If you’ve ever suffered a back injury, you know that nothing else in the world matters more than finding relief. Not only is the pain excruciating, but it can leave you feeling helpless and defeated.
Back pain is a common issue that affects over 100 million Americans. The global statistics are just as grim, as people increasingly spend their workdays behind a desk in sedentary occupations. Fortunately, if you have back pain, massage chair sessions may help alleviate it.
Back Pain Causes & Treatments
Various factors can cause or worsen back pain. They include poor posture, muscle strain, underlying medical conditions, and many others. Back pain treatments, such as medications and surgeries, are available. However, most carry risks of their own and offer uncertain long-term outcomes.
Consequently, many people who are familiar with the general health benefits of regular sessions in a massage chair wonder if this type of massage therapy could help minimize back pain and discomfort. After all, they have experienced firsthand the difference that massages can make for issues like chronically tight shoulder and neck muscles, exercise overuse injuries, tired and sore feet, etc. So, it stands to reason that you could turn to a massage chair for lower back pain treatment, for example, or help with issues anywhere along the spine.
Does a Massage Chair Help Back Pain?
One safe, non-invasive, medication-free approach to managing back pain is using a well-designed, high-quality massage chair as part of a holistic treatment plan for a sore back. Massage chairs have mechanisms that apply carefully calibrated pressure to the muscles and joints of the back. The movements can help to loosen tight muscles and improve blood flow. Regular use of a massage chair also helps mobilize the spine, thereby improving flexibility and reducing pain.
So, the answer to, “Are massage chairs good for your back?” is “Yes, for multiple reasons.”
Massage Chairs and Back Pain: Enhanced Flexibility and Range of Motion
One of the frustrating things about back pain is that it can limit your mobility and range of motion, causing you to avoid certain movements and activities. As a result, it adversely affects your quality of life. Beyond simply having to cope with the ongoing discomfort, you miss out on things you have always enjoyed and that make life more fun.
By targeting specific muscles and areas of the lower back, a massage chair can relieve tension and improve flexibility in the lumbar spine. For instance, a massage chair can help with low back extension movements, which is the backward, lordotic bending of the lumbar region of the spine. It does this through mechanical massage to the lumbar region.
In a well-designed and well-choreographed massage chair, these mechanical massage techniques help to loosen and stretch tight muscles in the lower back, increasing flexibility and range of motion. Improvements in these areas are associated with a lower incidence of back pain.
Back Massage for Improved Blood Flow
A back-massage chair can help improve circulation in the lumbar region. Sessions have been shown to increase blood flow to the muscles, which can help to bring oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and remove waste products.
As with the extension (backward bending) of the low back mentioned above, this increased circulation can also reduce muscle tension and stiffness, leading to improved flexibility and range of motion in the lumbar spine. In essence, by encouraging better circulation, you are helping the body heal itself.
Massage Chair Heat Therapy Reduces Back Pain
For people who suffer from back problems, perhaps nothing feels better than the application of heat to a painful area. Heat therapy has been shown to relax muscles and improve circulation. Some massage chairs can provide infrared heat therapy to the lumbar region. The result of regular sessions is improved flexibility and range of motion in the lower back.
Overall, a massage chair can be an effective tool for improving flexibility and range of motion in the lumbar spine through mechanical massage, improved circulation, heat therapy, and targeted massage techniques. Plus, while massage chairs are good for your back when you are hurting, they can also help prevent or reduce the incidence of back problems. By consistently incorporating massage as part of a holistic wellness routine, you can maintain good flexibility and range of motion in the lower back and prevent muscle stiffness and discomfort.
Low-Intensity Exercise Combined With Massage Chair Sessions
Even better than relying exclusively on a massage chair for lower back pain treatment is using a chair in conjunction with other back-friendly activities. For example, incorporating a low-intensity exercise program focusing on walking can also be beneficial for relieving back pain.
Walking is a low-impact exercise that can help strengthen the back muscles and improve overall fitness. Just remember that it is essential to start slowly and gradually increase the intensity and duration of the walks as your fitness improves.
Relieving Back Pain by Strengthening Your Spine
Strengthening the muscles of the core that support good spinal health is also crucial for relieving back pain. The core muscles, including the abdominal and back muscles, help stabilize the spine. Making sure these muscles are maintained prepares them to “fire” when they should.
This can help improve posture, reduce strain on the spine, and alleviate pain. You can use simple, easy, and safe exercises to strengthen your core muscles. A quick Youtube search will turn up many short and easy exercise routines specifically designed to help people overcome chronic back pain. Make sure your source is credible, like an expert physical therapist focusing on back pain relief. Very quickly you will find safe and appropriate exercises to address your specific needs.
Daily Spine Health Routine
In summary, relief from back pain is possible through the regular use of a well-designed, high-quality massage chair that can mobilize the spine, a low-intensity exercise program that focuses on walking, and a consistent effort to strengthen the muscles of the core that support good spinal health. Incorporating these strategies into your daily routine can improve your overall spinal health, reduce back pain, and enhance your overall wellness.
Of course, conversations with your physician should guide you as you work toward better back health. But unless you have a unique back issue, massage chair sessions, combined with other activities, are virtually always “just what the doctor ordered.”
Creating a Positive Back Health Snowball Effect
We typically think of “snowballing” as bad. However, buying and using a massage chair for back pain relief can be the start of a positive snowball effect. For instance, you have become fairly sedentary due to your back pain. But after a handful of massage sessions, your pain is reduced, making it easier and more enjoyable to go for short walks. A little bit of walking (and more massage sessions) sets you up for longer walks at a faster pace. Soon, you’ve graduated to a slow jog, and the improvement continues.
Then maybe you start to incorporate some resistance training or weightlifting. Not surprisingly, all of this exercise has stoked your appetite, and you satisfy it with healthy, nutritious foods—rather than the unhealthy foods that comforted you when you were stuck on the couch.
Next, getting active and out of the house more improves your family and social relationships. The encouragement from the people close to you is even more motivation to achieve and maintain good back health, and you continue to make progress.
Will your experience addressing back pain with massage chair sessions play out exactly as described above? Not necessarily. But if you have been dealing with back issues for a while, you know how they can drag you down. You can also see how even a little relief can go a long way toward improving your overall wellness and helping you get more enjoyment out of life.
Massage Chairs for Back Pain Relief From Furniture For Life
The next question from people who learn that massage chairs can relieve back pain is often, “Where can I get one?” If you ask any of our customers, they will say: “Furniture For Life, home of The World’s Best Massage Chairs®.”
We offer a wide range of high-quality massage chairs designed to relieve back pain and improve overall spinal health. Our knowledgeable and friendly Comfort Consultants can help you find the right massage chair for your specific needs and preferences. Ideally, that involves visiting a Furniture For Life showroom, talking with the consultant about why you are shopping for a massage chair and what problems you want to address, and getting demo massages in the chairs on your shortlist of candidates.
Whichever you choose, you can make your purchase with confidence that 1) the chair will support back pain relief and whole-body wellness for many years to come and 2) that Furniture For Life will provide outstanding after-sale service and support.
Stop by today and let’s get you on the path to better spinal health!
