Home LivingWellnessAre massage chairs good for you? We asked an osteopathAn osteopath tells us everything you need to know about massage chairs, from how they work to if they’re good for youWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingWellnessAre massage chairs good for you? We asked an osteopathAn osteopath tells us everything you need to know about massage chairs, from how they work to if they’re good for youWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
An osteopath tells us everything you need to know about massage chairs, from how they work to if they’re good for you
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
If you’ve had a particularly stressful week and feel like things are all getting a bit much, falling back into a massage chair might sound like a heavenly option. Whether you’ve invested in one for your home, or prefer getting your fix for a few pounds in the local shopping centre, it’s undeniable that they’re incredibly relaxing. But when it comes to your health, are massage chairs good for you?
Whilst some experts are sceptical and see them simply as a gimmick, there is some research to suggest they may have health benefits. In fact, one study published in the journalMedicinesuggested that massage chairs could be a cost-effective way of reducing pain and improving quality of life - although the benefits of physiotherapy were still superior.
To cut through the confusion, T3 spoke with osteopathPaige Kern, to break down the pros and cons of using thebest massage chair, as well as the long term benefits compared to regular massage.
How do massage chairs work?
There are many different kinds of massage chairs on the market, and they all work in slightly different ways. However, the technology behind them is rather standard, and often more simple than you’d think.
Most massage chairs will allow users to adjust the intensity of the massage or the speed of the mechanisms. Some chairs even offer heat therapy, and will have heated pads and rollers that deliver warm massages, similar to a hot stone massage.
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(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Massage chairs: the benefits
Kern sees lots of benefits to using a massage chair - one being that they are great for post-workout recovery. Because the chairs help to shift our parasympathetic nervous system post-workout to a calmer, more relaxed state, they can help us to calm down from a high adrenaline boost, whilst relaxing our muscles at the same time. In comparison to thebest massage gun, chairs are better for muscle swelling, and so more ideal for post-workout recovery. (Although it’s worth noting that massage guns are more useful for stimulating blood flow and can be used both before and after a workout).
“The strategically placed nodes are also great for helping to relieve areas of pain and tension,” says Kern. However, it’s important to remember that they can only target set areas of tension, and the chair is unable to be tailored to your specific needs in the same way that human hands can apply pressure. Generally, however, target areas of a massage chair are often those that need regular attention and soothing anyway.
But not everything has to be about treating a medical ache of pain. Sometimes all we need is a feeling of relaxation or relief, and if you’ve come home after a long day, you might just want to chill out and lower your heart rate. Kern says that massage chairs can be great for simply that - treating you to some down time, whilst benefiting your muscles in the process.
“There is something great about the fact that you can get a massage treatment whenever you want, and from the comfort of your own home,” she says.
Massage chairs vs regular massage: which is best?
Although there are clear benefits of massage chairs, Kern says that a specifically targeted, personalised massage would be hard to beat.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Plus, while a massage chair may seem like it pays for itself in the long-term, it may need maintenance, which could be costly. Kern says that “regular maintenance sessions with an osteopath, and not just seeing a practitioner when you have an injury, helps to keep costs low, making it a more effective modality.”
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