Massage chairs have the potential to be significant investment. Therefore, it is important for you to do some research beforehand. Your decision to buy a massage chair is typically influenced by your requirements and budget. Asking yourself some right questions to ascertain your needs before making the purchase can help you make the right choice.

A massage chair is specifically designed to stimulate the pressure points in your body and relax your muscles. A well-designed massage chair should provide you relief from pain as well as complete relaxation. The two most common types of massage chair are Shiatsu and Swedish massage chairs. Shiatsu massage chairs use a combination of movements to stimulate the body’s pressure points by the help of pressing, patting, sweeping, rolling, and rotation movements, while Swedish massage chairs use long and smooth strokes combined with kneading movement.

What Are Benefits Of Using A Massage Chair?

Knowing the benefits of a product like massage chair can emphasize the need for that product and educate you towards its important. The benefits of having a good massage chair are manifold specifically for your health. Here are some of the most common benefits:

* Totally freedom from stress and deep relaxation

* Relief from stiffness and tension in muscles

* Reduction in body tension and muscle spasm

* Better joint flexibility and wider range of motion

* Enhanced flexibility and efficient movement

* Reduced blood pressure levels

* Better blood circulation

Can Anyone Use A Massage Chair?

Now that you know the benefits of massage chairs, you are probably interested in knowing who can use it. Well, massage chairs are typically designed for an average height of 5'10". So, if you are much taller or shorter than this height, we suggest you give the massage chair a try before buying it. Ask the massage chair salesperson to help you learn the controls so that you can adjust the position of the various nodes and rollers for maximum benefit. Certain brands, such as Panasonic offer massage chairs that automatically adjust to your height by sensing the top of your shoulders when seated. If you are over 6 feet tall or suffer from knee, hip, or lower back pain then don't buy a massage chair that is very low to the ground.

What features should the massage chair have?

Having too many features in your massage chair can mean paying a higher dollar. More often than not, most people use only some specific features on a regular basis. Choose a massage chair with features that match your needs. For ex: of you are prone to muscle tension and stiffness, then you should invest in a massage chair that offers excellent mechanical massage to your body or specific area of your body. A good example of this is the Isymphonic massage chair that has been designed to be especially effective in the neck and shoulder areas. Panasonic's Pro Elite comes with airbags in the chair’s arms that inflate and deflate to massage the neck and shoulder areas. Some other chairs have air bags that inflate and deflate in the legs and foot region, while others have them in the lower back, hip, and buttocks areas.

When testing the massage chair, also pay special attention to the pressure or intensity of the massage offered. Though the intensity of the massage can be adjusted according to individual preference, you must sit in the chair for at least 15 minutes to ascertain that the pressure and comfort are acceptable.

If you like to sit with your legs on a higher level, then check if the massage chair has an extendable leg rest or an ottoman.

Where Should You Put The Massage Chair?

Now that you have tested the massage chair and probably made up your mind about which chair to buy, it’s time to think about where you can keep the chair. Since massage chairs are bulky, they require more space. Usually, a bedroom or a home office is the most popular choice for putting a massage chair in. Discuss with people who will be using the massage chair to make sure that the place where you keep the chair works for them or not.

Reclining massage chairs can’t be kept with their back close to a wall. A better idea is to measure the space where you’d want to put the massage chair before making a selection. You can also seek the advice of a chair salesperson to find out the area required for your massage chair.

If you are not sure where you’ll put the chair, you may want to buy one with wheels like the Ijoy. Not only can you move it from one room to another but also keep it out of sight when not in use. But if you are facing a space crunch, then opt for a portable massage cushion. Though not as rich in features as a regular massage chair, the cushion can be placed on any chair and is easy to stow away.

What Should My Budget Be?

Budget! Perhaps, one of the main deciding factors when investing in a massage chair. The general range for massage chairs starts at around $700 and can go up to $6000 or more. A word of caution - price is not an indication of quality. High priced models are completely feature packed and you never use most of these feature in your lifetime!

Remember, a good massage chair can alleviate your daily stress and body tension in a matter of minutes. But never buy one without trying it out for yourself.