As a bodily therapist, one of the widespread physique aches I see in folks of all ages is neck and shoulder ache. In case your neck and shoulders are tight, a pillow massager will help you discover quick reduction at house. Maintain studying for the whole lot it’s worthwhile to find out about shopping for a pillow massager!
Advantages of a Pillow Massager
Neck and shoulder ache usually stem from tight muscle mass and poor posture. The physique thrives in a wide range of actions, however muscle mass tense up once they’re held in a single place for too lengthy, such because the hunched-forward posture we simply don when driving, typing at a pc, or watching a mobile phone.
Though I all the time advocate PT workouts and stretches to repair poor posture, a pleasant therapeutic massage will help ease tense muscle mass and relieve quick ache. Therapeutic massage remedy works by breaking apart knots, or tight bands of muscle tissue, and permitting the muscle to elongate and calm down.
However therapeutic massage remedy can get costly. One approach to do-it-yourself is through the use of a therapeutic massage gun, a handheld machine that delivers pinpointed, deep-tissue percussion on the set off of a finger. The draw back to therapeutic massage weapons is that they require lively use—and chances are you’ll discover it’s laborious to calm down when you need to maintain the unit in place. A massager pillow, however, allows you to sidestep the stickup and fully calm down.
Plus, massager pillows are simple to make use of, compact, and downright comfy—it’s a pillow, in any case. You may simply place it to hit any spot in your again that’s supplying you with hassle, whether or not that’s your neck, low again, quads, or lats (most likely not your toes—save that for a pleasant foot massager!). Merely prop the pillow in your sofa or chair, lean again, and let the magic occur.
Forms of Pillow Massagers
Pillow massagers are available all shapes and kinds. In truth, you’ll discover three broad varieties of pillow massagers populating the market in the present day:
- Shiatsu massagers
- Vibrating massagers
- Heated massagers
Which type is greatest? That’s a matter of choice. Let’s take a better take a look at what every sort of pillow has to supply.
Shiatsu: The time period “shiatsu” interprets to “finger strain” in Japanese. This type of therapeutic massage makes use of a kneading movement and agency strain to interrupt up knotted muscle tissue. A shiatsu machine sometimes delivers this type of therapeutic massage in a round movement utilizing distinct, knobby nodes. Shiatsu can really feel intense—even painful—on tender areas, whereas in some circumstances something gentler wouldn’t do the job. So in case you have notably powerful, stiff knots in your higher again, shiatsu could also be a superb possibility.
Vibration: A vibrating massager is extra self-explanatory. As a substitute of some giant nodes, it sometimes options a number of smaller nodules that vibrate to softly stimulate your muscle mass and promote blood circulation. For those who discover your muscle mass tense up underneath shiatsu therapeutic massage, a vibration massager would be the more sensible choice.
Warmth: A heated pillow massager usually makes use of one or each of the above therapeutic massage strategies, with the added characteristic of thermotherapy or warmth remedy. Warmth is a vasodilator, which suggests it widens blood vessels and will increase blood movement, naturally relieving ache. For those who expertise arthritis ache or joint stiffness together with muscle aches, then search for a massager with a warmth possibility.
In sum:
- Shiatsu: greatest for concentrating on powerful knots and huge muscle teams
- Vibration: greatest for normal leisure or a gentler contact
- Warmth: greatest for selling blood movement
The next 4 pillow massagers mix points of all three of those therapeutic features!
Prime Pillow Massagers
iReliev Relaxable Pillow Massager
In contrast to most of its rivals, this pillow massager from iReliev really appears like a pillow! Accessible in 5 colours—together with real leather-based—its discrete type can match any decor. It could be the priciest massager on this listing, nevertheless it’s the one one which’s cordless.
- Two-way kneading massagers
- Infrared ceramic bulbs for warmth
- 10-min auto shutoff
- Rechargeable battery (cordless)
- 2-year guarantee
- On sale for $90 from iReliev
Zyllion Shiatsu Again and Neck Massager
This highly effective machine from Zyllion delivers a shiatsu therapeutic massage sturdy sufficient to soften away your hardest knots. Considerate equipment embrace a sleeve for modifying the depth of the rollers and velcro straps for securing the massager to the again of your chair.
- Two-way kneading therapeutic massage that reverses every minute
- Non-obligatory warmth setting
- 20-min auto shutoff
- Consists of 6-ft wire, sleeve, straps, wall charger and automotive adapter
- 2-yr guarantee
- On sale for $60 on Amazon
Papillon Again Massager with Warmth
The form is within the identify: “papillon” is French for butterfly, and this ergonomic machine guarantees to maintain you lithe and limber whether or not you’re at house or on the highway, due to the included automotive charger.
- Two-way shiatsu that routinely adjustments course
- 3 therapeutic massage speeds
- 2 warmth settings
- 15-min auto shutoff and overheat safety
- Consists of 7-ft wire, wall adapter, and automotive charger
- On sale for $40 on Amazon
Homedics Again and Neck Pillow Massager
For those who’re new to pillow massagers, this inexpensive possibility from Homedics is a good place to start out. It presents kneading, vibration, and warmth—the whole lot you’d need from a again therapeutic massage, whether or not light or sturdy.
- Two-way kneading shiatsu therapeutic massage
- Consists of vibration and warmth settings
- 15-min auto shutoff
- Consists of 6-ft wire and wall charger
- 2-yr restricted guarantee
- On sale for $50 on Amazon
Professionals and Cons of Pillow Massager
Pillow massagers are handy and inexpensive, however they aren’t the panacea to power ache. Contemplate the next execs and cons of pillow massagers:
Professionals:
- Can relieve stress and stress within the neck, shoulders, and again
- Improves blood circulation
- Delivers a soothing and enjoyable sensation
- Travels nicely
- Accommodates use at house or at work
Cons:
- Could not deal with deep-tissue ache
- Will be noisy
- Can really feel too intense or uncomfortable on tender areas
- Is probably not as efficient as guide therapeutic massage
Finest Pillow Massager for Neck and Shoulder: Abstract
Though it’s no silver bullet, a pillow massager is an effective house treatment for muscle stress within the neck and shoulders. It may’t change the advantages you’d get from treating the foundation of your drawback—corresponding to muscle weak spot and poor posture—however it will probably actually aid you discover reduction at house within the meantime.