Among the most common health issues is lower back pain, with about 80% of adults experiencing it at least once. While it usually goes away after about two to four weeks, it becomes chronic 14% of the time. At that point, it will already be difficult to perform anything physically demanding or even do daily household chores. There are many solutions to this, and among the most popular are massage and pain killer medications.
Introduction
However, which of the two is more effective in treating lower back pain? According to WebMD, massage therapy has proven through multiple studies that it’s more beneficial for this condition. After 10 weeks, 36% and 39% of the 400 research participants reported that their pain was nearly or already gone. Compared to those who take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), only 4% claimed the same.
How Massage Chairs Can Help Reduce Back Pain
However, while massage therapy is more effective, pain medication can save you more money than regularly visiting a licensed therapist. Fortunately, massage chairs can be a great alternative to traditional treatment. It may be expensive at first, but it will surely save you money in the long run. It’s even as effective as masseuses in treating lower back pain, which may keep on persisting, depending on your lifestyle.
It can help improve flexibility and range of motion
Restricted range of motion has many possible causes, as well as effects. One that applies to both is lower back pain. When you’re experiencing body aches, it may be difficult for you to move around. Conversely, if your range of motion is limited, your hamstring muscles become stiffer. This will eventually contribute to or lead to back pains. Fortunately, stretching and gentle massages can help with this problem well.
It can relieve minor to chronic pains
Myofascial trigger points are the knots in your muscles formed because of accumulated tension. When left untreated, this will eventually worsen, resulting in chronic pains, which may interfere with your daily activities. Therefore, while your condition hasn’t reached that point yet, it’s better to have it treated as soon as possible. One of the most effective ways and risk-free ways to do that is by receiving a massage.
However, even if the muscular tension has already developed into chronic pain, massage can still provide treatment. First, it helps relax your soft tissues, reducing nerve compression, spasms, and painful contractions. Besides that, receiving thermotherapy from heating pads can also make a difference. It increases blood flow to the sore, stiff, and painful muscles and joints, providing relief.
It can make you feel less pain
Besides physically reducing tension and aches, massage can also affect how you process the feeling of pain. Whenever you receive this treatment, your brain is triggered to increase the release of opioids, your body’s natural pain killers. In addition, massage also increases your endorphin levels. When that happens, you’ll feel more relaxed and, as a result, temporarily feel less pain.
What makes massage better than medication?
As stated in a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, massage is proven to reduce pain by 50%. This tells that it’s an effective alternative treatment for persistent lower back pain. However, besides delivering better results than pain medication, massage therapy is completely safe. It comes with no risks unless you have a severe chronic condition, and your doctor advises you against it.
3 Massage Chairs for Pain Relief
While any massage chair can technically already help treat lower back pain, some models are more effective for this purpose. It is because their features may be more targeted at pain relief, while others focus on relaxation. The key here is to look for massage chair models that can perform Swedish and deep tissue massage. However, consider other additional functionalities that come with it as well for better results.
Human Touch Super Novo Massage Chair
Original Price: $10,999
Discounted Price: $9,999
Another model that should be considered an option for those with health conditions is the Human Touch Super Novo Massage Chair. It has 38 automatic programs for your different body needs. There’s even a virtual therapist that will tailor the massage according to your physical condition and requirements. It also comes with a zero-gravity mode, dual-lumbar heat, and Bluetooth speakers to add to the experience.
Synca HISHO SL-Track Massage Chair
Original Price: $3,999.99
Discounted Price: $3,499.99
Meanwhile, Synca HISHO SL-Track Massage Chair is ideal for lower back pain because it can reach the deep layers of your tissues.
This makes it more effective in breaking knots in your back muscles. It can perform gentle percussive strokes that are perfect for dealing with tightness and tension as well. Besides that, this massage chair also comes with automatic programs specially set to target stiffness and pain.
Kahuna Exquisite Rhythmic 3D Massage Chair (Hubot HM-078)
Original Price: $8,899.99
Discounted Price: $5,499.99
However, when it comes to automatic programs focused on treating lower back pain, the Kahuna Exquisite Rhythmic 3D Massage Chair (Hubot HM-078) comes on top. In total, it comes preset with 15 massage courses, and the majority of which targets pain relief.
First, it has three stretching programs to help you improve your flexibility and range of motion. It also has two courses for Chiropractic care, which is generally effective for treating backaches.
Besides the ones mentioned, the Kahuna Exquisite Rhythmic 3D Massage Chair (Hubot HM-078) has other massage programs to help with body pains. These are deep tissue, golfer mode, and fast recovery, among many. This massage chair also has heating pads for the upper and lower back and even legs and feet.
In Summary
Which is better in treating low back pains: massage chairs or pain killer medications? As reported in countless studies and proven by many doctors, the former wins.
After all, it can improve flexibility, relieve tension and body aches, and make you feel less pain. The Human Touch Super Novo Massage Chair, Synca HISHO SL-Track Massage Chair, and Kahuna Exquisite Rhythmic 3D Massage Chair (Hubot HM-078) are particularly ideal for this purpose. If you’re interested, visit Massage Chair Heaven or call 1(833)-627-7245.