Reduced pain. Regular use of a massage chair can help decrease pain in many areas of the body. One where massage is especially effective is the lower back. As muscles that have become overly tight for any number of reasons begin to relax, lower back pain tends to decrease. In fact, for many people, massage may be more effective in reducing lower back pain than measures like acupuncture or medication. While you need to follow your doctor’s orders, of course, massage chair sessions may be a valuable addition to your treatment plan.

Fewer headaches. Headaches in general and migraines in particular can have a muscle tension component. By reducing or eliminating that muscle tension, the best massage chairs may help to decrease the frequency and intensity of headaches.

Faster workout recovery. When you exercise vigorously, your muscles produce lactic acid. This workout byproduct contributes to muscle fatigue and soreness. Gradually, your body processes lactic acid and removes it from your muscles. As athletic trainers and athletes alike will attest, regular use of an advanced massage chair can assist your body in eliminating lactic acid and help you recover from workouts more fully and more quickly.

Lower blood pressure and heart rate. The stress of our hectic schedules often manifests as muscle tension in many areas of the body, most notably the neck and shoulders. That tension can then amplify the response of what is called the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), elevating your blood pressure and your heart rate. High blood pressure (also referred to as hypertension) increases the risk of many conditions including heart disease, stroke, and damage to organs like the kidneys. Massage produces a very helpful and healthy counterpoint to daily stress. It triggers your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which exists to moderate the effects of the SNS. In other words, the best massage chairs help bring your body back into balance and contribute to healthier blood pressure and heart rate levels.

Improved immune system function. When your body is stressed, your immune system may be suppressed, making you more vulnerable to disease. By helping you relax, massage empowers your immune system to work more effectively. So while massage itself doesn’t prevent illness, it can help create the conditions in which your body can better defend itself.

Lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone known for stoking the body’s “fight or flight” response to crisis. While it plays a necessary and important in some situations, continually elevated levels of cortisol can cause a number of problems in the body. Massage can help lower cortisol levels and decrease the body’s “stress response.”