Best Massage Chair for Joints in 2020 Complete Reviews with Comparisons

If you’ve ever had a massage, you know it can do wonders for your health and your well-being. But how often do you actually get to have one?

If you’re like most people, not very often.

Instead, you can opt for the next best thing: a massage chair. With a massage chair, you can experience all the benefits of a massage whenever you need it.

This guide will help you pick out the best massage chair for joints of 2020 with a full review of all the best options at your disposal.

Best Massage Chair for Joints Reviews

RELAXONCHAIR [MK-II Plus] Full Body

Product Highlights

One of the features that immediately stands out about the RELAXONCHAIR is its L-track massage system. This new technology isn’t present in too many chairs.

Essentially, it means that the rollers follow the shape of your back and continue down to and across the buttocks.

It also has a decent array of preset massage programs. The four fully automatic programs are designed to mimic the movements and pressure of a professional massage therapist.

Plus, you can also manually target specific areas. There are built-in sensors that detect and estimate the length of your spine to customize the massage.

It features airbags on the calves as well as the arms, shoulders, and lower back. This allows the chair to target each area with a customized degree of pressure.

Additionally, this is a zero-gravity chair, so you’ll be able to recline in a fully prone position, elevating your feet and legs to minimize strain on the spine while you enjoy a massage.

It even has foot rollers under the soles. And there are two heating pads in the lumbar area to help deeply relax your back muscles.

The Good

The L-track feature on this chair is one of its biggest selling points. It’s a godsend for people who suffer from aching or tight gluteus muscles and it really contributes to the full-body massage experience. It also has more airbags than you’d expect at this price point.

Typically, chairs in this range have airbags only on the legs and calf areas.

The Bad

There are few things to complain about with this chair but one is that the rollers are a little tougher than they could be. This isn’t a complete deal-breaker, but if you have overly sensitive tissues, they’ll take a little getting used to.

Also, it could stand to have a few more heating pads, not just two in the lumbar area.

Pros

• Excellent zero-gravity feature
• L-track massage system
• Deep tissue massage programs
• Well-designed automatic massage programs

Cons

• Tough rollers
• Fewer heating pads than some competitors

Zero Gravity Full-Body Kahuna Massage Chair

Product Highlights

The features that set this chair apart are the 21 separate airbags it has distributed across its surface.

Rather than rely on only one airbag per body part, the Zero Gravity chair uses several airbags for the calves, soles of the feet, buttocks, and arms to provide a more evenly distributed pressure. It also has two heating pads in the lumbar area, complemented by two more in the foot area.

The control panel is attached to the chair on a swing arm and it features an LC display. It has a total of nine preprogrammed massage modes that will cater to the majority of users but it can also be customized. The massages include special stretching programs for the entire body.

The rollers are on a hybrid SL track that traces the shape of your back and extends into the buttocks somewhat. It also has full zero-gravity functionality and features body scan technology that helps the massage programs conform to your needs. The chair accommodates users up to 6’3″ tall and up to 260 lbs.

The Good

The 21 airbags are the biggest breakout feature for this chair. It puts those airbags to good use by combining pinpoint pressure with heat therapy to relax muscles and help joints recover faster from strain. Also, the heating pads on the soles are a nice touch.

The Bad

Although it won’t take too long to get used to it, the control panel is a little intimidating at first. And while the airbags are a net positive, they’re quite noisy while they’re operating, producing loud hissing sounds.

Pros

• 21 separate airbags distribute pressure evenly
• SL hybrid track covers the entire back
• Heating pads on the bottoms of feet
• Smart body scan technology customized massage program to your body

Cons

The manual is not quite thorough

Snailax Shiatsu Neck & Back Massager

Product Highlights

The Snailax massager features four neck massage modes that provide a deep tissue massage in the neck and shoulder area. Unlike similar models, the height of these nodes can be adjusted on the Snailax massager to fit your body type.

Plus, they have an optional heating function that helps to soothe muscles and increase circulation.

The lumbar portion of the massager has four more nodes that follow a track covering your entire back.

These nodes cover three massage zones and they have a spot-massage function that can target a specific area of the back. These nodes also have an optional heat function and the back also has a detachable intensity control flap if you want a firmer massage.

As a massager pad, the Snailax is extremely easy-to-use. You don’t need to go through a lengthy installation process.

You can simply place the massager on a compatible chair and plug it into a power source with the included adapter. It can be used on any seating surface, such as a couch, a dining chair, or even a bench.

The Good

The biggest advantage this massager presents is its versatility. Being able to use this on any chair is excellent since many people don’t have the space in their home to accommodate a full massage chair. It’s also surprisingly effective.

The adjustable rolling massage feature isn’t quite as good as what you’d get out of a professional massage chair, but it comes pretty close.

The Bad

Versatility comes at a cost. Since this isn’t a full chair but only a massage pad, you’ll be missing out on a lot of features that you’d get from a chair, namely, there are no massage features for the legs, nor are the legs supported in any way.

Moreover, there are no airbags or targeted stretch massage functions. And there are neither massage functions nor heating for the buttocks and thigh areas.

Pros

• Extremely convenient since it installs on any compatible chair
• The spot-massage feature focuses on specific trouble spots effectively
• Heating pads in the back and neck areas are effective and pleasant
• Has a detachable intensity-control flap to control massage firmness

Cons

• No massage functions beyond the back and neck areas
• Dimensions aren’t made to accommodate someone with a small frame

Real Relax 2020 Massage Chair, Full Body Zero Gravity Shiatsu Recliner

Product Highlights

The 2020 version of the Real Relax improves on the previous model in several ways. It features extremely plush and soft pillowing throughout that exceeds most other chairs in this class. The material is moisture-proof and breathable as well. The high-density foam contours to your body well and feels super comfortable.

It has heating pads around the lower lumbar area that don’t really extend into the upper back.

However, it does have heating pads for the soles of your feet. There are airbags throughout that contribute to the massage functions, including airbags for the soles as well.

The rollers are fixed so they don’t move around as much as other models. It does, however, feature three sets of four rollers each which is a sharp departure from many other models.

Additionally, it has an extendable footrest that can adjust to perfectly fit users in a broad height range. And, it has a one-button zero-gravity mode that evenly supports your entire body to help decompress and relax the spine.

The Good

The extra rollers on this chair are its biggest claim to fame. Unlike most other chairs, this one features separate roller mounts that move independently of each other.

These rollers create a much more full and supportive massage feeling across the entire back rather than feeling like individual points are tracing up and down. It also links the position of the armrests with the position of the back. So when you adjust one, the other adjusts accordingly to keep up.

The Bad

A body scan feature is more or less expected from models in this class, but this chair doesn’t have one. You’ll have to do a little more adjusting on your own to compensate. And while a nice addition, the foot massage is a little firmer than it needs to be and can’t be toned down.

Pros

• One-button zero-gravity design
• Good distribution of rollers
• Simple-to-use and intuitive controls
• Adjustable footrest length

Cons

• Fixed rollers
• No custom massage programming

HoMedics Easy Lounge Shiatsu Massage Chair

Product Highlights

HoMedics’s full body massage chair is on the pricier side of the spectrum but it has the features to back that up. The roller track features a total of eight rollers that cover the entire length of your back and neck. It has an automatic body scan system that adjusts the rollers to adapt to your body shape.

It has only 14 airbags, but claims to increase the total surface area that those bags cover as compared to other models with more individual bags.

The heat therapy covers only the lower lumbar region, but it’s both efficient and fine-tunable. In addition to the airbags, it has acupuncture-inspired foot rollers at the bottom of each footrest that couple with the airbags on the calves to produce a relaxing foot massage.

Four preprogrammed massage modes are set on 30-minute timers. You can also precisely customize the type, intensity, location, and speed of the massages.

The Good

This chair screams luxury in every sense. It has thick, weighty walls on each side, it’s bulky, and doesn’t hold back on the comfort. You’ll feel completely encased in the OOTORI and it’s the perfect chair for naps and deep relaxation.

The Bluetooth connectivity is a nice added bonus as it allows you to listen to your favorite music or podcasts while enjoying a massage as well. And they’ve spared no expense when it comes to strength and quality.

The Bad

One of the drawbacks of this chair is how bulky it is. Unless you have a lot of space, it’s going to feel a little cramped.

You’ll also need a good 24+ inches of clearance to allow it to fully recline. There’s also a little bit of assembly required when you get it delivered. Nothing major, but you will need to spend about 30 minutes just setting it up.

Pros

• Plush, luxurious design and style
• Fairly quiet compared to other models in this class
• The zero-gravity function is among the best designed

Cons

• Needs a lot of space
• Arms sometimes slip out of the massage pockets

Buyer’s Guide

To get the right massage chair for you, it’s helpful to become familiar with a few of the features you should expect. Even if you’ve experienced massage chairs in the past, you may not be aware of what exactly it is you loved so much about the one you used.

You can go out and buy a high-end massage chair with all the best features, but you’ll end up paying for a lot of stuff you never use.

Instead, use this guide to figure out exactly what you want. Then, you can look for a chair that has your desired features without going overboard with superfluous attributes.

Massage Track

The first thing you want to look at is a chair’s massage track.

The industry standard currently is the S-track. In other words, the massage rollers follow an “S” shape to conform to the rough outline of your back. That way, you avoid getting extreme pressure on your mid-back and light pressure on your low back and neck.

The next step up from that is the hybrid track or S/L track. This roller track follows the shape of your back, but continues down to include your gluteus muscles and parts of the thigh. The S/L track is featured mostly on high-end chairs.

The flip side is the fixed rollers. These don’t move up and down and chairs with fixed rollers are generally considered inferior. However, a few models of chair incorporate enough rollers in the right places to make up for the fact that they’re stationary.

Roller Adjustment

The next feature you’ll look at is the adjustment technology the chair uses.

In some low-end chairs, the rollers are fitted where they are and you don’t get to adjust them very much at all. Try to avoid these.

Manual adjustment should be considered a bare minimum if you want a real massage experience. If you can’t adjust the rollers, it’s not reasonable to expect them to truly conform to your body.

Ideally, you’ll find a chair that has automatic adjustment technology. With automatic adjustment, the chair can analyze your body shape and length and decide what the best distribution is for you.

The more versatile the rollers are, the more massage options you’ll have. Cutting-edge roller technology can handle shiatsu massage as well as kneading, tapping, and knocking massages.

Air Massage

Another crucial feature is the airbag distribution.

Now, as a general rule, more airbags are better. But that doesn’t always hold true.

Newer airbags are much more efficient and able to cover more surface area with fewer individual bags. You don’t want to go below a certain threshold, but don’t let a lack of airbags be the thing that dissuades you from buying an otherwise perfect chair.

Therapeutics

You should expect your massage chair to provide a certain level of massage. In fact, some features contribute significantly to the quality of massage you’ll receive.

Zero-gravity seating is all but ubiquitous. If you see a chair without zero-g functionality, chances are it’s either an old model or a very low-end option. You don’t need dozens of positions for this, but three is a reasonable number to expect.

Deep tissue functionality is also a nice addition. Not too many chairs these days have this but it refers to the ability of rollers to tilt, shift, yaw, and pitch to truly provide a massage, rather than just rub your body.

If you have specific needs or you’re tight in specific areas, you’ll want to look for chairs that have adjustable zone massages. This functionality can direct rollers to apply more or less pressure in certain areas and allows you to personalize your massage programs to suit your needs.

Heat is pretty common. The more heating points, the better but the bare minimum should be heat in the low-back region. Another popular location for heating pads is on the bottom of footrests and around the calves.

Body Stretch

If you can get a chair with body-stretch functionality, it’s almost always a good thing.

These chairs can slowly and gently extend to help decompress your spine and provide immediate relief for many symptoms.

Chairs with waist twist and hip swing also fall into this category, but you’ll have a difficult time finding a chair that can do everything. Body stretch is a good goal with the rest being nice added benefits.

Ancillary Features

And, lastly, look for added bonuses that appeal to you.

Space-saving chairs are excellent if you’re short on space. These models reduce the amount of space you need to recline significantly and are great for small apartments.

Very tall or very short users should look into chairs with adjustable footrests. If you’re too tall or short for a chair, you’ll never be able to get a relaxing massage.

A decent selection of models offers Bluetooth speaker functionality. You can link up the chair’s speakers to your mobile device to play music while you relax. Some also have USB ports and other connectivity options as well.

Also, a small number of models have chromotherapy features. This option involves using soft LED lights to create a synchronized glow. This purportedly helps some users to relax so it’s a feature worth exploring.

FAQs

Why do Massage Chairs Have Airbags?

Most massage chairs today feature at least a few air bladders distributed across their surface.

The main reason these airbags are used is because they can perfectly adapt to a person’s unique physiology. If the chairs were to use rollers to massage the parts of the body targeted by airbags, they would be far too large and power-hungry.

How Often Should I Use a Massage Chair?

In general, massage chairs are safe to use fairly frequently. If you’re using it to relieve back, shoulder, or neck pain, use your massage chair two to three times a week in sessions of 15-30 minutes.

Can Massage Chairs Hurt Me?

Broadly speaking, no. Massage chairs are almost entirely safe. The only exception to this is for people who have open wounds, severe circulatory conditions, or rare disorders such as brittle bone disease.

Are Massage Chairs Good for You?

Yes, massage chairs have a variety of immediately positive effects. Besides the relaxation they induce from the outset, massage chairs can also help with joint pain, muscle soreness, and muscle tightness.

They can also be beneficial for people who are trying to improve their posture by reducing the pressure on the spine and contributing to better alignment.

Final Verdict

Those are the choices for the best massage chair for joints of 2020.

If you’re looking for the best of the best, go for the RELAXONCHAIR [MK-II Plus] Full Body Zero Gravity Shiatsu Massage Chair. It has the perfect blend of luxury and features to suit most users.

But if you want to get a decent massage without a major investment, the Snailax Shiatsu Neck & Back Massager might be the right fit for you.