Massage Chair Tips

What to Know Before Buying a Massage Chair

1. Define Your Needs
There are a great variety of features, functions and technology available in massage chairs. Think of some of the benefits that you expect from purchasing a massage recliner. Are you looking to relieve your back, shoulders, neck, legs, feet or arms? What kind of budget do you have? Is this a long term or short term investment? Most people want 24/7 relief in the comfort and privacy of their home. Think about what you want to get out of your purchase.

2. Back Pain Relief
Are you are looking for back pain relief? If so, what parts of your back is most important? Massage chairs have rollers that can provide full back, shoulder and neck coverage. Many have width adjustments to expand or contract the rollers. Also, the stroke length is important. The stroke length is the amount of travel the back rollers have when moving up and down the chair back. Typical stroke lengths are 23 inches to 31 inches. To get the proper coverage of the back define what areas are must haves for a shiatsu massage chair

3. Massage Therapy
Are you looking for deep tissue massage that penetrates beyond the superficial muscle layers? Shiatsu massage uses the body’s acupressure points combined with kneading and tapping for whole body relief. Swedish massage uses longer strokes, kneading, squeezing and heat. A gentle Hawaiian massage using sway, stroking and light tapping may take you to the islands while you relax. The technology integrated into many shiatsu massage recliners is incredible. Have fun and find the massage therapies you enjoy most and look for massage chairs that have these capabilities.

4. Lower Body Massage
Do not forget your lower body. Shiatsu massage chairs have very effective lower body massage therapies. There are two technologies to consider for the footrest. The mechanical paddle systems or the air massage system. The mechanical paddle system is basically a motor driven paddle system which is used to massage the calves. The paddle system is limited to just the calf massage. The paddle system provides a vigorous tapping massage. The air massage system is driven by a compressor and delivers a compression massage to throughout the lower body. The air massage system uses a squeeze, hold and release massage while also stimulating reflexology points. There are some chairs which combine both technologies. The lower body massages have improved tremendously over the last few years.

5. Warranty Coverage
Warranty coverage varies as much as the variety of massage chairs on the market. First, sort your list down to reputable manufacturers. Find out if the manufacturer has national retail accounts, this ensures that there warranty means something. Typical warranty coverage includes parts; labor, in home service vs. service center, shipping expenses. Interestingly, Fortune 500 manufacturers like Panasonic and Sanyo have short warranties from the manufacturer, but then sell extended warranties to match the rest of the massage chair industry. How long does the manufacturer cover parts? If you need service, can a technician come to your home or do you need to send your massage chair to a service center. This is important, as sending around 200 lbs of massage chair is not an easy task. Also, how long will the manufacturer pick up any shipping expenses to repair the massage chair?

Looking for a massage chair should be a fun and rewarding experience. It is a special device that can provide years of trouble free operation or turn into a boat anchor. The reason you are looking for a massage chair is to find the relief and invigoration on demand in the comfort of your home. Find out what is important to you and determine some of the must have features of a shiatsu massage chair. Then try a few out and see what works for you. Once you have a good idea of what you like, shop around and get the best deal. Prices vary especially with variables such as tax, shipping, and return policies. This is an important long term purchase, so take your time, enjoy and find the perfect massage chair.