Is there such a thing as too much massage? When it comes to using your massage chair, there is. When you go over 20 minutes, you risk aggravating your muscle aches and pains.
Your Massage Chair Isn’t a Toy
So you just bought your very first massage chair. What else is there to do but test it out, right? As adults, it’s often these types of purchases that bring us the little joys in life. Like a kid with a shiny new toy, it’s exciting to test out your shiny new massage chair.
As a first-time owner of one, however, it’s important to know the proper ways to use your massager. It’s tempting to recline on it all day and enjoy the feeling of being massaged. But just like medicine, a massage chair can only help you up to a certain degree. Going over the prescribed limit will likely do more harm than good.
The Right Frequency of Using Your Massage Chair
Experts suggest that the maximum time you can spend on a massage chair is 20 minutes, but 15 minutes is optimal. This might seem too short, especially when you think about the hour-long massages you can get at a spa.
The difference, though, is that you don’t go to a spa to get a massage every day. But if you use your massage chair for an hour every day, you can bruise your muscles.
Luckily, some massage chairs have massage programs that come with a timer to ensure you get the massage you need but not overdo it. OSIM UK’s uLove 2 special edition massage chair, for example, has massage programs that deliver targeted body relief and stops at a pre-programmed time.
But even if your massage chair isn’t as advanced, you can always set a timer or alarm on your phone so you’ll know when to stop.
In addition to the daily time limits, it’s also a good idea not to use your massage chair every day. If you’re experiencing pain in your lower back, shoulders or neck, you can use your massage chair three to four times a week. This is enough to let you enjoy the maximum benefits of the massage.
If you’re only using the massager for stress relief and relaxation, a couple of times a week would suffice.
How Do You Know You’re Overusing Your Massage Chair?
Despite these guidelines, it can still be tempting to just pass the hour seated on your massage chair. And while a few instances of this wouldn’t result in anything serious, spending extensive amounts of time for consecutive days on you massage chair can lead to complications.
These complications include:
- Bruised muscles
Your muscles can only take too much stimulation before they become too sensitive. And with constant massage, your muscles can become overstimulated and bruised.
- Aggravation of older injuries
Too much massage can make your muscles tender. When this happens, instead of soothing your aches and pains, the massage may exacerbate the pain instead.
- Inflammation
Constant stimulation can result in inflammation. When a tender part of your body undergoes one massage too many, the excessive pressure causes that part to become inflamed.
- Redness
While redness isn’t particularly alarming, it’s a sign that that part of your body has been overstimulated and is tender.
Benefits of Getting a Massage Chair
With the importance of caution and moderation emphasized above, you will hopefully be a more responsible massage chair owner. And it’s fun to be one! Having a massage chair presents plenty of benefits, including:
- Instant relaxation
- Instant soothing of sore muscles
- Improved blood circulation
- Better quality of sleep
Get Your Own Massage Chair
For over 40 years, OSIM UK has been innovating different products to create ones that make people’s lives better and healthier. Among these products are our massage chairs. Get yours today from OSIM UK.
