So you listened to your constantly aching back and decided to get yourself a massage chair at home or in the office. You must have already done your due diligence and researched massage chairs. Chances are you must have come across terms like 2D massage chairs, 3D massage chairs, and 4D massage chairs. As if the sheer number of brands and options are not enough, terminologies like these further add to the confusion of the buyer.
Notably, 2D, 3D, and 4D refer to the movement of the back roller massage. The conventional massage chairs use 2D massage rollers, which means the massage rollers move in two directions - up and down, or side to side. The 3D and 4D massage chairs add more directions or dimensions to these roller movements to imitate human hands while massaging.
If you need advanced pressure point massages like deep-tissue massage, a 3D or 4D massage chair will serve your purpose much better than a conventional 2D massage chair. That is because the rollers in these chairs not only move horizontally and vertically but also in and out with varying speeds and intensities to mimic the feeling of human hand massaging.
Therefore, not surprisingly, 4D and 3D massage chairs are more expensive and make one wonder whether they are legit or just a gimmick to charge more. If you are also wondering, here are the most common queries regarding 3D and 4D massage chairs answered to clear the confusion.
What Is a 4D Massage Chair?
In the beginning, when massage chairs were a new concept, they used traditional back roller massage. This means that the rollers in these chairs moved in two dimensions - up and down from your neck to your lower back as well as side to side. This is an effective massage technology that alleviates back pain, eases sore muscles, relieves stress, and improves natural health and wellness. However, it does feel more mechanical than natural.
The 3D massage chairs take it a notch above by adding a third dimension to the roller massagers. They not only move up and down and side by side but also in and out. These massage chairs are getting popular by the day because of this additional dimension that adds extra intensity to the massage. Most high-quality 3D massage chairs offer up to 5 inches of additional intensity range, which means the rollers can out further into your back by 5 inches. Another benefit of a 3D massage chair is that its intensity can be reduced to make it extremely gentle.
Lastly, we have 4D massage chairs, which do everything that a 3D massage chair does. It can go up-down, side-by-side, and in-out. So what’s different? In addition to these three dimensions, 4D massage chairs offer an additional dimension in the form of adjustable speed. These 4D massage chairs are quite premium with 4D massage movements crafted to add speed variations to massage styles to feel like human hands.
Are 4D Massage Chairs Worth It?
If you have the budget for it and require intense massage therapy, 4D massage chairs are worth every penny. These chairs have the most technologically advanced roller system that you can find on a massage chair. These rollers can do everything that a 3D massage chair does, with the addition of curated speed variation for massage modes to mimic human hands.
However, that doesn’t mean that you should only buy a massage chair with a 4D roller system in it. It’s the best that money can buy, but modern massage chairs with 3D or even 2D rollers can fulfill your requirements. That is because the technology has been around for so long that brands now understand how to get the most out of the 2D or 3D roller technology in massage chairs.
So, are 4D massage chairs worth it? The answer is very simple as it all boils down to the massage intensity and your budget. It’s worth it if you’re on the lookout for a luxurious massage chair with high intensities and varying massage speeds. But if that’s not what you are looking for, or they are simply too expensive for you, even a 2D massage chair will suffice.
What Is 3D and 4D Massage Chair?
As mentioned before, 3D chair massagers offer three-dimensional massage to create the most realistic massage experience. These chairs can adjust the depth of the rollers forward and backward to increase or decrease the massage intensity. That way, users can create and customize the intensity to their liking. Prominently found in premium massage chairs, 3D massage rollers also enable deep tissue massages in the upper and lower back, as well as the neck area.
As for 4D rollers, these are found in high-end massage chairs and are not all that different from 3D rollers. However, what separates 4D rollers is that the user has far more control over the rhythm and depth of the massage. These premium chairs also offer more adjustment settings for massage as well as the ability to change the roller speed to one’s liking.
The 4D roller system was developed in Japan using an algorithm of thousands of massage therapists, to create massage modes that speed up or slow down to mimic human touch while massaging.
What Is the Difference Between a 2D and a 4D Massage Chair?
As you already know by now, 4D massage chairs are premium, high-end offerings that provide a lot more control over the speed and intensity of the massage. The rollers in this chair can move up and down, side by side, and backward and forward with the addition of adjustable speed.
If you’re looking for a massage chair that can massage at high intensity, 4D massage chairs are a perfect choice. However, if you don't need high-intensity specific massage therapy, 2D massage chairs with their horizontal and vertical movements will serve you equally well.
By now you should be able to tell the difference between 2D, 3D, and 4D massage chairs. If you’re planning to purchase a new massage chair, analyze your needs and requirement. Don’t spend more and buy 3D/4D massage chairs just for the heck of it when you could have been perfectly satisfied with a 2D massage chair.
