MASSAGER BUYING GUIDE

Massagers come in all shapes and sizes, with many focusing on a particular body part. Certain areas of the body are often more tense than others due to working on computers, lifting heavy items, driving long distances or extended periods of walking and standing. The five main massagers focus on the following areas; feet, leg, neck, shoulder and back. There are also numerous handheld devices that offer a whole-body massage experience.

The following are some popular types of Massagers:

Handheld Massager

With a handheld massager you can ensure that you are reaching the exact area of your body for targeted pain relief. Handheld massagers come in a range of sizes and have convenient handles to make sure your massage experience is relaxing.

Massage Gun

A Massage Gun can offer a deeper massage via intensity settings to create an at home deep tissue massage for any area needed. Massage guns come with multiple different head options so that you can direct the massage exactly where it needs to go. Current massage guns on the market are battery powered so you don’t have to worry about cables and offer an ergonomically designed handle for comfort when holding and operating.

Massage Chair

Massage chairs are super convenient if you’re looking to have a close to full body massage, as they can target the shoulder, back and legs all at once, however, if space is one of your concerns, massage chairs are also sold as cushions or covers which can be placed over a standard chair to give you a massage experience at home. Massage chairs also have heat option features which can be super helpful in further relieving any muscle tension in your shoulders, back or legs.

Foot Massager

Foot Massagers allow you to sit back and relax as they provide a deep kneading massage to the soles of the feet and heels. Foot massagers come in a range of sizes, from pads which you rest your feet on top of, to enclosed massagers which can provide further massage benefits such as compression and shiatsu massage. Foot massagers are the perfect way to treat your feet after a long day of work.

How Do Personal Massagers Work?

Personal massagers are designed to be as intuitive as possible for you to use, so you will not have to develop any particular expertise or skills. Massagers use various technologies to achieve results, including:

Heating elements - relaxes muscles by warming them
Vibration - the percussive motion reduces muscle tension
Rollers - surface rollers create the sensation of a shiatsu massage
Acupressure - some massagers have soft points on the surface to stimulate areas on the skin

When buying a personal massager, you will also have to decide how you would like it to operate. Some massagers require no electrical power, making them ideal for people who are on the move, while others are battery operated. Massagers that use heat will often need to be plugged into electrical sockets, meaning they are best used at home.

Massager Products

• Car-seat massager: Attach over the car seat for use while driving. They plug into the car’s charging device and often provide heat functions.
• Massage chair: Sit back and relax in a comfortable massage chair. These devices can recline and tend to have multiple settings for different areas of the body.
• Handheld roller: These massagers stimulate pressure points when they are rolled over the skin. They are made from various materials, including wood, plastic and rubber.
• Neck massager: Designed to either wrap around the neck or act as a cushion. Some work on pressure points.
• Foot massager: These can be purchased as electric, mechanical or water-based models. The latter use water jets or a vibrating base to relieve tension in the feet.
• Calf and leg massager: Users can benefit from an acupressure or shiatsu massage, with rollers and compression working on the thighs and calves.
• Shower massager: Often a shower sprayer that has massage functions. These are often handheld.

How To Choose The Right
Massager For You

Currently The Good Guys stocks a wide range of massagers from HoMedics and Beurer. HoMedics are the innovative leader in self-care, wellness and personal health products, while Beurer offers a range of innovative products in health and well-being. As outlined in this buying guide, the right massager for you should be chosen based on which muscle areas need targeting, the convenience for you, and the strength of massage that you need.

Before buying a massager, there are a number of questions you should ask yourself to ensure you are purchasing the right model for your needs.

How comfortable is the device after extended use?
Does it provide heat as well as massage functions?
Will multiple features be required? If not, a cheaper model may be an option
Is there a timer? This can prevent you from falling asleep during your massage
Will filling and emptying a water-based feet massager be an inconvenience? Opting for an electric version can overcome this
How long is the power cord? Will a battery-powered model provide more flexibility?
Is the product easily transported? Some massagers can be extremely bulky, although this won’t matter if they will remain in one place
Are the controls intuitive and easy to use?