How To Buy A Massage Chair in 2023

The therapeutic properties of massage were introduced about 5,000 years ago when it was used to promote holistic healing in India. A component of the Ayurvedic healing system, it traveled to China, where new methods evolved to be used in conjunction with Chinese medicine and martial arts. Egyptians took note and began incorporating massage therapy into their lives and are credited with discovering reflexology.

Today’s massage chairs are simply the next step in the evolution of massage, enabling one to receive a massage with more frequency and options than ever before.

The technology of modern massage chairs allows for an unprecedented variety of massage therapies that closely rival massage like those from a professional masseuse but with the added convenience of on-demand availability. Massage chairs are constantly changing, and the technology gets better every year.

Do Massage Chairs Work?

Massage chairs are clinically proven to aid in circulation, promote faster muscle recovery, help lower cortisol levels, and ease tension. If you suffer from chronic pain or stiffness, the kneading of a massage chair will help break up lactic acid, which is a cause of muscle soreness. The kneading, rolling, and squeezing patterns designed by professional massage therapists will reduce inflammation throughout your body and ease discomfort.

Massage chairs combine techniques proven to release energy, promote body healing through your circulatory system, and help with spinal alignment by stretching and loosening tight muscles.

What to Look for in a Massage Chair

Massage chairs can be bare bones or loaded with premium features – depending on your needs and budget. Most massage chairs contain rollers that operate on one or more axis in the shape of an L, X, Y, or Z. Higher-end models have options like Swedish massage, Zero Gravity, Shiatsu, infrared heat, body mapping, and compression therapy. Some even have built-in speakers with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to turn your massage chair into a cocoon of relaxation.

Zero Gravity Positioning

Chairs like the OHCO M.8, Positive Posture, and D.Core take your comfort to the next level with a zero gravity feature that cradles your body effortlessly in a position that allows you to feel weightless. This promotes smoother circulation while the rollers knead toxins out of your muscles, which helps your body eliminate toxins more quickly. Zero gravity positioning also takes the pressure off your body, especially if you have soreness in your back and hips.

Body Mapping

Body mapping is one of the most critical features of modern massage chairs that enables them to perform with the precision of a traditional massage therapist. Chairs like the Brio Sport and OHCO M.8 scan your body to give a customized acupressure point massage and promote the fascial release. The intuitive Shiatsu massage triggers your body’s own endorphins to relieve discomfort and reduce inflammation.

Compression Therapy

Compression therapy is available on models like the OHCO M.8 and OHCO M.DX. These chairs use various airbags throughout the body to squeeze old stagnant blood out and aid in lymphatic drainage. The chairs target areas like your hips, arms, and legs, releasing stagnant blood and allowing your endorphins to distribute through your body. Boosting your circulation can help lower the risk of developing blood clots and will naturally relieve inflammation and pain.

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Stretching

Some chairs, like the Brio+ and OHCO M.8, feature stretch settings. The stretching maneuvers rely on Shiatsu techniques developed by the master Akira Okabayashi. Gentle heat helps encourage this stretch, warming your muscles from the inside out so that they are able to stretch farther more quickly. It’s a great way to warm up your muscles before a workout or when cooling down.

Infrared Heat Massage

Many chairs feature heat therapy throughout your spine to soothe tension and allow your muscles to be more receptive to the kneading, tapping, and rolling massage techniques. The Positive Posture Brio Sport features a Sport 4D Intelligent Massage Mechanism that delivers pinpointed heat directly from the rollers targeting the muscles being worked.

Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu, meaning “finger pressure,” is a targeted massage technique known as acupressure. It provided firm pressure using rollers on precise Shiatsu points throughout your body. The Shiatsu technique is renowned for relieving arthritis, joint problems, sciatica, and chronic spinal pain. The massage pattern these massage chairs are programmed to follow was developed by Shiatsu master Akira Okabayashi. Having a D.Core Cirrus is like having the masterwork of the kinks out of your body.

How to Choose A Massage Chair

Choosing a massage chair essentially boils down to your needs and budget.

The best way to find the right massage chair for your needs is to speak to someone specializing in massage chairs.

Do you require zero gravity? Or heat? Is your soreness primarily in your back and neck or your legs and arms? Though they may not be as feature-loaded as the higher-end chairs are, today’s more economical chairs are still very advanced and can significantly improve your well-being and restore your body. The budget-friendly Positive Posture Sol features heat massage, rollers on an L-track design, and airbags for kneading, tapping, and rolling therapy.

Best Massage Chairs for Legs

Those who participate in sports or suffer from leg pain will benefit from deep-tissue and acupoint massage that releases negative energy and knead away lactic acid buildup that causes soreness and tension in muscles.

The OHCO M.8 features Therapelliptical calf kneading and can benefit conditions such as arthritis or bursitis. The Positive Posture Brio and Brio Sport are designed with athletes in mind and feature calf and arm massage that squeezes and releases stale blood in your muscle tissue.

Best Massage Chairs for Seniors

Those with limited mobility may want a massage chair that is easier to get in and out of, and the rear-swinging doors on the OHCO models are just that. Seniors with circulatory issues like diabetes, lymphedema, Chronic Venous Insufficiency, and Peripheral Artery Disease will find relief in the zero gravity positioning found on the Panasonic MA73 and MAJ7.

Best Time to Buy A Massage Chair

The prices of massage chairs are mostly consistent throughout the year. However, some promotions occasionally feature free five-year extended warranties and other ways to save. You can often find great deals on massage chairs during the Black Friday sales at Mattress World Northwest.

A Smart Investment For Your Health

Massage’s range of health benefits to the human experience has been known for thousands of years. Before the developments of recent technologies, a massage could only be had at the hands of a professional masseuse, making accessibility something of a problem for most people. If you want to improve your circulation, relieve sleep disorders, anxiety, and arthritis, and/or turn your body into a well-oiled machine, you should consider purchasing a massage chair. The experts at Mattress World Northwest know exactly which chairs to recommend based on your needs and concerns and are happy to help you make this significant step toward better health & Wellness.

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