ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Shiatsu Massage Chair

Updated on January 10, 2010

Our lives are often bustling with activities and duties that prevent us from taking the time to relax and care for our bodies. However, there is a way to get a deep, relaxing massage at the home or office. A Shiatsu massage chair delivers an unparalleled massage experience using precision crafted mechanics that make it feel like you’re being treated by a professional massage therapist. Shiatsu, otherwise known as acupressure, uses pressure from the hands and palms which is derived from the Chinese meridian system. Shiatsu chairs and pads are designed to simulate this technique. Massage pads easily attach to any chair and can be moved between chairs at the home or office. More expensive full sized chairs deliver a complete massage experience and have added features. We will discuss both in this guide. Choosing the right massage system is critical in relieving pain and soreness in your back and shoulders.

Massage Pad Strapped To Office Chair
Massage Pad Strapped To Office Chair

Chair Massager Pads

A Shiatsu chair massager is a pad that straps on to most chairs. Built into the back of the unit is a set of rotating mechanisms which run up and down the length of your back. Usually the speed and pattern of the mechanisms can be controlled using the built in control pad. While not as advanced as a full chair model, this pad system is great for people who want to experience a great massage at any time. The pad can also be laid down onto a bed for use while sleeping or lounging. When the body is more relaxed in a prone position, the massage becomes more effective. If a specific part of your back needs care, a specific region of the pad can be activated to focus on that spot. A trusted and popular pad is the Homedics shiatsu massage chair.
While not its intended use, you can also wrap the massage pad around your arm or leg to massage these regions. The Shiatsu massage pad is designed with an operating range from the lower back to the lower neck, which delivers relief for people with different pain regions. People of different heights can use the height adjuster function to alter the operating range of the rollers. Some pads heating elements inside that can be adjusted. When the heat is coupled with the massage, it provides a therapeutic benefit that loosens up tight muscles.

Features To Consider:

Shape:  Are you looking for a chair massager that can attach to your chair at home? Or are you seeking a flat pad that can be placed onto your bed? While a chair unit can be used on a bed, Shiatsu massagers also come in a flat pad form that is designed for beds, couches and other flat surfaces. When choosing a chair massager, examine the straps to determine if it will accommodate the chair you intend to use it on.

Heating:  Do you find that you experience cramps and tight muscles in your back and neck? It may be a good idea to get a pad that features heating. The heat works to loosen up the muscles so the massager can do its job better.

Control:  While a full back massage would be soothing for most individuals, some people have specific regions they need to focus on. Consider the programmable functions of the Shiatsu massage chair pad to see if it will suit your needs. Some units have special massage sequences that are on a timer. Lower, middle and upper back regions can be isolated using the control panel.

Comfort:  If you can, try out the pad before you buy to see if the materials are of good quality. Besides the massage functionality, you also want to comfort of the padding and materials.

Luxurious Massage Chair
Luxurious Massage Chair

Massage Chairs

For those looking for deeper massage penetration and more thorough functionality, consider investing in a full sized, dedicated massage chair. Instead of two built in rollers, these chairs often come with four or more. Designed with comfort in mind, you can expect to pay a lot more than a pad. Luxury padding and leathers come together to form the perfect comfort experience. A dedicated chair also expands the regions of your body that get massaged. A calve is commonly attached to these massagers that works the calve muscles on your lower legs. Pre programmed massage sessions allow for one touch use.

Features To Consider:

Shape:  To fully relax in the chair, make sure it allows you to recline. In the reclined position, more body weight is available to press against the rollers for a more thorough massage. Exterior and interior materials need to be taken into account. For instance, leather is luxurious but tends be cold to the touch if it has not been used.

Massage Elements: You really can’t appreciate how good a massage chair is until you try it. Consider getting a chair with added features like calve and thigh massagers. Keep in mind that other people may use the chair. Get one with a heating feature to fully maximize the massage benefits.

Weight:  Shiatsu massage chairs can be quite heavy, so consider where it will go and how it will be moved.

Warranty/Repair: There will come a time when the chair will need repair work. Examine the manufacturer’s warranty to make sure you are protected from defects and unintentional damage.

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)