BUYERS GUIDE
How Do You Buy the Best Massage Chair for Your Needs?
Making any big purchase can be a bit stressful, and when you’re buying a massage chair that has more features than your phone and can cost three times as much, you want to be sure you’re making the right choice.
That’s why we’re here.
There are multiple brands and styles of massage chairs and each feature is designed to address a specific concern. So, how do you decide which chair offers the ones you need and what’s the difference between the plethora of styles and designs available?
First, you start with understanding the basics. Here, we’ll walk you through what to look for when you’re purchasing a massage chair and address each of the key facets to this item that can sway your decision including price, programs, user concerns, health inquires, top brands, and employee favorites. When buying a massage chair, this guide has your back.
What Constitutes a Massage Chair?
Massage chairs have been around far longer than you might think. Massage therapy has been a practice for thousands of years. We’ve even seen it in places like Ancient Greece and Egypt. Since then, massage has been used to address pain, injuries, reduce stress, treat mild anxiety, increase relaxation, lower blood pressure, and much more.
From Acupressure and reflexology to shiatsu and deep tissue, massage has as many styles and techniques as there are wonderful features in our massage chairs. Appearing around the 1950s in there most recognizable form, massage chairs have grown from a simple wheel and crank mechanism to advanced technology which utilizes electronically controlled rollers that can adjust your size and shape.
The modern massage chair is an impressive amalgamation of innovations and new design features that all contribute to the goal of helping you relax and enjoy a soothing massage whenever the mood strikes you.
Now, let’s delve in a bit deeper and examine the new features you’ll find in most modern massage chairs.
Common Massage Chair Features
2D, 3D, & 4D Massage Rollers
Massage chair manufacturers are always looking to improve the depth and accuracy of the rollers for a deeper, more precise massage experience. With that in mind, you’ll see that there are chairs that offer three dimension options- 2D, 3D, and 4D. Each of these roller mechanisms is designed to penetrate at different levels.
2D Massage Rollers
A casual user or someone who isn’t looking for an exceptionally deep massage would most likely enjoy a massage chair with a 2D system. The 2D massage system is the traditional design that’s been around the longest. It works your surface muscles and back without getting deep to the muscles underneath. These rollers are the least intense.
3D Massage Rollers
A 3D massage system takes all that one step further and is found in the majority of massage chairs being released today. This works deep into the muscles of your shoulders and back, penetrating into the muscles and thus becoming more intense.
These rollers can protrude further out from the track in an effort to massage places that are typically neglected by the average massage chair, including the upper neck and shoulder area.
4D Massage Rollers
For the greatest level of penetration and precise massage attention, 4D rollers provide users with a deep tissue massage. These 4D rollers can turn and hit different angles that the 3D rollers can’t. The intensity of the massage is relatively consistent between these two options.
When you’re thinking about these options, remember that many massage chairs can be adjusted using a remote to control the intensity of the massage, allowing you to choose how far out you want the roller heads to protrude. However, this feature won’t be able to make a 2D massage more intense than its capabilities, and the 3D and 4D massage will remain strong.
Massage Tracks
There are two massage track types- S-Track and L-Track. Plus, some newer massage chairs are starting to combine both of these tracks to create an even more full-body massage experience.
S-Track
The original track design is the S-Track. The S-Track follows the curvature of the spine and focuses on various areas of your back. The L-Track uses that same track design in combination with a longer track length to take your massage one step further.
L-Track
While some S-Track designed chairs do reach further up your neck, what sets the L-Track apart is its ability to reach your glutes and hamstrings. The L-Track, named for the shape it makes inside the chair, reaches from your neck area down to your lower back and then under your glutes and thighs.
This feature can be great for someone who wants attention paid to their lower back and legs and is willing to pay a bit more for that features as the S-Track model chairs are typically less expensive than the majority of the L-Track chairs.
Zero Gravity Recline
Almost all of the massage chairs on the market offer a recline feature. However, not all of them can recline into a zero gravity position. This position, introduced by NASA, is achieved when your legs are raised to a level above your heart. The purpose of this position is to alleviate some of the stress on your joints that gravity applies and rests your body weight on the back of the chair, deepening the massage.
A more relaxing, deeper, full-body massage is achieved through this optimal position. There are several massage chairs that recline into this position automatically when you choose a specific program.
Some chairs also have one-touch zero gravity features as well as two stages of zero gravity. There are even a few chairs that offer inversion therapy which raises your legs even higher for improved circulation that can be great for people with lower extremity swelling.
Why is a Zero Gravity Massage Chair Better Than a Traditional Chair?
As you can now likely guess, the zero gravity feature is one that makes a massage chair well worth the increased price tag. These chairs are able to recline you into a position that is not only great for a deeper massage, but the position can also help your spine and joints to decompress, alleviating some back pain and joint stiffness. The zero gravity position is also believed to be the position that puts the least amount of pressure on your lower back.
All of our massage chair brands offer at least one model that features the zero gravity position. Some of the best are the Luraco i7 PLUS and Legend PLUS.
Foot & Calf Massage
Foot and calf massage has become a favorite of many users and is now quite often found in the medium to large massage chair. If you’re on your feet all day or work in a demanding job, a foot massage can make your evening that much better.
There are several chairs that offer advanced reflexology massage for the feet and several more that also offer an airbag calf massage. This treatment can work away aches and increase circulation to the lower extremities.
Many of the foot and calf massagers can also be adjusted for intensity and some offer an automatic leg rest adjustment feature. This way you can be sure that the massage placement and strength is exactly what you want it to be.
Aching feet are no way to end your night. Step into your chair and let it works its wonderful magic.
Heat
Heat and massage offer similar benefits, and when combined these two therapies can build off each other to provide an even better experience. They both work to improve blood flow and massage can help rid the body of built-up toxins. Together, the improved circulation works to release the toxins even better.
Additionally, massage and heat both work to improve muscle flexibility that can help reduce pain and limited mobility. Arthritis, deep tissue injuries, inflammation, and muscle stiffness can all be aided by a heated massage.
There are several massage chairs offered by our top name brands that provide heat therapy. The standard for massage chairs is lumbar heat, where the heating elements are situated in the lower back.
Feeling toasty warm while the rollers work out your knots is a truly wonderful sensation.
Airbag Massage
An airbag compression massage often works the user’s extremities using a system built into the chair. This type of compression massage can help alleviate stiffness and increase blood circulation. The compression massage can also stimulate the lymphatic system to remove toxins from the body much like a traditional massage can.
You can typically adjust the intensity level of the air compression massage and can sometimes target them like the back rollers by using the manual controls. You can also find massage chairs that use the airbags to hold you in place for a stretch program or offer a hip squeeze.
This gentle squeezing technique is great for addressing larger areas like your entire arm or leg. It can also be adjusted to produce a firmer massage technique.
How Does Air Massage Differ From Other Massage Techniques?
Airbags provide a compression massage, as opposed to the kneading, rolling, or tapping motions of the rollers. While airbags can simulate these techniques by quickly inflating and deflating, rollers typically perform those actions.
When performing the massage, the airbags inflate around the targeted area, like your arm or hand, and compress it by squeezing down and then releasing. The intensity varies depending on how much the airbag is inflated.
Several of our chairs provide this feature, and it’s a great accompaniment to a massage chair’s roller capabilities.
Body Scan Technology
Body Scan Technology provides users with the most accurate, precise massage that’s personalized for your specific body size and shape. Body scans work by utilizing sensors and state of the art technology to register the size, shape, and curves of each user. This allows the chair to customize the massage to your needs and ensures the rollers are hitting all the correct points.
You can still adjust intensity and placement if you want to make any changes as well.
Body scan is a standard feature in most massage chairs released today. You’d be hard pressed to find a chair that doesn’t provide this feature.
Space Saving
Space saving technology is designed to shrink the amount of space you need to fully recline the massage chair. There are several models available that can recline fully in just a few inches. This can be perfect for when you have a smaller room and means you don’t have to stick your chair five feet from the wall.
Some massage chairs only require a few inches to recline while some will still need around a foot, so it will be important to look for chairs with the space-saving feature if your space is limited.
Bluetooth & App Functionality
As we move into the era of smart devices, many manufacturers are starting to make their chairs with Bluetooth and app functionality to improve user enjoyment. There are several massage chairs that offer built-in speakers and syncing technology that allows you to listen to your favorite music, audiobook, or podcast right from your chair.
With your phone or smart device paired to the chair, you can also enjoy a Sync Massage. This technique is typically found in chairs with Bluetooth technology, and it allows you to enjoy some relaxing tunes while you receive a massage that’s matched to the music’s beat.
In addition to this smart device-centric development is the addition of an app. The majority of modern massage chairs offer an Android or iPhone app that acts as another remote, often with more customization options and programs. You can simply download the apps to your phone, pair with your new chair, and you’re ready to go.
Learn more about Bluetooth Functionality and music.
Adjustable Intensity
People like different massages and what’s more, people like different massages on different days. That’s why most chairs on the market today provide ajustable intensity, speed, position, and length of your massage. The goal is to provide as much customization as possible to keep each user happy with their experience.
Massage intensities also vary from chair to chair. We’re also more than happy to answer any questions you might have about massage intensity and the brands since there are several out there.
Choosing the Right Chair for You
When you’re picking out your massage chair, you’ll need to consider all the above features and what purpose you want your chair to serve as well as a few more things to ensure you’re happy with your massage chair purchase.
What features from the above list are the most important to you? Make a list that you can keep handy when you’re comparing chairs. Also, what areas of your body need the most attention, and what types of massage do you enjoy? There are several techniques and programs available that can help with a variety of concerns. We’ll cover them below.
Massage Programs & Programmable Massage Chairs
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is one of the best-known types of massage. It’s great for those who don’t frequently get a massage and have a medium tolerance for pain. It’s all about longer massage strokes that warm the muscle to release tension and break up knots.
It also has several other health benefits, such as improved circulation, pain relief, and improved joint comfort. This is the easy-going massage you can enjoy at bedtime.
This type of massage is typically used in most massage chairs and is commonly used as the Sleep or Relax function. For example, the Luraco i7 PLUS uses it in the Night Massage Mode program that’s designed to enhance sleep.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage is a more intensive version of a Swedish massage. It targets deeper muscles and connective tissue and is especially effective at treating areas chronically tense or contracted muscles in areas like the neck, lower back, and shoulders.
While it does promote relaxation it’s not uncommon for these massages to be intense. The massage strokes work out knots deeper within the muscle tissue that are harder to access. It also focuses on chronic pain or muscle tension to provide improved relaxation once the massage is complete. It can be a lot to handle and is best for those with higher pain tolerance.
This intense type of massage is best replicated by 3 and 4D massage rollers. Some of the chairs that offer that are the Luraco i7 PLUS and Legend PLUS.
Reflexology
Many massage chairs employ reflexology in the footrest which adds to your overall massage experience. Reflexology is a great way to improve relaxation and relieve tension in your feet, improving overall well-being. Who doesn’t love a good foot rub?
To go a bit more in-depth, reflexology is a massage style solely performed on the feet that is based on the idea that pressure delivered to specific areas of the foot can promote well-being in correlating areas of the body by releasing endorphins. Endorphins are our natural stress and pain relievers.
How good do your feet feel after a nice massage at the end of a long day? This feature can be waiting for you at the touch of a button.
Junetsu Massage
Junetsu is the Japanese word for “ultra-fine kneading” and consists of one-second circular, thumb-like motions and is used by professional massage therapists all over the world.
Junetsu quickly loosens up tight muscles, and the circular motion reverberates down through connecting muscles to invigorate you down to your bones.
Junetsu is the perfect massage style for the person who prefers kneading but wants a more localized massage. The quick motions help relieve stress fast and revitalize your muscles, so you’re prepared for the rest of your day.
Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu massage is sometimes described as the equivalent of acupressure. Shiatsu translates to “finger pressure” and employs stretching, pressure, and rotating to provide a whole body restoration effect which can reduce stress, muscle pain, and tight muscles.
The philosophy behind shiatsu is quite old and based on the idea that your life energy or ki (chi or qi) flows through the body through different energy channels. When you feel pain in a certain area, that energy channel is blocked. Shiatsu massage works to relieve those blocks and provide a relaxing, refreshing massage.
Tapping Massage
The Tapping technique is a great way to remove stiffness, promote circulation, and break up scar tissue. Sometimes referred to as Percussion massage, Tapping is a series of rapid strokes that stimulate muscles and connective tissue. It definitely earns the percussion moniker and can feel like you’re being drummed on.
Nearly every massage chair produced offers this technique and you’ll find it in all of our top Luraco sellers.
Kneading Massage
Kneading massage is a great way to relieve tension and soreness by lifting and stretching muscles, and it promotes improved blood and lymph circulation. Kneading also helps bring vital nutrients to the spinal area and eliminate toxins from the muscle and nerve tissue.
Your massage chair can utilize kneading on your back in small circular motions on both sides of your spine to achieve these results, and this technique is present in nearly every massage chair.
Kneading is also the basis for the “Grasping” massage style that someMassage Chairs have available, which combines kneading and 3D Massage roller technology to provide a massage that gets those hard-to-reach areas of the neck, upper shoulder, and certain muscles along the spine.
Again Kneading is a technique found in nearly every massage chair since its motions are easily replicated by the rollers. Several of today’s massage chairs also provide a combination Kneading and Tapping technique that you can choose in the manual mode options.
Vibration Massage
Vibration Massage is an old and effective method for removing soreness and improving circulation. Many massage chairs have vibration plates, typically in the seat, that deliver a vibration massage with adjustable intensity.
Most massage chairs that say they can sync your massage with your mp3 player do so through the vibration massage.
This can be a tricky feature to find, however, it is becoming more popular in the seat area of some massage chairs.
Rolling Massage
This style focuses on the muscles right next to the spine by applying constant pressure with the rollers, gliding up and down your back. This warms and loosens these typically very tight muscles and does wonders to prepare your back for a full massage.
It’s typically used to get you ready for the rest of the massage program if you put your chair on auto. Nearly all the massage chairs offer this as one of the manual modes.
Stretch Massage
Stretching is a great way to relieve knots in muscles as well as loosen muscles up to prepare for the rest of your day. Most massage chairs utilize their built-in airbag system to strategically hold you in place so that you can achieve a deep stretch.
This massage style can help relax your body and prepare you for a deeper massage or loosen up stiff muscles so that you feel better when you’re hard at work.
It’s even been known to crack your back!
If you’re really excited about this feature, and it really can be great, we have included whether or not a massage chair offers it in the technical specifications of each chair.
Compression/Squeeze Massage
A Compression or Squeeze massage is a great way to alleviate tension in your hips and thighs. Typically, the massage chair will inflate airbags within the hip area to squeeze different sections and relieve stress and joint pain. The squeeze massage can also be used in conjunction with the back rollers to make sure you get the most out of your massage.
This is also the massage you’ll get from the armrest and calf ottoman.
This is going to be the basis for the air bag massage that chairs offer. If you see airbags offered in the chair this is the type of massage you can count on receiving.
Affordability
When you’re buying anything, especially a high-ticket item like a massage chair, price is a big part of the picture. We get that, and we want you to know the real value of purchasing a massage chair versus getting a regular massage. Check out the facts below.
Massage Therapists vs. Massage Chair
On average, a massage costs about $1 per minute for an entry-level massage. Start looking at upscale spa locations, and the price goes up fast. There may be ways to get the price slightly cheaper through coupons and advertisements, but once you’re a committed customer, those sales tend to disappear.
You also need to consider that the first 5 to 10 minutes of your massage you’re just starting to relax, not fully embracing the massage until around 15 minutes. So, your hour massage has just turned into 45 minutes of relaxation. Plus, massage therapy is said to be best when you’re going several times a month.
This can create an expensive, highly time-consuming process. The complete opposite of relaxing.
Now, let's look at a massage chair. The price of a massage chair can vary quite broadly depending on what you want, but you can get a high-quality chair for about $4,000.
Let’s say you were going for a 90-minute massage every week for a year. You’d end up spending over $4600, and that’s on the $1 per minute estimation.
Instead, you could spend 15 minutes a day, every single day, in your massage chair. If you had an option to go to a spa for 15 minutes a day, even at $1 per minute, it would still be $105 a week and over $5400 for a year.
You can get an incredible massage chair for that money. A chair conveniently housed right in your home, so there’s no need to drive to your massage. You’d be getting your money's worth in just one year, and massage chairs last a long longer than that.
