Massage chairs

MASSAGE CHAIR – WHO ARE YOU BUYING FOR? WHO WILL USE IT?

You or you and your loved ones are looking for a massage chair for home use.

When buying a chair for yourself, you should first answer whether you want to relax on it, permanently take care of your condition, improve your well-being, or perhaps you have specific issues, problems related to the spine (I don’t mean civilization problems and standard tensions).

In case of major problems, it’s worth consulting a doctor, as despite being a completely safe and certified device, there are contraindications to its use. It’s not a miraculous cure for everything, but it can help, relax, relieve muscle tension, de-stress, positively affect well-being, etc. I think it’s worth it for these aspects.

You should also look for a massage chair that matches your preferences regarding massage strength (pressure). Some chairs are gentler or stronger; some are more relaxing, while others offer more intense massages.

Most massage chairs are stronger than the so-called “oil stroking” massages offered in some hotels. Massage strength can be adjusted in more advanced massage chairs – don’t be misled by intensity, as it is the speed of the massager’s movement. In simpler massage chairs, you can adjust the massage strength by the position of the backrest (lying down, gravity presses the body more against the massager) or by choosing a stronger/milder massage program.

Youth and elderly people should choose gentler massages. People with greater tensions, doing physical work, sitting for long periods, or actively practicing sports will require stronger massages.

It is also necessary to choose a massage chair that fits your height and weight. Standardly, people over 155 cm tall can use a massage chair freely, but at 2 meters tall, you need to look for the largest models. Weight varies, but most of our chairs are factory tested with loads of about 150 kg, which they handle perfectly. Naturally, the higher the weight and height, the larger the chair you should look for.

Standard should also be the ability to scan the spine line and automatically adjust to height and the foot massager’s position. Without this adjustment, the foot massager would limit the ability to stretch your legs (in chairs without foot massage, this problem does not occur). Adjustable arm massagers are also often available.

If you are buying a massage chair as a gift, you should consider the above aspects and apply them to the preferences of the person receiving the gift. If you are buying for the whole family, these aspects need to be applied to all future users… More difficult, but doable – we are here to help.

Once you choose, you’ll need to think about where to place it. Living room, bedroom…

Massage chair for the company chill-out room, hotel? Or maybe for a relaxation salon?

Simpler models are usually chosen. Their advantage is greater hygiene as they don’t massage the feet and can be used without taking off shoes. However, it’s worth considering more advanced chairs, which will make a bigger impression, raise prestige, and create an irresistible desire to return and use the massage again. Considering the privacy of the room and satisfying other senses, such as hearing and smell, will also positively affect the overall project.

THE MOST IMPORTANT IS BACK MASSAGE…

One performed by massaging arms imitating the hands of a masseur, as this is the core function of massage chairs. The appropriate number of massage techniques and the ability to adjust their strength or speed will achieve the most important – soothing back massage tailored to each user’s needs.

Standardly, we deal with a minimum of 5 techniques and several options for adjusting massage width or speed, ensuring a massage at the appropriate level. Massage arms, together with the spine line scanning system, should be standard.

The number of automatic programs is not without significance. These are predefined 15, 20-minute massage cycles, mixing various massage techniques, areas of action, speeds, or widths.

We’ve been using the chair for 6 months. We are very, very satisfied! The wide range of massage programs allows us to customize the massage to the time of day and our condition.

Maria, iRest Brillactiq (A665)

It’s worth paying attention to the range of arm massagers. Standardly, chairs massage with arm massagers from the neck to the lumbar region. More advanced ones have the L-shape function. The massager’s guide is L-shaped, extending the massage range deeper behind the lumbar region – to the buttocks and thighs. The L-shape function development is the SL-shape, where the massaging arms move along the rail in the shape of combined S and L letters, with an additional curve at the upper part, near the chest.

Massaging arms are usually 4 massage balls placed on the head. Stretch out both hands and straighten only the index fingers and thumbs – this is the “greatly simplified” layout of the massaging mechanism. The most popular are 2D systems, which operate in two directions: up-down and sideways.

Again, more advanced massaging mechanisms have a 3D system, which moves in three directions, fitting more precisely to the shape of the spine. Thus, at the height of the lumbar section, the massaging arms extend more to the spine, and in the thoracic section, they “hide” towards the massage chair. This allows a more precise massage, working evenly along the entire spine. Moreover, 3D systems allow adjusting the massage strength mentioned above.

The 4D system is another, even more, advanced technology. Here, during the massage, the massaging arms move at different speeds. To the three directions, an appropriate combination of massager motion acceleration was added. The tempo is the fourth dimension. During the massage in the chosen technique, the massaging arms accelerate and decelerate at specially programmed moments.

The latest and most advanced models of massage chairs can boast 5D technology. This five-dimensional system is based on artificial intelligence. Besides speed, it also adjusts the massage strength in real-time!

MASSAGE PERFORMED BY AIRBAGS

This is a very pleasant supplement to the proper massage performed by massaging arms. Airbags are most often placed at the calves, feet, shoulders, forearms, and in more advanced chairs also at the lumbar area, seat, and thighs. Providing muscle contraction/relaxation, they make the massage more pleasant, simultaneously stimulating circulation, lymph flow, and relieving tension.

LEG AND FOOT MASSAGE IN A MASSAGE CHAIR

Basic models of massage chairs have an airbag massage directed at the calves. Then, with the next chairs, we get a foot massager providing pneumatic massage, pressing the feet against an acupressure insert or another cushion placed under the foot. It is important that the foot massager is extendable, as mentioned earlier, when discussing height.

Another fantastic feature of massage chairs in the foot massage range is massaging rollers. More advanced models have them, and the massage in them is extremely pleasant. You feel like dozens of fingers are massaging your foot from the sole… mmmhhh, very pleasant. In the most advanced models, airbags will also massage the toes, and in the entire leg massager, a magnetic field will operate.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS OF MASSAGE CHAIRS

Each additional function of a massage chair enhances the massage effect and makes it even more comfortable. A very popular feature among massage chairs is the Zero Gravity position. Unlike the simple, lying position, a massage chair with the Zero Gravity function reclines, tilting the entire seat (like on a rocking chair), reducing tension along the spine muscles, making the massage more pleasant and usually more effective.

Other functions you may encounter include Zero Wall, ionized air blowers, Bluetooth music, app control, etc. It’s impossible to list them all, and new features are constantly appearing.

Choosing additional features depends, of course, on you and your needs. Each extra option increases the massage’s effectiveness or simply makes the time spent in the massage chair more enjoyable. The price also goes up… :)

Now let’s move on to the external environment, i.e., what you will encounter when looking at the massage chair market. These may seem obvious and simple issues, but we don’t always pay attention to them.

MAKE SURE IT’S ACTUALLY A MASSAGE CHAIR

Look around carefully, read or ask if the offered chair has massaging arms imitating the movements of a masseur’s hands. Sometimes massage mats

IT’S ALSO WORTH KNOWING WHERE MASSAGE CHAIRS ARE MANUFACTURED

As you probably know, Asia is the cradle of massage, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the vast majority of massage chair production takes place there. China leads, but Japan and Taiwan are not lagging behind. Testing professional massage chairs from Japan and looking inside them, you can’t help but wonder how it’s possible to make the product so refined. Interestingly, Japanese massage chair models can be included in wills! Currently, most European brands also rely on commissioning production mainly in China. This may indicate that an appropriate investment of funds and thorough production process control can result in a top-quality product. After all, the biggest companies like Apple, Samsung, or Mercedes commission production there.

On our continent, there is currently only one massage chair production center in a province located in Alicante, Spain. In the KEYTON brand chairs, design plays a significant role. The quality of finishing materials and the ability to almost freely choose materials and shape sets a high bar for the entire global competition. More details about the production of massage chairs can be found in the article on our blog.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHO YOU BUY THE MASSAGE CHAIR FROM

When choosing a seller whose offer you will use, remember that the overall picture matters, but even small elements should catch your attention. Looking for offers online, you will come across many different sellers. Before you decide to buy, contact them, ask questions, and see if the seller can reliably advise you on which massage chair to choose. Check how long they have been in business, whether they know their products, whether they know the offer… or if the first thing they told you was the discount you would get…

It’s worth choosing a company specializing in selling professional massage chairs, offering the best brands and selected models, where employees are experts in their field, knowing the product down to the smallest element, knowing what they are selling, able to advise, and providing the highest quality service. Unfortunately, you can find so-called garage companies on the market, with a short track record and limited knowledge. But, is an enticingly low price and an unknown-origin chair worth your risk?

BEWARE OF PROMOTIONS AND DISCOUNTS

Think about what promotions and price reductions for massage chairs at an outrageous level might indicate, especially when they originally had significantly inflated catalog prices. Is the company disappearing from the market, clearing out old stock, trying to divert your attention from the product, or using not entirely fair practices?

When choosing a massage chair, it’s worth focusing primarily on matching the product to your personal needs and expectations. Instead of focusing on the highest discounts, pay attention to massage chair promotions that are adequate to the quality of devices offered by the seller. Choosing a massage chair on sale, you need to be sure that you will get a product that is not only available at a favorable, fair price but also meets the highest standards of operation and craftsmanship. After all, this has been your goal from the start, right?

CHECK THE SERVICE AND WARRANTY CONDITIONS

Carefully check what the service conditions are for the equipment you intend to buy. In most cases, to service the device, you have to take care of sending the damaged item for repair yourself. Some companies, like ours, have their own service that comes to the client and repairs the equipment on-site, so the owner doesn’t have to worry about contacting the manufacturer directly.

WHAT PRICE WILL YOU PAY FOR A MASSAGE CHAIR?

And here we have the crux of the matter… :) Now you need to match expectations and desires with financial capabilities. You will have to decide if it’s worth it and if it pays off.

The prices of massage chairs are influenced by several factors. Obviously, the more functions a chair has, the more innovative these functions are, and the more advanced the chair is, the higher the price. At the same time, the price of the chair depends on the place of production and the quality of craftsmanship. It will not be a revelation if I say that the cheapest will be those produced in China or Taiwan. Next in line are chairs from Spain, and the most expensive massage chairs are produced in Japan.

Three classes of massage chairs can be distinguished.

Economy class – massage chairs priced from around € 1000 to € 3500, usually with essential functions. Providing a relaxing back and mostly calf massage. The great advantage of chairs in this class is their small size, compactness.

Mid-range class – The price climbs above € 3500 and along with it comes a wealth of functionalities and features. In this category, massage chairs have already taken on more designer shapes and are gaining innovative features such as Zero Wall, mechanical calf massage, complete set of airbags or magnetotherapy. In this price range, chairs are available with and without a foot massager.

High-end class – chairs with a high price threshold, refined to perfection, of the highest craftsmanship quality, with surgically precise massage and innovative massage techniques. Here we enter the world of the most advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence. The price of those chairs rises above € 5,000.

In the above article, I have gathered the most important issues, significantly exhausting the topic of buying a massage chair. I hope it makes your choice easier. If you have questions, doubts, or only now have a problem with the choice ;-) we are at your disposal – contact us.