Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (2024)

Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (1)

At-home massage chairs can offer many of the same benefits as in-office professional massages. According to Preston Brown, DPT, physical therapist and owner of Prestige Therapy Wellness in Wisconsin, massage chairs can reduce muscle tension, improve relaxation within the body, and help decrease pain or muscle tightness caused by chronic conditions like arthritis. A quality massage chair can provide physical relief to areas like the back, shoulders, hips, and feet by combining shiatsu techniques, heat therapy, and compression massage. Brown explains that when shopping for a massage chair, you should consider the chair’s size and look for a proper fit while also considering your personal needs.

To help you find the right massage chair, we tested top-rated options in the Verywell Health lab. Then we narrowed down our list based on criteria such as comfort, ease of use, pressure, design, and value. These were our favorites.

In This Article

  • Our Picks

  • We Also Tested

  • How We Tested

  • What to Look For

  • Our Experts

  • FAQ

  • Why Trust Verywell Health

Pros

  • Cloud-like comfort

  • Intense pressure

  • Zero gravity feature

Cons

  • Confusing remote

  • Not ideal for larger bodies

Key Specs:

Number of Massage Functions: 5 | Targeted Massage Areas: Full body (including calves, feet, and arms) | Heating Capabilities: Yes | Reclining Capabilities: Yes | Dimensions: 30 x 57.1 x 44.1 inches | Upholstery Material: Faux leather

Why We Recommend It

Our best overall pick, the Osaki OS-Champ Massage Chair is incredibly effective at relieving pain and tension in all of the right places. It’s a full-body massage chair that delivers cloud-like comfort the moment you sit down, with extra cushioning and rollers that span your entire body (even down to your feet).

This chair is ideal for those who prefer more intense pressure relief over a gentle massage. When we tested it, the roller system moved downward from our neck to our glutes and back up again, which felt divine against our tightly wound muscles. The zero gravity feature allowed us to lay all the way back and helped us relax more during the process, which was effective for breaking through tight knots. Our editor who tested this chair suffers from major neck and back aches (as a result of sitting at a desk for long hours at a time) and she emphasized that this chair gave her unrivaled relief in just 20 minutes. It has five automatic massage settings as well as heat therapy for added relaxation.

Keep in Mind

The remote wasn’t very intuitive, which made using it a little confusing. Also, the foot massager was very intense and may be too aggressive for some.

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (3)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (4)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (5)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (6)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (7)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (8)

Pros

  • Small space friendly

  • Great for the neck

  • Illustrated instructions

Cons

  • Best for deep chairs

Key Specs:

Number of Massage Functions: 3 | Targeted Massage Areas: Shoulder, back, neck | Heating Capabilities: Yes | Reclining Capabilities: No | Dimensions: 4.75 x 16.38 x 25.38 inches | Upholstery Material: Plastic, fabric

Why We Recommend It

The Homedics Shiatsu Elite II Massage Cushion is a portable, over-the-seat massager that's lightweight and fits most types of chairs. We think this is a great option for people who find themselves on the go, whether it’s long-distance travel or frequent commuting. It weighs only 1 pound and is fairly compact, however, we did notice it works better for chairs with significant depth as it can hang over the edge of shallow chairs. We particularly love that it offers lumbar support to help you maintain better posture during long bouts of sitting.

During testing, we first noticed that the instructions were simple, easy, and illustrated. The massage settings can be personalized depending on your needs. Regardless of the settings we chose for our massage, we were pleasantly surprised at the effectiveness of this portable massager. We found relief up and down our back, especially on our neck, where we felt the most intensity. The heat therapy feature also gets pretty hot and offers a welcome sensation of relaxation.

Keep in Mind

We feel that it’s a little pricey given that it lacks extra comfort features such as arm and footrests. However, we think it's worth the price if you require something portable yet effective.

Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (10)

Pros

  • Very intense pressure

  • Customizable intensity

  • Good for tight

Cons

  • Manual can feel overwhelming

  • Minimal lumbar support

Key Specs:

Number of Massage Functions: 5 | Targeted Massage Areas: Neck, back, legs | Heating Capabilities: Yes | Reclining Capabilities: Yes | Dimensions: 44 x 28 x 40 inches | Upholstery Material: Polyurethane

Why We Recommend It

If you’re tall and you’ve struggled to find a massage chair that doesn’t feel awkward, the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 Massage Chair may be the best option for you. During testing, we noticed this full-body ergonomic massage chair is slimmer than most and has a longer backrest that can fit longer torsos very well. The neckrest is also angled so that taller people may benefit. And even though it's suited to longer bodies, it's not too bulky and will fit well in smaller living spaces.

We loved this massage chair during testing because it offered a customizable experience. We could change the intensity levels of the three massage settings (stretch, tone, and flex) to get the exact level of pressure we needed to soothe our achy bodies. The most intense setting applied hard enough pressure that it could work out tougher kinks and knots. The foot massager also stood out to us because it swiveled and massaged our calves in an upward motion that relaxed us. There’s also a gentle setting as well that gives average massage pressure.

Keep in Mind

We thought the manual was a bit too comprehensive, and the remote wasn't particularly intuitive. We also wished there was more lumbar support in this chair. However, if you're tall and tech-savvy, this is a solid option for you.

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (12)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (13)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (14)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (15)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (16)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (17)

Pros

  • Compression helps with blood circulation

  • Well padded

  • Heat feature offers added relief

Cons

  • Not great for larger bodies

  • Hard to troubleshoot issues

Key Specs:

Number of Massage Functions: 5 | Targeted Massage Areas: Legs, hip, waist, back, neck | Heating Capabilities: Yes | Reclining Capabilities: Yes | Dimensions: 61.02 x 29.53 x 45.08 inches | Upholstery Material: Faux leather

Why We Recommend It

While a massage chair isn't a replacement for physiotherapy if you're experiencing arthritis symptoms, studies show massage chairs can be cost-effective and helpful for pain control. If you struggle with arthritis pain, we particularly like the iRest Zero Gravity Massage Chair. The pressure massage delivered effective pain relief and increased our blood circulation.

For those struggling with pain, an aggressive massage can be daunting. However, even on the highest setting, we'd characterize this chair's pressure as gentle. It delivers equally balanced pressure through the five massage functions—knead, tap, knock, knead and tap, and shiatsu. The bottom chamber offers compression, which helps us alleviate our exhausted feet from constant walking. We also noticed increased circulation in our hands and feet. To top it off, the heat feature offers added relief and soothed us into a warm, meditative state which can often aid in pain reduction.

Keep in Mind

The massage chair itself is very narrow, so this may not be the best option for larger bodies. Additionally, the manual wasn’t very useful for troubleshooting so you may have to do some extra leg work if you run into problems with the massage chair.

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (19)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (20)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (21)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (22)

Pros

  • Very gentle

  • Good lumbar support

  • Zero gravity feature

Cons

  • Heat feature isn't powerful

Key Specs:

Number of Massage Functions: 6 | Targeted Massage Areas: Neck, back, waist | Heating Capabilities: Yes | Reclining Capabilities: Yes | Dimensions: 52 x 27 x 43 inches | Upholstery Material: Laux leather

Why We Recommend It

The Real Relax Favor-03 ADV Massage Chair is the best budget massage chair, easy to use, comfortable, and effective. We were surprised to find just how much value this massage chair offers at its low price point. It has three different intensity levels, an LCD screen controller, and features like zero gravity and Bluetooth. We found that during testing, the right amount of pressure was applied to all the targeted areas, leaving us feeling comfortable and loose.Not to mention, it's well-cushioned with great lumbar support.

We noticed that even though there were different levels of intensity, it still wasn’t as harsh as other massage chairs we tried. Thus, it's also a good option for people who prefer a gentler massage. We were impressed by the foot roller setting, which felt great on our sore feet. Plus, this chair looked more aesthetically pleasing than other options (to ease sore eyes).

Keep in Mind

The heating function wasn’t very powerful. If you’re looking specifically for heat therapy, this may not be the best option for you.

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (24)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (25)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (26)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (27)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (28)

  • Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (29)

We Also Tested

  • COMHOMA Recliner Chair Massage Rocker: While the heat function was great on our bodies (we felt warm and toasty) we didn’t get an effective massage out of this chair. We also didn’t love the construction. It felt a bit flimsy even though the chair was large and bulky.

How We Tested

We tested six massage chairs in the Verywell Health Lab. Before beginning, we made sure we wore comfortable flexible clothing so we could really get a feel for the massage chairs’ capabilities. We also consulted our doctors if we had arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, or any neurological or sensory deficits. During testing, we looked out for the following criteria:

  • Ease of use: We paid attention to how easy it was to understand and follow each chair's directions. We took note of the variety of massages, intensities, and timer settings on each chair. Lastly, we tested the range of motion and the different ways we could adjust the massage chair to our liking.
  • Comfort: We sat in each massage chair and gauged how comfortable we felt and/or whether we felt any pain. We also looked at the physical structure to see how the massage chair would fit different body types other than our own.
  • Pressure: While using each chair, we tried different pressure settings and assessed their levels of intensity based on how effective they were at tending to the targeted areas.
  • Design: We tried all the different features and components that the massage chairs come with including basic and advanced functions like heat and vibration. We also looked for other features that made the massage chair more practical or convenient such as cup holders and remotes.
  • Value: After using the massage chairs for 15 to 20-minute intervals, we did a body check to judge how relaxed we felt and/or if our posture had improved. We then checked the price point of each chair to see how it compared to the value and whether it was worth the financial cost.

What to Look for in Massage Chairs

  • Massage Functions: By choosing a massage chair with customizable settings, modes, and features, you can meet your individual needs. Blessen Abraham, a chiropractor at Brunswick Health and Physical Therapy Center in New Jersey reminds us that everyone experiences pleasure and pain differently. Making sure you have a massage chair that can adapt to your needs is crucial for an effective massage.
  • Targeted Massage Areas: Before purchasing, make sure your chair offers some kind of relief to the area you need it most, whether it’s through rolling massage, heat therapy, or air compression. While some chairs focus on key areas and others offer a more full-body experience, Abraham says, any chair you buy should at least be able to address pain or tension in your shoulders and lower back.
  • Additional Features: Common additional features you may see include zero gravity (gives a “weightless” feeling to the user because there’s no weight on your spine) and Bluetooth capabilities that can play your music of choice. Some massage chairs have a more aesthetic appearance and may be constructed better so they look nicer in the home.However, Melissa Prestipino, DPT, owner of Maize and Blue Rehab in New Jersey reminds us that these features, while nice, may not make the chair more effective for its original purpose.

Our Experts

We consulted several experts during the research and writing of this article on the best massage chairs:

  • Blessen Abraham, a chiropractor at Brunswick Health and Physical Therapy Center in New Jersey
  • Jordan Beall, PT, DPT, physical therapist at Tribeca Physical Therapy in New York
  • Preston Brown, DPT, owner of Prestige Therapy Wellness in Wisconsin
  • Melissa Prestipino, DPT, owner of Maize and Blue Rehab in New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is it okay to use a massage chair daily?

    A massage chair can be used for brief sessions once a day or several times per week in most cases; there are exceptions, though, depending on your condition or the reason you’re using the chair.Prestipino says you shouldn't sit for longer than 15 to 20 minutes, and if you need a longer time do more frequent shorter sessions throughout the day. She also says if you have muscle soreness or tightness, it's okay to use a massage chair several times per week for several months at a time but to be careful if you have herniated discs, neuropathy, vascular issues, or osteoporosis or bone density issues as it could worsen symptoms.

  • Can massage chairs help with injury recovery?

    Yes. According to Prestipino, massage chairs can help with injury recovery by reducing stress and promoting relaxation, which can speed up the recovery process. She adds that they can also help with injuries by increasing circulation and blood flow, decreasing post-exercise soreness, assisting in tissue repair, and decreasing inflammation.

  • Are massage chairs good for your health?

    Massage chairs are good tools to help alleviate aches, sore and tight muscles, and pain. Related, Abraham suggests that theoretically because stress levels are higher when you are in pain, your blood pressure could lower post-massage when you're freshly relaxed, both mentally and physically.

  • What are S-track and L-track rollers?

    Both types of rollers refer to the massage rollers in the back of the chair. S-track rollers move between your neck and lower back, following the curve of your spine. L-track rollers, similarly, also follow the curve of your spine, but reach even lower and can massage areas like the glutes and thighs.

Why Trust Verywell Health

Sarah Bradley has been writing health content since 2017—everything from product roundups and illness FAQs to nutrition explainers and the dish on diet trends. She knows how important it is to receive trustworthy and expert-approved advice about over-the-counter products that manage everyday health conditions, from GI issues and allergies to chronic headaches and joint pain.

Soothe Stiff Muscles With the 5 Best Expert-Approved Massage Chairs (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 6279

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.