It has been scientifically proven that massage therapy is among the most effective methods to get rid of fatigue and put your body at ease. You’ll benefit a lot from a massage if your job demands rigorous labor or 9 hours of sitting at a desk. A good massage will help you ease back pain, improve circulation, and maintain a good posture.
However, not everyone can afford to go to a massage therapist daily. Instead, it would be better to invest in a massage chair. It will make it convenient to enjoy a massage whenever your body asks for it. Besides being convenient, it’s also reassuring to know that you have your zen corner in the house where you can retreat any time you want.
Once you purchase your first massage chair, it will be hard to fight the urge to get into the chair now and then enjoy a quick massage. While it’s tempting, you should be aware of the side effects of overusing a massage chair, especially if you have health conditions like heart issues and osteoporosis.
If you recently got yourself a shiny new massage chair, you must have wondered how long you should use it? Here is an article to answer the most common questions about using a massage chair.
How Long Should You Use a Massage Chair For?
The most basic question that pops up in the head is how long should you use a massage chair. The answer to this question largely depends on the individual needs of the users. If you’re looking for a standard solution, leading medical professionals have deemed the ideal duration for using a massage chair to be between 15-20 minutes.
It’s always tempting to go on for a little longer when the experience is pleasant. It is especially true for a massage chair after a long, hard day at work or if you’re experiencing a lot of pain. But if you’re just getting started with massage chairs, it’s advised to test the water before taking a dip. Start with a smaller duration and gradually increase as your body gets used to it.
Most modern massage chairs have a built-in timer to ensure that you don’t stay in them longer than required. Some of the latest flagship massage chairs also feature an auto-shutdown mode, which turns off the massage chair after a preset duration. It is a convenient feature to have since a massage can quite easily make anyone fall asleep.
As for the frequency of massage, you should use the chair 3-4 times a week for pain relief and 1-3 times a week for just stress relief or relaxation. Make it a point to do some mild physical activity after getting up from the chair.
How Often Should You Use a Massage Chair?
There’s no limit on how often you can use a massage chair since you own the chair. The real beauty of owning a massage chair is truly an on-demand massage available to you. There is no need to book a therapist appointment or visit a spa.
However, there are some guidelines laid down by manufacturers and medical professionals that everyone must follow. If you’re suffering from lower back pain, aching neck and shoulders, or leg pain, it’s advised to use the chair 3-4 times a week.
If you use the chair for stress relief or anxiety, you should get a massage every time you feel that the stress or anxiety is affecting your behavior or sleep patterns. The ideal frequency is 1-3 times a week in the evening, post or before bedtime for such users.
Bear in mind that a massage chair is a luxury that should not be overused just because you can. Use your chair diligently and slowly at first to find what works best for you. For some people, once a week is perfect, while others can handle several massages in a day. Once you find a routine that best suits your body, there’s nothing like too much of a good thing.
Can You Use a Massage Chair Every Day?
You have to understand that a massage chair is like a workout in itself. It’s similar to getting back into a workout routine in many ways. Therefore, if you haven’t gone running or hit the gym in a while, you take it slow. Start with a 30 minutes gym session or run a mile a day and find your way up from there. If you try to pick from where you left off months ago, you might end up hurting yourself.
Your first time using a massage chair is a similar experience in itself. If you have tight or sore muscles and ligaments, over-massaging them will leave them extra sore and wounded. Start with smaller 10-15 minutes sessions a day in the beginning and gradually increase as your body gets used to it.
Experts advise that new massage chair users should use a massage chair for a maximum of 20 minutes every day until their bodies get used to it. Enjoy your new massage chair but don’t overdo it.
Can I Use a Massage Chair Too Much?
As we have established by now, sitting in a massage chair for longer doesn’t provide more benefits. You wouldn’t get more relaxed if you got a massage for more than an hour. You will end up injuring your muscles or ligaments if you overdo it.
With proper use within the prescribed guidelines by the manufacturer and professional therapists, you’ll be able to reap the actual and incredible health benefits provided by the modern innovative massage chairs. As mentioned before, excessive use might cause muscle damage, inflammation, and bruised tissues. It might also damage your chair’s motor. So, take it slow and easy with your massage chair.
Can You Spend Too Much Time in a Massage Chair?
The obvious answer is yes, you can since you own the massage chair and there’s no one stopping from using it for a prolonged duration. But should you? The expert recommended time to spend in a massage chair whenever is fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes doesn’t seem like a lot, and when you’re dealing with a lot of pain, you might be tempted to spend a longer time in the chair.
Once your body gets used to 15 minutes sessions of deep tissue or other massages, you can work your way up to longer increments. But remember, it will never be as long as an hour in the chair. The good news is that most massage chair brands include a massage timer and auto shutdown feature in the chair. Use the feature Experiment with the speed and intensity of the massage to reap greater benefits.
The bottom line here is that you should enjoy your massage chair to the max but not overdo it. Overdoing it is harmful to your body and can also damage the internal components of the chair.
