In this section, we're pleased to offer to your attention a truly amazing selection of some of the best full body massage chairs on the market today.
There's nothing like enjoying a relaxing massage therapy session, in the comfort of your own home, at the end of a long and tiring day. De-stress and ease the tension in the head-to-toe oasis of serenity these types of massage chair recliner can drive you into!
We often forget that massage is actually one of our strongest weapons against the daily stresses of life. In fact, massage therapy is one of the oldest, still remaining health care practices known to history. Evidence of massage being used for different body ailments were found in Chinese medical texts which are more than 4,000 years old.
Whether it's your back or neck pain, muscle strain, some sports or daily-life injury or trauma you need to manage and relieve – chances are you'll know the benefits a good massage can provide. The first thought that pops out in your mind would be to make a short trip to the local spa, and this will usually do the trick – if you have the time and money to spare for doing this on a regular basis.
However, for the majority of us, a full body massage is more like a treat we so rarely give to ourselves, that it almost feels like it's our birthday or some other once-in-a-year special occasion.
Even if this weren't the case and you're used to getting an occasional monthly massage from a qualified, professional masseur, it's only natural you got yourself thinking: Why would I spend that much money on a massage chair recliner, when compared to the human version ($2000 - $3000 chair vs. monthly $60 massage) it would take years to break even?
The answer is really simple: In reality, the math here is quite different.
There's never been a pure substitute a qualified masseur. But if you still use both man and machine, the shiatsu chair massager will allow you to go much further, between therapy sessions. Talking about months, if not years further.
Generally, the chair gives you the option to integrate massage much more regularly, even daily – if that's what you wish or need. And that's certainly more than just once a month, or in most cases once in every few months. Granted, the effects aren't potentially as deep and satisfying as a true human massage, but surely there are lots of benefits, and it's absolutely no question it's relaxing and rejuvenating.
So, unless you're an athlete in a professional line with a masseuse on staff, we all know that you're not going to pay for massages at anywhere near that frequency. Besides, you're not required to make a drive time or any related overhead, with a full body massage chair at your disposal in your own home – something that is worth a lot in your book, even if this wasn't a primary factor when making the decision.
So, although there might be a lot of subjectivity surrounding all points presented, you still might want to consider the other data point offered here. If we had to summarize, there isn't a straightforward replacement for a proper human massage, but a good chair will definitely work for you in terms of being a sizable part of your back health/pain management or the overall physical condition strategy.
Now, before you move on to adding the electric massage chair to your shopping cart, we'd like you to consider some important questions, that will help you make the best decision for yourself and your family.
Do you have your doctor’s approval?
There are some contraindications to massage therapy, and you’ll make yourself a favor by asking your doctor beforehand. Some of the health related conditions that call for concern are, for instance, having an unstable blood pressure, heart conditions, recent major surgery or any unexplained or undiagnosed pain. If you have any of these, or if you saw any other red lamps blinking in your mind, you should consult your physician first if you're allowed to use a back massage chair.
What is your budget?
The top-of-the-line best and most highly-recommended massage chairs on the market usually have price tags reaching to over $6,000 dollars. However, you don’t necessarily have to go bankrupt just to own one. There are truly amazing chairs in our selection that are of uncompromising quality, complying to the highest standards that you can get for half that price, at the most, and they can still give you the best bang for your buck.
What features are you looking for?
You should know there are basically two easily distinguished levels of features – those are the “basic” and “advanced” features. The “Basic” ones are the “must-have.” In instance, a massage chair should offer some basic settings or massage styles, such as kneading, percussion/tapping and rolling. On the other hand, advanced features are those nice little add-ons that may or may not be that important for you, but still worth looking further into. Therefore, you should buy a professional massage chair with the features you need. Examples include 3D rolling technology, heated massage heads, body scanning features or integrated sound systems, to name a few.
What is the warranty on the massage chair?
Almost all companies offer warranty of their products, but often it only looks good on paper. Based on our experience and research, we recommend you buy a modular massage chair that has the lowest failure rate, so you don't have to ship it back to the manufacturer every other month. So, you should be looking for the highly established brands with solid reputations, like the ones sold in this shop, or those from Human Touch Massage Chair or Infinity Massage Chairs.
Who will use the massage chair?
A massage chair may look amazing and have all the features you wished for, but if it doesn’t fit you, then you might end up back to square one. For this reason, to know the height and weight limitations of the massage chair beforehand is of utmost importance. So, be sure to read the specifications first. Most standard massage chairs in the market usually can fit in a person up to 5’10” to 6’. If you’re too short or too tall for the massage chair you chose without looking into its specs, it may just end up a pet peeve because the back rollers and shoulder airbags won't be able to reach the target areas. When it comes to weight restriction, most massage chairs can tolerate people up to 285 lbs. Although there are some chairs that can accommodate people over 300 lbs., these are exceptions rather than the common rule.
Do I have an available space in my home or office for the massage chair?
Massage therapy chairs are indeed bulky, so it’s imperative that you set aside enough space in your home or office before actually buying one. You should also ask other family members or co-workers about your decision and confer with them about where the massage chair could be placed.
Here are some additional terms that we feel you need to get to know in more depth:
WHAT IS ZERO GRAVITY?
Contrary to what the guys at NASA understand when they're talking about zero gravity, when used in the context of massage chairs, it doesn’t actually mean weightlessness. It takes its roots from NASA who found out that strapping the astronauts into reclined seats helps act against the extreme pressures they must endure during liftoffs. As they escape the Earth’s gravitation, these astronauts benefit greatly from this technical ingenuity to distribute the pressure of gravity evenly across their bodies, thus minimizing any adverse effects.
Not long after that, massage chair designers used the same principle and pushed it into their production. They later named them zero gravity massage chairs. Zero gravity is a bit different from the usual recline position of a typical massage chair, where the seat stays in a horizontal position. In order for it to be a true zero gravity position, the seat should have a 30-degree tilt and a 120-degree articulation between the seat and the chair's back. In some definitions, zero gravity also requires the leg rest to be raised at a 28-degree angle above the relative position of the heart. Not only will this improve blood circulation in your legs, but the zero gravity position will also distribute your body weight evenly across, thereby removing the pressure off of your spine. It also allows your back, specifically the lumbar area, to come in fuller contact with the rollers for a deeper, more intense massage.
WHAT IS 3D-TECHNOLOGY?
When massage chairs were still starting to spin their wheels, two-dimensional massage rollers were the trend. These 2D rollers could only move up and down and from side to side. In order to give an edge for their massage chairs over their competition, some clever manufacturers introduced the 3D massage rollers, which can also move forward and backward, which perfectly complimented the usual movements the 2D rollers could offer. They can also reach the top of your shoulders. How about that?
ROLLING, KNEADING, TAPPING, SHIATSU:
Those are the different massage movements that a massage therapy chair performs. Every massage chair will carry out these movements with a different degree of efficiency, and whichever one movement at a time, or in the case of some of the more advanced chairs - two or three different motions at a time.
WHAT IS A DECOMPRESSION STRETCH?
At a very complex level, the back stretch program of a massage chair uses a special massage routine, carefully coordinated between the rollers and airbags located on the shoulders, legs and feet, with the purpose of achieving the goals in a pre-programmed sequence. A combination of massage techniques that aim to loosen the muscles that run along the spine, which are in fact particularly subject to soreness. Exactly those muscles most often become tight and sore over time, as your body tries to compensate for the habitual compaction of the spine. Next comes the firm shoulder retraction along with a leg grip, to carry out the stretch feature. Meanwhile, the main back rollers move up and down the spine. These advanced multi-functional systems provide a spinal alignment like you could only dream about.
BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY
To make life easier, some of the models include Bluetooth technology. With it you can connect your wireless device easily and let your favorite melodies carry you away while you enjoy your massage.