How To Find A Quality Massage Chair And What To Look For

Do you have one of those days where your back hurts, your shoulder can’t move, or your ankles are frozen?

This pain sucks and can stop us from doing so many things in our lives.

But, if you want to get help you have to book an appointment and drive somewhere far away in pain.

So what’s a good solution? Massage chairs!

Massage chairs are a way you can improve your health from the comfort of your home.

But, before you go out and buy one, take a look at the below tips so you know what to look for when making this investment. Let’s jump in!

In This Article

Important Tips When Looking For A Massage Chair

What makes a massage chair good?

There are many things to consider when you’re shopping for a massage chair.

Here are 10 things to look for when buying a massage chair.

#10. Massage Programs

In general, the more programs or customizations your massage chair has, the less boring your massage therapy will be. More program options makes sure your massages aren’t the same.

Typically, massage chairs have between 3 to 30 pre-programmed massage options. These options give you a different massage that can target different areas.

This is perfect for the end of a long stressful day when you don’t want to deal with hundreds of buttons.

Also, more advanced massage chairs have a body scan feature which can look at your body and give you a custom massage according to your body shape.

#9. Massage Chair Fabric

Since you will be planning to use a massage chair for a long time, the type of fabric that comes with the chair is important. Your chair will be producing heat, moving, and vibrating so it needs to hold up over time.

For example, genuine leather is the main fabric found with most massage chairs. But, high-end chairs typically come with synthetic material.

Leather won’t stay in good condition over the long term, while synthetic material can handle heat and other wear and tear.

Having the right fabric will extend the life of your massage chair and your happiness with the product.

#8. Recline Function

Research has shown that adding a recline to your massage can give you a better and more relaxing massage experience.

So, many massage chairs offer different massage recliner options where the most common option is zero gravity.

Zero gravity massage chairs try to make your body weightless and put your body in a position that removes all pressure from your spine. This can help you by improving circulation, reducing your heart rate, and getting rid of muscle tension.

Finally, some massage chairs even have a single touch function that gives you complete control over how much recline you want.

#7. Massage Intensity

Depending on your body, you might need a more intense massage or one that is less gentle. That is why the intensity of a massage is one of the most important aspects.

The strength of the massage chair depends on how many motors there are inside. More motors means more power.

As you use a massage chair over and over again, your body will get used to the strength. So, it is good to have many different strength options in your chair.

Also, you can pick a massage chair based on its roller system. Here are different systems you can choose from.

2D Massage: This roller system is in the most standard and basic massage chairs. 2D rollers go up and down or left to right.
3D Massage: This roller system adds one more dimension to 2D systems. 3D rollers can go out and in plus up/down and left/right.
4D Massage: This roller system goes one step deeper than 3D massages where the intensity of the roller can change. This is perfect for people who have pain in their back or shoulders.

Finally, some chairs allow you to adjust the strength of your massage by adding or removing padding. This gives the rollers less distance from your body and gives you a deeper massage.

#6. Massage Chair Size

You will find that most massage chairs are good for heights between 5 ft. to 7 ft. and up to 300 lbs.

But, if you are looking for a chair that fits a specific height and weight combination, adjust your search because only certain brands make plus size massage chairs that are good for larger bodies.

At the same, make sure your home has enough space to fit a massage chair comfortably. Most chair listings come with the dimensions, so be ready to have your own measurements handy.

#5. Massage Airbags

To help with muscle tension and stiffness, massage chairs have powerful airbags built-in. The airbags are small pouches of air located near your back, sides, and legs of the massage chair.

In order to get rid of soreness, the airbags inflate and compress your muscles to promote blood flow. This feeling is different from massages provided by a roller system.

We recommend looking for a massage chair with both airbags and a rolling system. The combination will give you the most complete full body massage.

#4. Massage Rollers & Track

If you’re finally deciding to invest in a massage chair and get a solution to your body pain, make sure you look into the range of massage chair rollers. This means the type of track included in the massage chair.

S – Track: This roller track goes from the neck area to your lower back where the shape of the track matches your spine’s “S” shape. S-tracks are usually shorter (30” – 32”) than L-tracks, but can stretch your spine and have twisting ability.
L – Track: This roller track goes from your neck area to your glutes and also matches your spine’s shape. L-tracks are longer and are about 47” – 52” long.
J – Track: This is also called a flex track which combines the length of a L-track with the spinal stretching of a S-track.

Note, there are massage chairs available that can be adjusted for your height and also have adjustable massage roller widths.

Learn More: L And S Track Technology Massage Chairs: What’s The Difference?

#3. Targeted Areas

A luxury massage chair stands out by targeting areas besides your back. This is in addition to providing multiple massage styles.

A full body massage chair has the ability to give you a leg and foot massage or even your arms and hands. These massages are possible due to massage heads, rollers, and airbags spread throughout the chair.

Lastly, some of the best massage chairs can target hard to fit areas by giving you a thumb-like massage similar to massage therapists.

#2. Price

If you are just starting to look for massage chairs then you might be in for a surprise. That’s why it’s good to have some knowledge before jumping in.

A relatively good massage chair, with even some basic features, can cost you between $1,000 to $12,000. However, most chair models are between $3,000 to $7,000.

The price of a massage chair depends on many different factors such as customizations, type of fabric, technology, and number of features.

In general, you should know that any chair below $1,000 is typically not worth your hard earned dollars.

Finally, the most critical thing to understand is that you are saving money in the long run by getting a massage chair versus seeing a massage therapist every week or month. Also, it is more convenient when you don’t have to leave your house.

It’s hard to not to see the long-term health benefits of massage chairs.

#1. Massage Functions

When you compare low-end to high-end massage chairs, there is a big difference in what features you can get.

Low-end massage chairs are the cheapest massage chairs, but just give you some vibrations and a rolling massage. While high-end chairs can do so much more to give you comfort.

Here are some good massage chair features to look for.

Pre-Programmed Function Menu
Roller Intensity: 2D, 3D, and 4D
Kneading
Rolling
Vibrations
Shiatsu
Heated Massage Therapy
Sound Therapy
Zero Gravity & Inversion Therapy
Compact Design

Note, that more features means more cost. But why would you want to sacrifice your health and not make the investment?

Where To Buy Massage Chairs

You can buy massage chairs at stores that sell appliances and electronics, or you can buy them online.

Some popular online retailers of massage chairs include Amazon.com, Overstock.com, and RelaxTheBack.com.

There are also a number of brick-and-mortar stores that sell massage chairs, including Walmart, Best Buy and Brookstone.

Putting It All Together

It can be scary being a first timer buying massage chairs. There are hundreds of options and features to choose from.

With the above list, you know what your options are and what you should understand about yourself before picking a massage chair.

A massage chair is a great investment for your health so it is best to know what to look for when buying.

Check Out Our Review Of Kyota Yutaka M898

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How To Find A Quality Massage Chair And What To Look For