There is no doubt that a massage chair has many health benefits. But the process of finding the best one for you may be somewhat confusing. Along the way, you probably will come across discussions of S-track vs L-track massage chairs.
So what exactly do these terms mean, and to what extent will they determine what chair you end up buying?
After all, most massage chairs look similar in design. But it’s the mechanics of what is on the inside that counts.
So in this article, we will look at what these terms mean, and help you to become more informed of the strengths and weaknesses of each type.
Massage Chair Rollers
Before discussing roller tracks, let’s take a moment to discuss massage chair rollers.
This is the part of the massage chair responsible for performing the massage.
The rollers are wheels or balls that provide massage motions to the back.
In very inexpensive massage chairs or massage pads, these roller balls may be fixed and do not move.
These will massage one area only and sometimes can be painful. If you want to massage a different area, you would have to move around.
The Roller Track
Before discussing the S-track vs the L-track, let’s review what a roller track is.
In the massage chairs today, the roller balls are not fixed but instead are guided up and down the length of the back on a metal roller track.
This will give you a more thorough massage.
This is similar to a railroad track that guides a train along a path.
In the early days of the robotic massage chair, the roller balls were guided along a straight track.
These did not allow for the inherent curvature of the spine and could be uncomfortable. And they were not very efficient.
To help understand this inefficiency, imagine a slightly hilly lawn that you needed to cut. And let’s say you placed two parallel straight metal tracks from one end to the other.
Now you guide your lawn mower wheels along those tracks.
The low parts of the lawn would probably be missed and not get cut, while the high spots might get scalped, resulting in damage to the grass.
But as you know, when pushed along, the lawnmower can follow the contours of the lawn thereby allowing it to be cut evenly.
So is the case of your back. The straight track meant that the rollers didn’t quite reach the neck and the lower back because of the inward curve.
The midback, on the other hand, is where the bulk of the action was concentrated. This was because of its outward curve.
To solve this problem, the S-track was developed.
The S-Track
As discussed earlier, our spines are not straight. They are contoured in what is known as a sinusoidal shape, or S-shape.
Based on the S-track’s sinusoidal shape, the rollers move up and down along the back of the user while following the natural curvature of the spine.
The roller track starts at the top of the neck in a forward position. This allows for a deeper massage in the neck region.
When it reaches the mid back it retracts a bit and then moves forward again allowing for a deeper massage in the lower back.
The result is a very natural massage sensation for the user.
Most S-track massage chairs have a roller track length between 27 and 33 inches.
They begin in the head/neck region and extend to the tailbone.
The S-track massage chairs can be very precise with the roller motion, especially in combination with 3D or 4D massage technology.
The L-Track
With the S-track, your legs and glutes are not affected by the rollers. For these chairs, this is accomplished using airbags for a compression massage.
So what are the S-track vs L-track differences?
The L-track extends the path of the roller track, allowing the rollers to go beyond the lower back and reach down to the buttocks and hamstrings.
The track follows the shape of an ‘L’, hence the name.
Most L-track massage chairs have a roller track length between 40 and 53 inches.
Because you cannot flatten out the L shape metal track, the massage chair cannot lay as flat as the S-track. This can limit the stretch ability of these chairs.
Stretch Programs With Different Tracks
The stretch massage program is found on many of the massage chairs today. They can be one of the most satisfying routines you can receive in your massage chair.
It can be extremely relaxing, and has many beneficial effects. It can help to make your muscles more flexible, strengthen the tendons, and can increase the mobility of the joints.
There are two parts to the stretch routine. First, the chair back reclines. Next, the calf and foot airbags inflate to hold the legs in place while the ottoman drops down. This gradually helps to stretch and elongate the spine.
But the method by which a stretch massage is implemented is different depending on the roller track configuration.
S-Track
With the S-track chairs, the chair back moves independently of the seat.
While the seat remains horizontal, the chair back can recline to an almost horizontal or flat position.
As stated above, this, in combination with the ottoman dropping, gives that exceptional stretch.
Some chairs utilize airbags to pin the shoulders back to add to the effectiveness of the stretch.
L-Track
Many L-track chairs don’t have a stretch program. This is because the seat and chair back are fixed in an L-shape position.
Since the L-shape cannot flatten to a horizontal position, those chairs that do offer a stretch program utilize a different method.
The L shape of the track will not allow the horizontal positioning of the chair back independent of the seat.
So the chair is first reclined into a zero-gravity position.
Next, the calf and foot airbags inflate to hold the legs while the ottoman extends and drops down.
You will feel the pull on your legs and hips, but you will not experience the overall stretch that the S-track can produce.
Pros & Cons
S-Track Pros
- Focuses mainly on the back muscles
- Provides more concentrated massage on the back than L track
- Tend to give better massage in shoulder and neck region than L-track
- Allows for excellent stretch program
- Tends to be more affordable
L-Track Pros
- Full body massage sensation
- Access to deeper muscle tissue and lower back
- Extended track allows rollers to reach the buttocks and hamstrings
- Excellent for lower back or sciatic pain, or if you suffer from piriformis syndrome.
S-Track Cons
- Only airbag compression massage for lower body
- Shorter track length
L-Track Cons
- Tend to be more expensive
- Difficult to implement efficient stretch program
- Does not focus primarily on back muscles
Conclusion
So you should now have an understanding of the differences between the S-track vs the L-track.
In simple terms, the L-track is just an extended S-track. The additional length allows the rollers to reach the glutes and hamstrings.
But that does not mean that they’re necessarily better. That’s something that comes down to your tastes and needs!
You see, many people will get a massage chair for their backs, not their buttocks.
- Are you looking for an economical option?
- Do you just want an incredible back massage?
- Or how about a good stretch program?
Then the S-track may be right for you.
- Are you a fairly active individual or an athlete who could benefit from additional massage along the glutes and hamstrings?
- Do you suffer with lower back or sciatic pain, piriformis syndrome, or just have tight buttock muscles or hamstrings?
Then the L-track is probably for you because the rollers can be very effective with trigger points of the glutes and help to release knots that may be causing pain.
So the bottom line?
Depending on your needs, you really won’t go wrong with either type of track.