On a Saturday night or so, I was home with my homies when I saw this TV commercial in which an elder lady said, “Omg, I’m nearly 80 and this massage chair makes me feel like 18 again. The best massage chair for back pain ever!”
But for $5,000? Really? Does it have to be that expensive? I did my research and found much better deals. You’re going to benefit greatly after reading all the juicy stuff below. Start reading now!
Are Massage Chairs Good for Back Pain?
The short answer is yes. To a certain extent, massage chairs are effective in treating back pain.
The underlying question many people forget to ask is: Is massage therapy good for back pain?
The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) quotes studies showing the benefits of massage therapy in the following conditions:
- Low back pain
- Low blood pressure
- Cancer-related fatigue
- Fibromyalgia
- Post-surgical pain
Shiatsu massage, in particular, has been shown to work well in pain reduction on the arm and leg areas. And with myriad massage chairs nowadays, you’ll get exactly that benefit.
From my research, Mary Braun, the President of AMTA, also says that massage therapy helps reduce anxiety, headaches, insomnia, and sports injuries.
So yeah, folks! The evidence is quite supportive. Plus, many people who have used massage chairs before also share the same view. You’re in safe hands in this front.
5 Best Massage Chairs for Back Pain
Snailax Shiatsu Neck & Back Massager with Heat
Quick look:
- For users: 63 – 70.3 inches tall
- Shiatsu massage
- 2 adapters: 110 – 120V & 220 – 240V
Meet the world’s best massage chair at an unbelievable price!
If you just want to get a well-deserved massage with no fancy bells and whistles, this chair right here may just be the one.
What’s absolutely amazing about it is that it’s so compact. Indeed, you can move it around areas in your house easily. The whole thing weighs only 16 lbs!
Well, technically, it’s more accurate to call it a massage pad. Whatever the name, this thing surely rocks.
Imagine going home from work, the massager is right there on your couch waiting for you to lean on and enjoy.
If you have a home office, you can put the pad right on your office chair. The size will fit many frames perfectly.
On the seat, there are 2 vibration modes. These help with blood circulation around the back of your legs and hip areas when sitting for long hours.
But man, the real magic is on the back of the chair. There are so many rolling balls built inside.
If you set it to Shiatsu massage mode, 4 balls will get to work and start rolling up and down your spine. The heat will be added gently to ease your tense muscle. So good!
You can target the upper back section or lower back section with spot massage. If you want to go all in, then select the full back mode. Oh my, it’s like heaven.
For me, I would love it better if the remote controller had a simpler interface. There’s too much going on on one surface.
What’s also nice are the removable flaps. If you want to ramp up the intensity, then just take them off. They are also very easy to clean.
After a long workday, this is what your back deserves.
To cap it all up, I appreciate Snailax for creating such an amazing product at an even more amazing price. Surely, I recommend it to everyone!
Pros
- Lightweight & compact
- Nice massage
- Gentle heat
- Easy to clean
- Reduces pain
Cons
- Complicated remote controller
Tinycooper Massage Chairs by Ootori
Quick look:
- Zero gravity
- Head-to-toe massage
- 3-year warranty
Have you ever had a massage while feeling like you’re floating on the clouds? Well, that’s exactly how it feels like when using the Zero Gravity mode on this chair!
When you set it up, the chair will slowly recline backward, laying you in a float-like position. Then, it gives you the best massage ever.
Let me talk about the back massage first because that’s important to you.
There are 8 massage balls on the backrest. Along with that are 32 airbags placed evenly throughout the neck, shoulders, arms, and legs areas.
What does it feel like? Well, after you shut your eyelids to get the massage, you’ll suddenly ask, “Who’s there behind me?”
Right, there’s nobody. This is the special real-hand massage on the chair. You’ll get all the benefits of a real human massage therapist without the hefty prices.
If you’re not happy, you can say “Stronger”. They don’t have voice control here, yet. But you can press the button and the machine will obey your command.
Gently, the seat will vibrate to help the blood flow from your hips to your legs. Also, heat will start to be spread all over the back area. It feels just like you’re getting a nice hot stone massage.
You may not notice this, but issues with your feet or legs may eventually lead to back pain. This happens if you walk too much or wear the wrong kind of shoes.
No worries here! If you want a foot and leg massage, you’ve got it! They call it the 3D massage. The balls on the footrest will massage the underneath of your feet. Two airbags will pump air at different pressures to massage your calves.
Again, you’re in heaven! Another cool thing I like is the max load. It can hold folks up to 287 lbs. You can also push the button to lower the chair up to 145 degrees. Simply amazing!
What I didn’t like much was the leather. It tends to get wrinkled. And if you’re not careful, small pieces may come off due to scratches from sharp objects like your pets’ claws.
But overall, I am satisfied with the purchase. I think you’re going to love it, too!
Pros
- Real-hand massage
- 32 comfortable airbags
- Nice foot & calf massage
- Gentle heat
- Very relaxing
Cons
- Wrinkled leather
Real Relax Full Body Zero Gravity Affordable Shiatsu Electric Massage Chair
Quick look:
- Ergonomic design
- 50 airbags
- 4 auto programs
Let’s have a look at this massage chair that hundreds of people seem to love!
What strikes me most about the chair are the 50 airbags. It’s very nice that they have roller balls align in a V shape.
Out of all the models I’ve seen, this type of alignment is probably the best and most clever. It feels more natural just like the structure of your spine.
Sometimes when you use a massage chair for the first time, you won’t know which mode is right for you.
Here, they’ve preset 4 auto modes based on their research of what helps most customers in different scenarios.
For example, if you’re going to use the massage chair before going to sleep. Just select the Sleep mode. Completely hassle-free!
In another scenario, if you want to get a nice, easy start, just choose the Mild relaxing mode.
You can set your favorite intensity, too! I recommend doing this after you’ve used your chair for a while and got to know the rhythm.
Ah, I also love the wheels underneath it. You know this is a big chair, right? Without those wheels, we would need to make a Herculean effort to move it.
Assembling the chair is also easy. But this is the task you’d want to leave for those with beard and muscles.
In terms of helping with lower back pain, I’d say that this thing works. Just a word of advice: Start slow and easy. Your back is already in pain, so if you go with something very aggressive, it may worsen the condition.
Other than that, this is an all-around great massage chair with lots of value. Check it out!
Pros
- 50 airbags
- Very comfortable
- 4 auto modes
- Easy to use
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Can be quite strong for first timers
Full Body Electric Shiatsu Massage Chair Recliner
Quick look:
- Computerized body scanning
- Stretch system
- Heat therapy
Okay, folks! This may sound like I’m talking about some futuristic product in sci-fi movies, but it’s available here in the 21st century.
The massage chair automatically scans your body using smart sensors when you sit down on it.
From the scan, it will know the exact length of your spine. Then, you’ll get a personalized massage on the spots that are causing you pain.
It will also base the intensity on your body weight to give you the pressure that feels just right. Does all this sound too good to be true?
From many customers’ review, this thing seems to be doing what it promises. Some people even bought their second massage chair already.
To take care of your back pain, they have 4 functions. You’ll get Shiatsu, kneading, knocking, and tapping. Actually, there are 3 more, including stretching, heating, and combo massage.
The stretching feature is unique, in my opinion. It’s very much like yoga stretches. Those are natural, non-intrusive ways to ease your pain.
If you can’t decide which intensity to choose, just go with the 9 auto modes. I love it that they hook the control panel right on the side of the chair. Yay, no more losing the remote control!
I wouldn’t say that’s the best interface a control panel can get. You know, you already have pain in your back, you wouldn’t want more pain in the head just looking at the settings. This should be improved.
In terms of back massage, I’d say that this baby delivers! What I generally advise new users is to start with something easy. You can then work your way up to more intense levels.
That being said, I give the massage chair a 5/5. I’m satisfied with the build, the functions, and the experience with this product. See what it can do for you!
Pros
- 9 auto programs
- Automatic body scan
- Personalized massage
- 7 massage styles
- Big & comfortable
Cons
- Complicated control panel
Zero Gravity Full-Body Kahuna Massage Chair Recliner LM6800 with Yoga
Quick look:
- FDA registered
- L-track system
- Yoga moves
What you’re looking at here is a fantastic massage chair that has been FDA registered as a medical device.
The massage chair has this thing called SH-chiro therapy. What this therapy does is combing various massage techniques like tapping, kneading, rolling, and Shiatsu to unblock the energy flow in your spin and promote blood flow.
What I so love about this model is its built-in yoga stretching modes. Whether you’re a yogi or not, you’ve got to try these out at least for the sake of your back.
Don’t worry if you think you’re not flexible enough for yoga moves. These are easy. I really mean it. Anybody can do it. Have a bit of faith in yourself and let the machine work its magic.
Did you notice the outside cover of the model? To me, it looks much cleaner and sturdier than some other models.
Although this is a multi-functional massage chair, it doesn’t leave a very big footprint. You won’t need to dedicate a lot of space in the house for it. Also, the power cord is neat and not doesn’t tangle up easily.
From the top of your head to the tip of your toes, you’ll feel this sensational combo of warm heat, nice vibration, and the right pressure. Wow, it couldn’t be any better.
There are 5 pieces to assemble. You can watch some YouTube video for instructions. I find the manual instructions quite vague. And ka-boom, after 10 minutes, your chair is shaped up and ready for you to use.
For now, all I can say is this is a worth-it deal that offers much more than its quoted price. Buy it and enjoy yourself!
Pros
- Simple & effective yoga stretches
- SH-chiro therapy
- Very relaxing
- Great value
Cons
- Vague manual instruction
How to Assemble A Massage Chair?
Watch this:
Feelin’ 18 Again!
I hope the post has helped you decide what the best massage chair for your back pain are. There’s nothing much left for me to say here except wishing you & your loved ones a great experience. Write to me when you’re feelin’ like a teenager again & goodbye!