Benefits of Massage Chairs
Congratulations, you decided you want to get a massage chair, so now you are doing your research.
But perhaps you do not fully understand them.
Some people view them as luxury items that they cannot afford. Others think that the benefits of using a massage chair are short-lived.
So the questions start going through your mind.
- Do I really need one?
- Is it worth the cost to get one?
- What are the benefits of massage chairs?
Well, it is well-documented that massage chairs are very therapeutic and beneficial for everyone. But the question really comes down to one thing. Is the investment in a massage chair worth it?
So in this article let’s take some time here and explore 7 health benefits of massage chairs you need to know about.
Boost Your Immune System
Your immune system is the body’s defense mechanism.
It is what protects us from outside invaders, including bacteria, viruses, and toxins.
There is research that has shown massage therapy helps to build a healthy immune system.
And in this day and age, who would not want to do something that will help you to prevent or lessen the severity of colds, infections, and viruses?
In a study at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, researchers found significant changes in lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell involved in making antibodies, killing tumor cells, and controlling our immune responses.
Lymphocytes help our body to fight infection, so an increase in their levels will give us a stronger immune defense system.
Decrease Stress & Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are a part of our everyday life. But how we deal with it to keep it under control is what is important.
And if you are pregnant, this can be especially important for the health and well-being of your baby.
Here is some background to understand how a massage can help you to manage your stress and keep it under control.
Cortisol is a hormone that is secreted by the body in response to stress.
In the short term, this is helpful, for instance, when we are in immediate danger (fight or flight response).
But having elevated levels over a long period of time can lead to many issues, with anxiety and depression being two of them.
Serotonin, on the other hand, is a chemical messenger in the brain that acts as a mood stabilizer.
It is associated with feeling good and living longer.
In the same study at Cedars-Sinai mentioned above, it was found that a massage caused the levels of cortisol to decrease, resulting in less anxiety.
And in another study serotonin levels were found to increase as a result of massage, leading to lower levels of anxiety and a less depressed mood.
And stress does not happen on your schedule all of the time. This is another one of the benefits of massage chairs. They are available when the need arises with no appointment necessary!
Improve Blood Circulation
A well-performing circulatory system is vital to your well-being.
It helps remove toxins from your system and can promote healing.
So when it works will, it can be very beneficial to overall health.
But when it isn’t working properly, your blood flow may be impaired. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood.
And poor blood circulation can lead to various health problems including:
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Eye Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Muscle Pain
- Diabetes
A study at the University of Illinois at Chicago has shown that massage therapy does improve general blood flow and can alleviate muscle soreness after exercise.
And with the addition of the zero gravity position that comes with many chairs benefit is further enhanced.
Reduce Headaches
Are you one of the approximately 45 million Americans who complain about headaches every year?
Are you tired of taking pills all of the time, or just dealing with the pain?
Well, a massage chair may be a great alternative treatment modality.
Improve Sleep
We all know that we need a good night sleep. But not only the quantity, but the quality of sleep is important.
Insomnia, a common sleep disorder, can affect up to 70 million Americans a year. This can lead to poor concentration, irritability, depression, or just overall fatigue.
A good massage before bedtime may be just the thing you need. Massage can help improve sleep in a few ways.
- reduce stress by decreasing cortisol and increasing serotonin and dopamine levels.
- increased secretion of serotonin also increases the levels of melatonin, the natural chemical in the body that helps to regulate sleep.
- managing the pain and tension caused by stress or injury will allow you to relax and get a good night sleep.
But how do you get your massage before bed? This is another one of the benefits of massage chairs.
Decrease Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is something to be taken seriously. But what exactly is it?
According to the American Heart Association, it is when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high.
Did you know that almost half of the adults in the United States have hypertension (high blood pressure), or are taking medication for it?
When your blood pressure stays high over time, it causes the heart to pump harder and work overtime.
This can possibly lead to serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure.
But there are many myths and misconceptions related to high blood pressure. Here are a couple that you should be aware of.
Myth
- People with high blood pressure appear to be nervous a lot, appear sweaty all the time, have difficulty sleeping and their faces look red or flushed.
I don’t have those symptoms so I’m good.
Fact
- Many people have high blood pressure for years yet have no symptoms. This is why it is called the “silent killer”.
You may not be aware that it’s damaging your arteries, heart and other organs.
Myth
- I have a family history of high blood pressure.
My parents and grandparents had it, so I know I will have it and there is nothing I can do to prevent it.
Fact
- Yes, it is true that if you have a family history of high blood pressure, you are more likely to develop it.
But lifestyle choices, including massage, can help you avoid it.
Whether you take medication or not, there are numerous things you can do to help prevent or control it, such as eating a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, and watching your salt intake.
But did you know that regular massages may help as well?
A recent study has found that not only did regular massages result in a reduction of blood pressure right after the massage, but the effects were still there 72 hrs after finishing the study.
Save Money
Wait a minute.
Did I say save money?
How can purchasing a massage chair save you money?
Let’s look at the math:
Let’s start with the premise that after reading this article, you now understand how beneficial massages can be for your health.
So you decide that you will start going to see a massage therapist for a therapeutic massage once a week.
The average cost for a massage in the US is about $100.
If you decided to start having a massage once a week, after a year you will have spent $5200.
Not to mention trips to the masseuse, gas to drive back and forth, and the inconvenience of having to make an appointment on their schedule, not yours.
A good quality massage chair can cost you anywhere from $2500 to over $10,000.
If you bought a nice one for around $4000, it would pay for itself in less than a year.
But here is a question for you
Let’s say you wanted to get yourself in shape and joined a gym.
And what if they told you it was $100 per session, or $4000 for the year?
And you had two options. Pay a yearly fee, or pay each time you went.
Would you get the maximum benefit of a gym membership if you went just once a week?
Most fitness experts would recommend that you exercise at least 3 times a week.
So, for the maximum benefits, wouldn’t you want a massage multiple times a week. You can see the numbers add up quickly.
There is no doubt that having a massage at the therapist can be awesome even without the health benefits.
So let’s return to the original question. Can a massage chair save you money. I think the answer would be an emphatic YES!
But the reality is you would not go for a massage session everyday, nor could you have one in the middle of the night when you couldn’t sleep.
The massage chair would be there for you 24/7, whenever it was convenient for you.
Final Thought On The Benefits Of Massage Chairs
Most people would probably agree that a nice massage from a therapist feels great and helps you to relax.
In this article we have gone over many of the benefits of a massage, and some are based on regular use.
But we are busy, and sometimes our schedules just don’t align with the therapist, or the cost of regular visits is just too much.
So how can we get all of the benefits without the inconvenience?
This is one of the benefits of massage chairs.
Just imagine a quick massage to start the day and energize you, and when the day is done, a nice massage to unwind and relax before bed so you sleep better.
So from a health and benefits standpoint, you can see that a massage chair should not be considered a luxury item only reserved for someone else.
In reality, it is one of the best investments for your health and well-being you could make.