You just bought your new luxury massage chair and now you’re ready to dive right into deep relaxation and all the potential health benefits they provide, right? While we’re just as excited as you are for your new addition, it’s important to know some of the best practices to make the most of your massage chair and not accidentally do more harm than good.
One of the most common questions we hear from new massage chair owners and those considering purchasing one is, “how often can you use a massage chair?” Today, we’re exploring the answer to this question as well as considerations for using a massage chair for conditions like back pain or sciatica, chronic daily pain, and pregnancy.
Potential Massage Chair Benefits
Before we hop into answering the question, “how often can you use a massage chair?” let’s take a look at why you may be interested in one. If you’ve purchased a luxury massage chair or are considering doing so (check out our guide for “should I buy a massage chair?” after this article!) then you are likely familiarizing yourself with different massage chair features and options available. From comparing 3D vs 4D massage chair rollers to S-track vs L-track massage chair frames, today’s full body massage chairs offer a wide variety of choices to choose from to meet your needs.
If you’re not quite as familiar with modern massage chairs, however, you may be surprised to learn that they’ve evolved to provide a variety of different types of massage alongside unique features like body scanning and AI massage chair technology to provide an incredible experience. Some of the benefits of massage therapy at home may include:
- Deeper relaxation on a regular basis
- Stress reduction and improved cognitive function
- Lower blood pressure improving heart health naturally
- Chronic daily pain management
- Natural migraine treatment
- Increased mobility and flexibility
With all these potential health benefits, it’s no wonder more and more people are exploring the benefits of owning a massage chair at home. As with any health routines, however, be sure to consult a medical professional before starting a new regimen to ensure it’s safe for you to do so.
So How Often Can You Use a Massage Chair?
Now that you’ve got a better understanding of some of the potential top massage chair benefits for health, it’s time to dive into the question, “how often can you use a massage chair?” While your first inclination may be to hop into your massage chair every night while you decompress from the day, that may actually be more detrimental than helpful.
So then, how often can you use a massage chair? We recommend you use it no more than 3 to 4 times a week for maximum massage benefits. An easy way to think of it is to set yourself on a schedule to use it every other day while at home. While you might be wondering why you can only use your investment every other day, the reason makes sense if you think about it in terms of a massage being similar to a workout.
For example, when you’re working out it’s unlikely that you’re doing an entire full-body workout each day. Different muscle groups require periods of work and rest, right? It’s the same when it comes to making the most of the best full body massage chair features, as well. These chairs work all your muscle groups and may help flush toxins from your system, but overdoing it may cause them to be overworked or harmed accidentally.
How Long Can You Sit in a Massage Chair?
If the answer to, “how often can you use a massage chair?” is 3 to 4 days a week (optimally), then how long should you be using it on those days? Experts have suggested that the optimal amount of time to use a massage chair is between 15 to 20 minutes. Similar to starting a workout routine, however, if you're just starting using a massage chair then you should start in smaller time increments and work your way up.
This means the first few times you hop into that new 4D massage chair with AI technology seeking a custom massage program, you should only spend a few minutes in the chair. Start out in increments of 2 to 3 minutes and work your way up gradually to avoid overworking the muscles too soon. Even once you’ve gotten your doctor’s approval to start, it’s important to allow your body to adjust to your new self-care routine.
While 15 to 20 minutes may not seem like a very long time to be using your new favorite self-care tool, it makes sense when you think about the differences between using a massage chair vs human massage. In a traditional massage, the massage therapist may work for an hour, but they’re not focused on your entire body at all times. Instead, they work in groups down your body to hit each section appropriately. Using a full body massage chair works all those muscle groups at once. This is why using a massage chair even for a shorter period of time has the potential to enhance the feeling of relaxation and possible health benefits you experience.
Using a Massage Chair for Back Pain or Chronic Pain Management
Part of answering the question, “how often can you use a massage chair?” includes understanding your body, any limitations, and what you’re using your chair for. For example, studies have shown the potential benefits of getting a regular massage for back pain relief. Using a massage chair with zero gravity reclining capabilities, features like the benefits of heat therapy, and custom programming may work well for home sciatica treatment, too.
Other causes of chronic pain such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, or osteoporosis, may also benefit from using a massage chair. Experts and professionals have found that massage is an effective method for pain relief and may benefit those with chronic pain issues. Massage can increase blood circulation, loosen up stiff muscles, deepen relaxation, and help with how to manage pain on a daily basis. Athletes may even find they could help with how to make a sports injury recover faster!
How Often Can You Use a Massage Chair While Pregnant?
We’d be remiss to discuss, “how often can you use a massage chair?” without talking about using a massage chair while pregnant. Pregnancy can be a wonderful journey, but it’s also one with many changes happening to your body. This makes finding body pain relief during pregnancy very important! To ease any potential discomfort, many pregnant women turn to a prenatal massage routine to feel better.
Is massage safe during pregnancy? Experts have stated that prenatal massage therapy is generally safe for women during any stage of pregnancy, which may help with getting better sleep while pregnant and alleviating lower back pain during pregnancy. That said, some women opt to wait until the second and third trimesters. You should consult with your doctor to determine whether it’s safe for you to use your massage chair during your pregnancy and follow their guidance.
We hope this guide has answered the question, “how often can you use a massage chair?” and helped you get a better understanding of how to optimize your results. Remember that starting a regular massage routine is similar to beginning a new workout regimen. Start slow and build up to longer massage chair usage times to keep yourself in top shape. We’re sure you’ll find that choosing a massage chair was one of the best things you’ve ever done for yourself. Now go and enjoy!
Want to learn more about the potential benefits of owning a massage chair and how they might enhance your lifestyle? Check out these additional resources for more information:
