Getting a massage is a great way to relax, also an effective relief if you suffer from certain ailments. But indulging in a professional massage may not be for everyone, as it can get very expensive for repeated sessions.
Massage chairs are a great alternative to professional massages, but can be big ticket purchases. This leads to the big question — are massage chairs worth it?
The short answer is yes, massage chairs are worth every penny. They are a one-time investment that provide years of massaging pleasure, and best of all, they give you the relaxation and relief you need without stepping out of your comfort zone.
10 Reasons Massage Chairs are Worth their Salt
1. Enhances Post-Workout Muscle Recovery
Receiving a massage after a strenuous workout offers myriad different benefits including treating and preventing DOMS (delayed muscles onset soreness), reducing pain and improving recovery.
Massaging certain areas of your body can alleviate pain by preventing your muscles from becoming tight.
Some of the best massage chair models offer highly effective deep tissue massages to choose from, which when coupled with zero gravity positioning restores your body to a fit state after your workout regimes.
2. Reduces Anxiety and Stress
Research indicates that an hour-long massage can considerably lower cortisol — a stress hormone by over 30 percent. Further, massages are also a proven way to recue anxiety symptoms including muscle tension and sleep disturbances.
And it’s worth mentioning that getting relief from stress and anxiety with a massage often costs less than medication, and without any side effects.
3. Relieves Pain from Sore Muscles
Your muscles tend to become sore after a long day at work, playing sports or even exercising. The cause of this type of pain is the accumulation of lactic acid around the muscle tissue in these areas.
You can softly massage these areas to get some relief, but it will in most cases be temporary relief. Sitting in a massage chair, and switching on the heating feature can increase blood circulation, resulting in more oxygen and nutrient flow to these pain-ridden areas.
4. Helps You Sleep Better
Another big perk of buying a massage chair for home use is it can prove extremely helpful when trying to overcome sleep problems. There are several things that can trigger sleep issues aka insomnia, including worry and insufficient exercise.
A massage chair is a drug-free option for overcoming insomnia by stimulating the essential points of your body to reduce or get rid of fatigue, and ensure complete relaxation.
5. Effective Relief from Lower Back Pain
Medical experts claim that more than 50 million Americans experience some level of back pain, out of which 8 percent of adults experience persistent or chronic back pain.
A good massage chair can play an important role in alleviating back pain by improving venous and lymphatic flow in the muscles.
Increasing blood flow to these muscles improves your body’s ability to circulate and absorb essential nutrients to certain muscles and tissues.
It also increases endorphin levels – the “feel good” chemicals in your body, resulting in reduced pain and anxiety and quicker recovery.
Medical Breakthrough Massage Chair
Designed by over 25 doctors, surgeons, chiropractors, and pain specialists, this feature packed massage chair comes with zero gravity, advanced 3D technology, heating function, chiropractic back stretch customization setting, pre-program massage functions and many more!
6. Reduces Stiff Neck Problems
If you suffer from stiff neck issues, you know just how uncomfortable and sometimes painful they can be. Certain massage chair models come with a dedicated component to massage the neck and shoulders.
This extra neck and shoulder component provides excellent relief from the discomfort of a stiff neck, and also reduces the headaches that stem from this issue.
You can even use a massage gun for short term stiff neck relief, that is if you do not want to splurge on a massage chair yet. But this is again temporary relief, and may not work well to provide relief from other ailments.
7. Replicates Chiropractic Techniques for Sciatica
While sciatica pain can weaken your body, chiropractic treatment can relieve the pain naturally and gently.
But the cost of a single visit to a reputed chiropractor can be anywhere between $50 to upwards of $400, and the cost of sciatica surgery can be anywhere between $15,000 to $50,000.
Even though a massage chair may not be an alternative to sciatica surgery, it does offer several key features to reduce sciatica pain, and discomfort such as deep tissue and heated massages.
8. Improves Blood Circulation
There is a plethora of benefits attached with improving blood circulation in your body, and there are several ways to do it.
Improving blood circulation in your body allows your heart, lungs, and muscles to function properly, and also encourages your body to ward off potential diseases and sicknesses.
There are a few ways to improve blood circulation in your body including by triggering vibrations to move underlying muscles and skin tissues to promote proper blood circulation.
Massage chairs also allow you to get a massage with your feet in an elevated position, so you even get relief from varicose veins, and other medical conditions.
9. Boosts Immunity
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of owing a massage chair is boosting your body’s immunity naturally, helping it fight against impurities and diseases.
Just about anyone can have a suppressed immune system, which can lead to increased chances of catching any virus and disease that is going around.
There are many ways massage chairs can help keep your immunity in check such as with their onsite heated back rollers, which reduce stress and increase endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, leading to a boost in your immune system.
10. Improves Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills
A good massage chair can greatly improve your creativity and problem-solving skills by helping you feel relaxed, and recharging you mind.
Final Thoughts
Whether you suffer from any of the aforementioned issues or not, a massage chair is an investment that will serve you well for many years to come.
Most of the best massage chairs come with a rich set of features that mimic the hands of professional masseuses and medical professionals
This makes it easier and cost efficient to get the right amount of relief and relaxation right in the comfort of your home, and without spending a significant of cash on regular massage sessions.