The Best Massage Cushions

In-home massage therapy has become possible with the development of portable tools that are capable of manipulating soft tissues to relieve minor pain and stress for better health. While there is still no substitute for the therapy provided by trained and licensed massage therapists, health-related gadgets, such as massage cushions, can help manage symptoms and discomfort at home or even in your workplace.

How Massage Therapy Evolved through Time

Evidence from tomb paintings, ancient books and other anthropological materials indicate that massage therapy has been in use for thousands of years dating back to the ancient India, Egypt and China. Egyptians were credited for pioneering reflexology while the Hindi practice of Ayurvedic medicine incorporated the art of the healing touch. However, the Chinese are credited for the first tome on internal medicine, which served as the basis for teaching alternative healing practices.
The movements associated with Swedish massage are credited to Per Henri Ling and Johan Mezger in the 1800s. This is the style most commonly associated with western massage therapy although shiatsu, a type of finger method massage that originated from Japan and China, has become equally popular. Swedish massage focuses on stroking the muscles, connective tissues and joints while shiatsu massage centers on the pressure points that guide the practice of Chinese acupuncture.

Benefits of Using Massage Cushions

Massage therapy has proven beneficial for many people who suffer from some form of chronic or acute muscle pain. It is also a widely accepted strategy for relieving stress and tension as part of a healthy lifestyle. However, not everyone has a lot of time for appointments with a massage therapist. In some cases, the recommended level of care to truly benefit from this therapy requires daily or twice daily sessions, which may be difficult to comply with given patients’ busy schedules. In other cases, patients needing muscle manipulation may not be comfortable with massage therapy techniques involving a therapist. Massage cushions and related gadgets were developed for just these purposes.

Healthy individuals benefit from portable massage therapy sessions as well. This therapy improves circulation and relieves muscles that are strained from overuse or misuse. By having a gadget that can be used at work, at home and even while traveling, you have the option of getting a massage when and wherever you have the need or find the opportunity. A short session with your massage cushion can help your body relax, making it easier to fall asleep sooner.

Some massage cushions feature heated pads and varying levels of intensity. Heat helps to relieve pain and improves circulation to support faster healing. Heated massage cushions can relieve short-term stiffness to regain or improve your flexibility. As a bonus, a heated massage cushion for your car can provide additional comfort when you have to do a lot of driving during the colder months.

Types of Massage Cushions Based on Configurations

Seat and Back Massage Cushion

This type of massage pad comes with a full seat that is outfitted with the massaging parts to treat your lower back and thighs. A full upper back cushion with the required gadgetry is attached to the seat pad. The back portion, which may or may not be detachable from the seat, is designed to give a full upper back massage. In some massage therapy models, the back can be extended to provide massaging action for the shoulders and the nape.

Seat Cushion

A massage cushion shaped like a seat comes with the usual massaging gadgetry, and usually comes with an option to heat the cushion. This massage pad is useful for people who have to stay seated for long periods and for long-distance drivers.

Back Cushion

The back-only cushion massager is typically referred to as a shiatsu back massager. It is designed with a set of deep-kneading nodes, sometimes as many as four to eight, to mimic the movements of a therapist’s fingers. Users have the option to increase or decrease the speed and depth of movement. The cushion is equipped with a heating element to help relieve muscle tension. These cushions are ergonomically designed to tuck neatly into the contours of your back so that you can move it up or down to target the specific muscle group that needs massage therapy. Some designs may also be used on the lower back and under the calves area. Velcro or elastic straps are provided to hold the cushion in place.

Neck Massager

The neck area is hard to reach because the contours do not sit flat on a horizontal surface unlike the shoulders or the hips. Some massage cushions are designed specifically for the neck region. These massage cushions resemble an inflated collar or a blow-up scarf. The idea is to have the massaging cushion sit snugly against your nape for your tissues to get the most out of your massage therapy session.

Bonus Features to Look For

Shiatsu massaging nodes serve as the foundation of most massaging cushions. However, the number and size of the nodes, the spacing between nodes and the pre-programmed movement patterns affect the effectiveness of the massage cushion. Look for an electric-powered cushion that provides low, medium and high levels of compression when air massaging the lumbar region. For back cushions, make sure that you have the option for a full back massage as well as a lower back only or upper back only massage. The speed setting should provide for at least two speeds: low and high although having a medium speed setting may be useful.
Massage cushions will have a remote control device attached to the seat portion. Programmable remotes can be customized to your preferred settings, but most digital remotes are easy to handle and change settings during your treatment sessions.
Some models of seat-and-back cushions are adjustable especially if a headrest is part of the contraction. This feature may be useful if you are exceptionally tall or short so that the massaging nodes and heated pads will reach the target tissues. Not everyone wants or needs a shiatsu massage, so you should consider a massaging cushion that offers a vibrate mode, a setting that works exceptionally well with the heat setting on. The heat setting should also have variable options: low, medium and high heat. An automatic shut-off feature, at least for the heat setting, is recommended in case you fall asleep while using your massage cushion.

Materials used for massage cushions may be a combination of high-grade, heat-resistant polyester and a ventilated mesh material. The material should be durable, resistant to tearing and fraying as well as easy to clean. If you intend to use the massage cushion in the car, make sure that a DC adapter is provided so that you can easily plug the cushion to a power source.

Why a Massage Cushion is Better than a Massage Chair

A massage cushion is handy to have around. It is easier to move than a massage chair, and you have the option of using any chair in your home or workplace as a massage chair if you have your cushion with you. Massage cushions may be provided with Velcro or elastic straps to secure the pad to the back of a suitable chair so that you can easily adjust and re-position as needed.
A massage cushion can have all the features of a massage chair except for lower leg and feet areas. However, if you opt for a massaging pad with detachable parts, you may be able to reconfigure your pad to allow for massaging your calves and heels. Read the product information closely to make sure that you are choosing a massaging cushion and not just a vibrating one. Look for one that will let you do spot massages instead of a full-body massage all the time.
The outcome of your massage treatment will depend on whether you chose the right massage cushion or not. Traditional retailers usually provide a floor model that you can use to test the features. Prices vary broadly because of differences in the design and extra features, but check the price and availability of your preferred massage cushion model at online retailer websites.

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This page about Massage Cushion was composed by V. Tobies and published by Alternative.me.
It was last updated on 2024-04-18 08:16:11 and has been viewed 2014 times.