Table of Contents
- Different Types of Back Massagers And Their Benefits
- Features to Consider When Buying a Back Massager
- How Much Do Back Massagers Cost?
- How to Choose the Best Back Massager
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It’s hard to beat a good massage. Manipulating the soft tissues of the body can help reduce stress, as well as relieve back, neck and shoulder pain. For seniors specifically, massage can enhance well-being, health and quality of life.
Back massagers can help older adults enjoy some of the benefits of massage therapy from the comfort of home. Here’s what you need to know about these tools.
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Vive Health Handheld Massager
- Easily relieve pain and tension in the shoulders, arms, hips, back and legs
- Includes six massage heads for shiatsu, deep tissue, joint, large areas and overall deep massage
- Cordless design is ideal for use at home or on the go
- Customize each massage session with one of five massage modes with adjustable intensity levels
- Long-lasting lithium-ion battery is rechargeable
On Vive Health's Website
Different Types of Back Massagers And Their Benefits
“Any massage tool has a place and value as long as you know what you’re doing with it,” says Celeste Aguirre, a licensed massage therapist with Relief Muscle Manipulation in Kansas City, Missouri. And a variety of back massagers exist to meet your specific needs, budget and comfort preferences.
Massage Chairs
Massage chairs look similar to recliners, but offer more wellness benefits. Features can include heat therapy, rolling massage, kneading massage, vibration therapy, air pressure and shiatsu massage (a therapeutic form of acupuncture) and more. All of these capabilities can make a difference: Research shows massage chairs are especially effective in controlling pain and improving quality of life[1]Kim S-K, Min A, Jeon C, et al. Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of massage chair therapy versus basic physiotherapy in lower back pain patients: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(12):e19514. Accessed 8/16/2021. .
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Chair Pads
A back massager pad for a chair can offer features like rolling massage, kneading massage, heat therapy and shiatsu massage, giving you the experience of a massage chair without the cost or bulk of a new piece of furniture.
“A pad does just as well and is a lot more economical [than a massage chair],” says Aguirre.
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Massage Guns
These handheld tools, which can resemble a power drill, apply percussive therapy (rapid bursts of pressure) to various parts of the body and come with attachments designed for different types of tissue. A recent study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found massage guns to be effective in increasing a person’s flexibility and range of motion[2]Konrad A, Glashüttner C, Reiner M, et al. The acute effects of a percussive massage treatment with a hypervolt device on plantar flexor muscles’ range of motion and performance. J Sports Sci Med. 2020;19(4):690-694. . However, using this tool correctly can sometimes require an extra set of hands.
“You have to know where you’re going with it in order to get the full benefits,” says Aguirre. “It’s a trick to do back work on yourself because you just can’t reach.”
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Handheld Massagers
The handheld massager market is vast—from rechargeable infrared tools with multiple attachments to manual rollers attached to small wooden handles. The best massager for you comes down to personal preference, but for use on the back specifically, just make sure the tool can comfortably reach the area you want to massage.
Compare them now:Available on Amazon
Massage Canes
These J-shaped canes can get to those sore and painful places that are just out of reach. Featuring various ergonomically placed knobs, they can help you apply targeted pressure for trigger point massage therapy. The secret is to keep your limbs moving during the massage to help the cane work into deeper muscles.
“This one takes some practice, but you get used to it,” says Aguirre. “And then it will feel fantastic.”
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Massage Balls
A ball can be a powerful massage tool. Exercises that use a ball between the body and the floor or a wall target hard-to-reach areas. For instance, they can help release hip tightness and be the best massager for knots in the back.
You can buy a ball made and marketed for massage, but you can also head to a sporting goods store—lacrosse balls are the perfect size for this type of massage work. If you want a little more give, a tennis ball works well, too.
Compare them now:Available on Amazon
A Relaxing Massage Experience
Discover targeted pain relief with Vive Health's Handheld Massager. From tackling back pain to relieve muscle tension, the handheld massager is a versatile tool to relieve different body parts of its muscle issues with its 5 different speed levels and 6 different massage head attachments.
Features to Consider When Buying a Back Massager
No matter which type of back massager you try, you have several options when it comes to additional features. Here are a few factors to think about.
Temperature
Some chairs and chair pads have heating elements. If you want an option that features heat therapy, make sure you can adjust it or turn it off entirely. This functionality can help you avoid too much of a good thing.
“You want to be careful with heat because sometimes we experience pain from inflammation and heat can aggravate that,” says Aguirre. “A telltale sign that pain is from inflammation is if you experience pain in the morning and it goes away when you’re moving throughout the day.”
Multiple Settings
Variety is the spice of life, and that applies to massage therapy, too.
“With a massage chair or pad, make sure you have settings where the pressure goes up and down,” says Aguirre. “If you stay in one area for too long, the muscles become irritated. Try something like 20 minutes for a lower back massage, 20 minutes on the middle back and 20 minutes on the upper back.”
Power Sources
Aguirre doesn’t recommend battery-operated back massagers. “They don’t do much,” she says. Instead, she encourages seniors to find back massagers that are corded or rechargeable.
Return Policies
When it comes to back massagers, you can’t always try before you buy. So a little flexibility is a good idea. “If you can’t return it, stay away from it,” says Aguirre.
How Much Do Back Massagers Cost?
Back massager prices vary. You can find a small handheld massager online for less than $20, and you can spend more than $8,000 on a top-of-the-line massage chair. The good news is there are options in each massager category.
Massage chairs generally run from $900 to $3,000. For a multi-mode massage pad, expect to spend $50 to $150. Massage guns fall in a similar price range as massage pads.
Meanwhile, handheld massagers range from about $15 for a small, battery-operated model to more than $200 for a lightweight, cordless massager with multiple modes. And a massage cane typically costs about $20 to $30.
Does Insurance Cover Back Massagers?
Health insurance coverage for massagers also varies. Your private insurance plan may reimburse the cost of a massager, so reach out to an insurance company representative for additional information.
A chair or other massage tool might also be eligible for reimbursem*nt from a health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA) or health reimbursem*nt arrangement (HRA). To be eligible, you must have purchased the massager to treat a specific medical condition—not for general well-being—and have an official diagnosis from your healthcare provider.
How to Choose the Best Back Massager
Finding the right back massage tool can be a trial-and-error experience. Sometimes, you just have to see what works for you. But if you’re not sure where to start, talk to your massage therapist.
“Your massage therapist should be 100% comfortable answering questions about self-care at home,” says Aguirre.
As you’re shopping, keep your current health in mind. If you have delicate skin, for example, a handheld massager with only one setting may feel too aggressive. Know, too, that electronic devices don’t always play well with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and pacemakers. However, the American Heart Association (AHA) says handheld back massagers pose little to no risk if kept at least 6 inches away from your ICD or pacemaker.
In a pinch, don’t overlook the old standbys. Ice can help reduce inflammation. A heating pad can be soothing. Plus, you probably already have both of these tools in your home.
