We all know what a massage chair is. They’re in malls, on TV, your parent’s house, everywhere. They’re expensive, and while it’s comfortable to sit in one, it’s not something that we’d usually buy for ourselves. The underlying belief is that massage parlours are the go-to for a good massage – but how often have you encountered a masseur who didn’t really know what he was doing?
With a massage chair, every session yields the same results, and with the advancements in technology, the experience you’re getting out of a session is becoming extremely close to that of a professional masseur.
Is it possible that a massage chair can actually exceed not just your expectations, but also the skill of actual, human masseurs?
The answer might surprise you.
In this article, we take a look at the considerations that go into selecting a good massage chair, how it can help you to relieve many of your bodily aches, and the massage chair we’ve developed that meets all these criteria.
1. Technology And Innovation
3D and 4D massage technology is not something new to veterans of the industry. For those foreign to this information, 3D massage chairs can move up and down, left and right, and also inwards and outwards, providing a massage experience that’s more intense than usual.
4D massage chairs take it one step further by speeding up and slowing down the rollers, as well as turning and hitting different angles that other rollers can’t. For instance, a 4D massage roller can avoid bruising your spine if you were to sit at a wrong angle, whereas a 3D massager will continue massaging your spine anyway. Many 4D massage chairs also feature an L-track that goes from the thighs to the neck.
With breakthroughs in technology over the last decade, massage chairs now have come as close to 5D as possible – with Artificial Intelligence (A.I). Exceptionally good massage chairs are now equipped with features such as health-scanning functions that can learn about your pain areas, and adapt its massage techniques to address them.
This allows the A.I to update you on information you might not even know, such as blood oxygen levels and sore spots that you were unaware of, or might have felt was too insignificant to tell your masseur. It can also customise a program that helps you to work out muscle knots, tense muscles, and improve blood circulation.
In some ways, high-end massage chairs are better than human masseurs in this regard, as some masseurs cannot identify deep muscle knots that you’re unaware of, or tell your blood oxygen level. They are also unable to track your progress in real-time, give you a massage whenever you want it, or remember your favourite massage sequence as you walk into the room.
2. The Massage Chair’s Inner Mechanisms
There are many different designs of massage chairs in the market these days, each catered to fit a household theme. However, when you’re paying for something as exuberant as a massage chair, it’s vital to pay attention to not just the look, but the function of the product.
One good place to start is by looking at the motor. You want a powerful, yet silent motor which can ensure the rollers have enough force to work the kinks out of your muscles. Brushless motors, such as the ones used in Dyson products, can help you to save energy by ensuring a high torque per watt while still reducing the rate of wear and tear.
Another place to look at is the processor. Processors affect how quickly a computer can perform a task – ensuring minimal lag in between massages. At higher levels, processors are able to read, transmit, and adjust motions instantly, which is necessary when the benchmark is a human masseur.
Astoundingly, at the highest level, certain massage chairs can easily outperform human masseurs in terms of mechanisms, simply because they can do so much more at once. They can process multiple massage functions instantly, giving you a sole and foot massage, massage your back, and engage airbags to compress your neck all at the same time.
3. The Massage Chair’s Tracks and Techniques
Massage Chair Tracks
Many massage chairs in the market use an S-track roller, which runs from the neck to the lower back. The reason why it’s called an S-track is because it follows the S-shaped curvature of the spine. Other common areas that massage chairs tend to cover include the shoulders, the back, and feet.
For a more consolidated experience, you want to look for an L-track massage chair. These massage chairs are an extension of the S-track roller, and go below your lower back and down to your thighs and hamstrings. L-tracks provide the sensation of a full body massage as it continuously moves from the head all the way down to the thighs.
On top of the massage track, it’s also important to consider what other variations and techniques your massage chair is capable of. In order to target all the aches and niggles, you need a chair that is capable of reaching these problem spots – which means having the right programs and techniques.
Techniques
Massage chairs come with preset massage techniques. In the early days, these techniques were simple: a standard up and down roller track that massages your spine. This was useful if you had a very specific ache in your back that you wanted to get rid of, but it wouldn’t be much help anywhere else.
Today, massage chairs feature a larger range of techniques, based on existing massages from around the world. They can perform Swedish massages, Thai massages; you can even customise your very own massage program with advanced chairs. This ensures that you get the most bang for your buck.
4. Usage Frequency Of The Massage Chair
This one is simple. Just like how treatments are only effective after repeated sessions, a massage chair has to be used frequently in order for you to get the most out of it. For that purpose, it makes much more sense to get a good massage chair rather than get a cheaper version that cannot adequately meet your needs.
It also means that you should choose a massage chair that’s durable and has a long warranty, so that if your massage chair requires repairs, you’ll always have the support you need.
Our Recommendation
The cost it takes to build a massage chair that meets all the above criteria means that the end product might be too expensive for many people. That’s a big reason why you don’t see many of such advanced chairs on the market.
At Ogawa, we put our customers first – which is why we created the Master Drive A.I. It is the ultimate massage chair that meets all the above requirements, and much more. Not only does it consist of over 20 different preset massage techniques from all over the world, it also features a powerful A.I that can detect your body’s sore spots and move its rollers to target them.
Truly the ultimate in massage chairs, the Master Drive A.I is our #1 recommended product for anyone who’s looking for the best possible massage experience.
Mother’s Day is coming up soon. If you want to get your mom a gift, click here to check out the 5 Best Ogawa Massagers for Mother’s Day 2021!