We’ve been asked more than once whether it’s possible to use a massage chair at a certain age. People of all ages have different needs, but it’s always important to take care of both your body and your well-being. Massage chairs offer solutions to health conditions and help improve mental and physical performance for people of all ages. After all, from the younger ones to the elderly, no one is invulnerable to stiffness, pain, and stress. This form of therapy is also one of the safest yet, at the same time, effective alternative treatment methods. Therefore, you can’t say that the massage chair industry targets a particular age group.

This article will briefly explore whether massage chairs are suitable for these three groups: children, adults, and seniors.

Is the Massage Chair Suitable for Children?

When asked if children can use a massage chair, we always answer that there’s no need to interfere with muscles and structures that are so young and still being developed. What’s more, massage chairs are designed for people who are taller than 5’. For anyone shorter than this, massage is not recommended as the massage chair can inaccurately embrace the body and mis-scan the line of the spine.

If you look at the massage chair industry, you might think that the products are designed for adults. For instance, the average height range capacity is 5’2” to 6’. That means younger people shorter than that may have a hard time looking for a model for their build.

Since the usual height range for massage chairs is 5’2” to 6’, the minimum would be around the average height of teens around 13-16 years old. However, even then, they might require adult supervision. If you fit in the ideal height range of the massage chair, you can go through with the session.

Using a massage can benefit children, especially those who have medical conditions aggravated by stress. It can also provide help to those who have autism. However, make sure that they have reached the ideal height specified in the device manual. Otherwise, the massage rollers may knead the wrong areas or sensitive muscles due to the improper fit.

It’s estimated that 4.1 million people aged 12 to 17 had major depressive episodes at least once in the US. This is according to the 2020 report of the National Institute of Mental Health. While massage therapy may not offer a complete cure, it can help lessen the mental health condition’s symptoms. This is why this treatment is often used for relaxation and stress relief for the youth. However, as mentioned, each massage chair has a specific height range it can accommodate, which must be followed. These machines rely on the accuracy of their rollers and airbags when performing the treatment. Its mechanisms are designed to apply pressure on specific body regions. If the massage chair can’t fit you perfectly, the rollers may massage the wrong areas. This can result in body pains and injuries, the opposite of what you should expect from the massage. This is a common issue for the youth, who are typically shorter than adults. As long as people of this age group can find a model that can cater to their height, it’s all good.

Of course, nothing bad will happen if your child uses the massage chair once in a while. We can turn on the gentle rolling, recline the chair to satisfy the child’s curiosity.

The Massage Chair for the 30+

Did you know that 58.9% or three out of five adults in the US experience body pain? This was backed up by the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One of the best natural treatments for body pains is massage therapy. It relaxes the muscles, reducing nerve compression and painful contractions and spasms. Statistics support that most people who get the treatment are adults. According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), 46% of massage consumers in 2019 were 44 years old or younger. Meanwhile, the other 44% were college graduates. That doesn’t mean the youth and the elderly don’t need or receive massage. People of these age groups simply get the treatment less often than adults.

People in their thirties are usually busy, burdened with stressful work which is often performed in a sedentary position. The pace of life makes it hard for them to look after themselves, because work, children etc… and when asked about massage in a massage chair, they often say: “one day the time will come”. A massage chair, just like a healthy diet or workouts, positively affects your well-being. What’s important, when introduced into your daily routine, it provides long-lasting relaxation, calms you down and helps you combat stress. Consequently, this is the best time to include massage in a massage chair in your daily schedule, even more so now, when pains typical for older people have not yet appeared and can still be effectively prevented.

Looking for a massage chair that can cater to their physique and needs won’t usually be that challenging for adults. They must just get a model that can accommodate their height and weight and preferably has body scanning technology. At the same time, they must also consider the features and programs offered by the massage chair. Doing so ensures that they get the treatment fitting their needs and lifestyle.

A Massage Chair for Seniors

There’s nothing surprising about the fact that our body “wears out” as we age. The older we get, the more often we experience pain, joint problems, arthritis and other conditions that accompany ageing. Changes also affect our posture and the strength of our muscles decreases.

While that’s inevitable, you can at least improve your physical performance through regular massage chair sessions. A regular massage in a massage chair can be an excellent way of alleviating these problems. It improves the condition of the body and mind, relieves tension and alleviates pain, improve blood circulation, and boost the immune system. Elderly people are also more prone to insomnia and other sleep disorders. Massage therapy can help provide relaxation, improving their sleep quality. 

Massage, however, should be adjusted to individual health status and needs of a given person. Senior citizens perhaps need the most out of full body massages compared to anyone else. Massages have been proven to enhance the body’s natural resistance to diseases and so on. But, is a massage chair safe for their use.

In most cases, when dealing with age-related aches and pains, we can massage ourselves freely in a massage chair. In such cases, massage plays a preventative role and serves primarily to maintain physical and psycho-physical fitness. However, if your problem is more serious, such as trouble with the circulatory, vascular or respiratory systems, it is advisable to consult your doctor first. A specialist should also be consulted if you suffer from cancer or most skin lesions.

Conditions such as osteoporosis, hypertension, and heart disease are more common among older people. Massage chairs can and in certain instances have aggravated the aforementioned conditions. For instance, osteoporosis causes the bones to become brittle which presents the risk of fracturing under intense massage settings.

So the challenge with finding a massage chair for the elderly is the intensity of the treatment. The older you get, the less active muscle tissues you have. Therefore, for the seniors, the pressure of the massage they get must only be gentle to mild. Intense massages can lead to body pains and injuries.

Conclusion

As adults are more likely to use massage chairs, most products are designed for the comfort and needs of this age group. However, some models have features making them suitable to be used by people of all generations. It’s crucial that you get a massage chair answering the needs of people your age. This ensures that you get the most benefits from the treatment, and you’re at less risk of getting injuries.

Remember – prevention is better than cure. So, don’t postpone the purchase of a massage chair until ailments appear – take a look at our product range and choose the ideal model for you.

FAQs

Do Doctors Recommend Massage Chairs?

Medical professional, Doctor of Chiropractic Linda Elyad, highlighted one of the biggest selling points of making an investment in a massage chair — that you can enjoy regular relief without having to leave your home! 

Research published in 2020 was keen to highlight the same benefit when they compared a chair massager with physical therapy. The study focused on 56 participants who were all struggling with chronic lower back pain. Conclusions were drawn showing evidence that both physiotherapy and massage chairs were effective forms of pain control. The results also showed that the massage chair is a promising treatment for pain control and quality of life modification... Though it couldn’t quite reach the heights of physical therapy, the cost difference was important for medical professionals to understand.

Can a Vibrating Massage Chair Hurt Your Kid?

If your child has a condition that makes him or her susceptible to vibrations, then he or she may experience discomfort from vibration massage chairs. If the vibrations are too strong, frequent, prolonged, or otherwise uncomfortable for your child's body and senses, it may be best not to have him or her use one of these luxury massage chairs.

As a precursor, please be aware that no product can possibly guarantee it will be 100% safe under ALL circumstances. Objects like plastic bags, household cleaners, and even paperclips can become harmful if ingested or used improperly, so it’s important to monitor children closely in order to prevent injuries. Massage chairs are clearly no different, and children should never be left to play near one without adult supervision.

We hope that you found the answer to your question. If you have any other questions, please give us a call at (213) 933-4058. You can also visit our website to take a look at our luxury and smart massage chairs.