair. There are essentially two types of tracks but a lot of the massage chairs have combined the two tracks to provide a better and full-body massage experience.
L-Track
This track extends from the neck to the lower lumbar region. It provides support to your entire back and extends a bit more towards the end. The roller track is able to reach your glutes and hamstrings along with your back. It is the perfect massage track for some who gets lower back pain and legs.
S-Track
This roller track is slightly smaller than the L-track. It follows the natural curvature of your spinal cord, hence giving it the S shape. The S-track is great for stretching out the back and for anyone with regular back pain or neck pain.
Foot and Calf
Medium to large massage chairs has an additional foot and calf massager. The lower half of these massage chairs just extends into an additional massager for your tired feet and calves. If you have a job that requires you to be on your feet all day then this added massager is a true blessing.
Most of the foot and calf massagers use reflexology massage techniques for your feet and some also use airbags for your calves. It provides just the right amount of pressure for your feet and calves. If your feet give you a lot of trouble, then it would be better for you to purchase a massage chair that comes with this additional feature.
Heat
We already know that heat can help your muscles relax which is why you find a hot shower after a long day so relaxing. So, if you combine heat with massage you get the most relaxing results. The massage component of the chair can help you get rid of built-up toxins within the body and the heat helps improve blood flow.
Heat is supposed to ease the muscles very quickly. So, if you add this feature to a massage chair you get fast pain relief and a massage so relaxing that it will immediately put you to sleep. Additionally. This combination is recommended for people with arthritis, muscle stiffness, inflammation and any major pains.
Bluetooth and app functionality
Smart devices have become a common thing. Hence it is only fair to expect your massage chair to be part of this trend. Many massage chairs available in the market come with Bluetooth technology and app functionality. Some of them also come with in-built speakers, so you can listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks while getting relaxing music.
Along with easy connection thanks to Bluetooth technology, you have the option of using an app to control the massage chair. Instead of a remote, you can use your smartphone to control the functions of your massage chair. Many chairs offer an app for both iOS and Android.
Massage Intensity
Imagine going to get an in-person massage and getting a masseuse whose hands are not strong enough to battle your pains and aches. Such a massage can be quite disappointing and is definitely not relaxing. The strength of the masseuse makes all the difference. The same goes for massage chairs. Your massage chairs have motors within them that determine the strength of the massage. A higher number of motors means higher intensity and strength. You should check for the roller system in the chair to find the one that would suit you best.
2D Rollers
Basic massage chairs would have 2D rollers. This technology refers to the movement of rollers in the chair. So, 2D rollers move on the X and Y axes; this means they can move left and right, or up and down.
3D Rollers
With 3D rollers, you can adjust the intensity which can be quite helpful. These rollers move on the X, Y and Z axes, allowing them to move diagonally as well.
4D rollers
Just a notch above 3D rollers, 4D rollers’ movements can be varied. This gives a more holistic and intense massage. We would recommend getting 4D rollers if you have back and shoulder issues.
Massage programs
Most massage chairs come pre-programmed with different massaging options. These massage settings can range from three to thirty different options depending on the kind of chair. The pre-programmed massages are timed and are meant to target different areas of the body. This way you don’t have to spend too much time trying to select the setting that you want. We have listed some of the most popular massage programs below.
Reflexology
This is a massage style that is used for the feet. So, if you’re looking for a good foot massage this is the setting you need. It is meant to apply pressure to different areas on your feet. This can improve the functioning of other areas of the body as well. Massaging certain areas of the foot that correlates to other parts of the body is part of the classic acupressure massaging method.
Deep Tissue
If you suffer from chronically tensed muscles or get stiff muscles more often, a deep tissue massage is what you need. This massage can be quite intense and is meant to work on those stubborn knots and muscle tissue that can be a little hard to access. Keep in mind that this massage can be painful for someone who doesn’t need an intense massage. You need to have high pain tolerance to be able to withstand this massage style.
Shiatsu
This massage style is the closest to acupressure as Shiatsu means applying pressure from fingers. Gradual pressure, stretching and constant rotation provide a relaxing effect on the entire body helping reduce stress, tight or stiff muscles and muscle pains.
There are many massage chairs that offer the Shiatsu massage program and you can find some of them on MyDeal.
Kneading
Just like in the process of making bread kneading makes all the difference, it can help with your aches and pains as well. Kneading includes lifting and stretching muscles to loosen up any stiffness. Massage chairs apply this technique by using circular motions on your spine.
Vibration
This is an old method but an effective one. The vibration plates are built into the seat and can help get rid of any soreness. Most massage chairs have this massage program and the best part is you can adjust the intensity of the vibrations for a customised massage.
Choose The Right One for Yourself!
If you know about the different types of massage chairs and the features they offer, it will be easier to select one for yourself. But you have to consider things such as size and price as well. There is no designated place in the home for a massage chair. You can place it in your bedroom or living room; the only thing you need to keep in mind is the size of the room. If you don’t have a lot of space, go for a massage chair that doesn’t take up too much space. You can easily find recliner massage chairs that can recline enough to give you the feeling of lying down but don’t take up a lot of space.
Furthermore, massage chairs are a long term investment and if you are considering buying one, get ready to spend. While there are cheaper options available, the ones with all the features might be on the more expensive side. Massage chairs can be really beneficial for your health especially if you have an underlying condition. Hence, spending a bit more money just once will eventually benefit you in the long run.
