Do you suffer from chronic pain or muscle tension? Perhaps you work a job that leaves you feeling wound up and stressed out at the end of the day. Maybe you suffer from any one of a number of musculature or autoimmune disorders that can wreak havoc on the body causing pain, knotted tendons, headaches, and general feelings of uneasiness.
You are not alone. Back and muscle pain make up the second most common reason for medical visits worldwide. With so many people struggling to find comfort in their homes, automobiles, and offices, it is no surprise that the massage chair industry especially massage chair pad has become one of the most competitive on the market with thousands of manufacturers and millions of products distributed worldwide.
About Massage Chair Pad
Since the first product of its kind was introduced into the market in the 1980s, there has been a steady increase in massage chair pad products. The market has expanded to offer a variety of products boasting different massage techniques and quality. They can assist in easing chronic pain disorders like arthritis and fibromyalgia, alleviate stress, and relax the body.
Factors to Consider When Buying Massage Chair Pad
So how do you know which pad is the right one for you? A simple online search for best massage chair pads can bring literally millions of results. For someone in search of a product to help alleviate stress and tension in their life, the simple act of purchasing a massage chair pad can seem overwhelming.
Luckily, finding the correct massage chair pad for your individual situation is not as difficult as one might thing, so long as you are focusing your attention in the right areas of your search. There are a number of factors to consider when you are looking for the right massage chair pad for your situation that will make the shopping process easier.
The factors are:
- Affordability
- Power Supply
- Massage-type
- Overall Comfort
- Strength
Factor #1: Affordability
The first, of course, is price. What is your budget? With pads falling anywhere in the range of ten to thousands of dollars, chances are that you can find a quality product for almost any budget, but you still want to make sure you are getting the best quality available to you. A ten dollar massage chair pad sounds great, but why settle so low if there is one of a higher dollar that can do more for your situation? Of course, you also don’t want to overextend your budget to purchase a product if there is one of equal-quality available for much less.
Factor #2: Power Supply
You must also consider where you will be using your chair pad most. Do you drive for a living? Do you sit in an office all day? Are you mostly at home? Your massage chair pad should be able to receive power from the location where it is needed most and should provide the kind of comfort and quiet necessary for your work or home environment. A noisy massage pad might work fine for a long-distance truck driver alone in the cab of an 18-wheeler, but in an office setting it could be very distracting to your peers.
Factor #3: Massage-type
Why do you need your massage chair pad? There are a variety of massage types available for these products, with the most popular being Shiatsu and Swedish massage. Swedish massage works in long, sweeping motions and fosters good circulation. Shiatsu, on the other hand, is more focused on a hard, localized massage that relieves tension as well as benefiting circulation.
Factor #4: Overall Comfort
Additionally, you should be concerned about the overall comfort of the chair. Is the padding good? Does the material feel comfortable against your body?
Factor #5: Strength
You should also be conscious of how strong of a massage your chair pad offers. Some massage chair pads are not powerful to do much good for most people. Others can be too strong, which can create a noisy disturbance for co-workers and family members.
Best Massage Chair Pad Reviews
Below, we at MassagePros.org will review three of the best massage chair pads on the market to determine the overall quality of each and determine the best of the three options. All 3 options are all available for purchase at a number of online retailers, including Amazon and are highly-recommended by chiropractors and physicians alike. The 3 best massage chair pads are:
So which is the best for you? Let’s take a look.
1. Viktor Jurgen 6-Motor Vibration Massage Seat Cushion & Heat Review
This model has the lowest retail price of the three on Amazon and boasts a variety of unique features.
Feature #1: Offers Magnetism Therapy
For one, it is the only cushion of the three that offers magnetism therapy. Magnetism therapy is an alternative medical practice that uses static electric waves to alleviate pain throughout the body. Many people have experienced wonderful results from magnetism therapy and it is one of the features that makes this product so appealing.
Feature #2: Equipped with Timer
It also comes equipped with a 30-minute timer control to prevent overheating. If you fall asleep on the seat or walk away and forget that it is running, you don’t have to worry about motors burning up or a house fire, because the machine knows to shut itself off.
Feature #3: Lightweight & Portable
It also markets itself as lightweight and portable, which opens it up for use anywhere you would like and, since it boasts both plug-in adapters for the car and home, it can become a full-time accessory.
Pros
- A strong massage
- Ease of use
- Attractive Design
- Magnetism Therapy
- Affordability
Cons
- Lack of Shiatsu massage option
- Noisiness
- A weak heating system
- No back-lighting on the remote control
2. Homedics Quad Shiatsu Massage Cushion & Heat Review
This massage chair pad comes in with the heaviest price tag of the three. The price tag promises all the bells and whistles you’d hope for in a massage chair cushion and so does the advertising.
Feature #1: Specialized Motors
This cushion offers a variety of different massage techniques with specialized motors that knead, roll, and vibrate in percussion for a better chance at a deep tissue massage. The massages, themselves, can be customized by zones or you can select a full-body massage just as easily.
Feature #2: Extended Warranties
Homedics is also known for offering great extended warranties with full replacements possible on defective products.
At first glance, the pricier Homedics model seems to be the best option, but how do the promises measure up to the actual product, itself?
In contrast to the Viktor Jurgen model, the Homedics model is less portable. It can’t be taken in the car because it only runs on a 110v adapter. The size of the cushion, also, makes it impossible to use it in all chairs.
Pros
- A strong massage
- Good heat
- A competitive extended warranty offer
- Variety of massage-type options
- Customizable massaging zones
Cons
- Lack of impact or temperature controls
- Power-source limitations
- A high price tag
- Potential manufacturing issues
3. Five Star FS8812 10-Motor Massage Seat Cushion & Heat Review
This model falls well below the price range of the Homedics model and competes nicely alongside our earlier Viktor Jurgen model.
Feature #1: 10 Motors and Heat
Right away, it is easy to tell that there are a lot of options involved in using this cushion. The name of the product, itself, boasts ten motors and heat, which makes for an attractive offer at such a low price. The motors allow a choice of intensity. This is a great option for customers, like the one who was so unhappy with the Homedics option, who may be more sensitive to higher vibrations and heat. Like the Homedics model, the Five Star also offers zone selection so you can custom-create your perfect massage. At its strongest, consumers rate the massage “very strong” and the heat at an adequate temperature.
Feature #2: Only Swedish Massage
Unfortunately, the only massage type offered is a Swedish massage, but most consumers seemed to feel that this was an adequate feature in itself and don’t seem to miss the added appeal of additional massage types.
Pros
- A strong, adjustable massage
- Excellent heat control
- Easy controls
- Remote back lighting
- Portability to car or home
- Quiet functionality
Cons
- No massage-type choices
- Some power source issues
- Slightly more expensive than the Viktor Jurgen model
Comparison between All 3 Models
So, which rated best overall? Let’s recap those five important factors we discussed at the beginning of the article to find out.
Comparison Factor #1: Affordability
The Homedics model was the least affordable, by far, boasting a hefty price tag of more than $150. The Five-Star model came in second at a more easy-to-reach price of under $100. The lowest cost award goes to the Viktor Jurgen model at slightly below $50.
Comparison Factor #2: Power-Supply
The clear loser in this situation is, again, the Homedics model with its limited portability. Because it can only be powered by a 110v adapter, it is impossible to use this massage chair cushion while driving. Both the Viktor Jurgen and Five Star models provide a car adapter as well as a home adapter, making them more attractive options for anyone who may need their cushion during transportation. In this case, the Viktor Jurgen wins out because of the risk of power-source defects associated with the Five Star model.
Comparison Factor #3: Massage-type
All three options offer a Swedish massage, but only the Homedics model provides a Shiatsu option, as well. The roller-ball, percussion, and kneading options are no doubt the reason for that high price tag, however with limited control over the massage intensity, the cushion can be more painful than helpful. The magnetism therapy associated with the Viktor Jurgen model could be an attractive draw, although many massage therapists would discount the credibility of magnets in massage effectiveness. The Viktor Jurgen, also, had complaints of being too strong for some consumers where the Five Star had more control options, but was still limited to only a vibrating massage. The winner in this category is the Homedics model, simply because of the added feature of a variety of massage types, despite the intensity issues associated with the cushion.
Comparison Factor #4: Overall Comfort
All three models had varying reviews regarding comfort. The Viktor Jurgen model was lightweight and easily portable for use in the home, car, or office. Many consumers, though, were put off by the noisiness of the motors and felt too embarrassed to use the product in a work-setting. Additionally, it was hard to use at night due to the lack of a backlighting feature on the remote.
The Homedics model seemed to have the most complaints about comfort. Some consumers even complained that they had been burned and bruised by the use of the cushion. It is also less portable due to the power-source limitations making it an unlikely choice for people on the go. Combine that with the inability of this cushion to fit in all chair types and it comes in dead last in the comfort comparison.
The Five Star model boasts the same portability as the Viktor Jurgen model, but has a quieter motor making it a more appealing choice for individuals who work in an office setting. The overall comfort of the padding and cushioning of the chair seems to be acceptable based on a lack of complaints stating otherwise.
As far as overall comfort goes, it would seem the Five Star wins based on its portable, safety-conscious, and discrete design.
Comparison Factor #5: Strength
The final factor to consider is strength, which proved to be a landslide victory for one of our models, in particular.
The Viktor Jurgen boasted a suitable mid-range massage strength, but fell short when it came to heat. Many consumers were upset about the low temperature provided by the cushion’s heat setting, some even stating that it did not feel like any heat was coming through the padding at all.
The Homedics model had complaints of being too strong in both heat and massage settings. Some consumers complained of being bruised or burned by the cushion while others stated that the cushion worked wonderfully. A lack of control options ultimately killed the viability of the Homedics option for those who have sensitivities to heat or bruise easily.
The Five Star cushion won overall, again, for its heat and massage-strength controls. Because the seat allows choices, it is easy for everyone to pick the setting that best suits their body-type and situation. This ensures a massage that is not only strong enough, but a seat that is also warm enough without risk of injury or discomfort.
Final Verdict of the Best Massage Chair Pad
After evaluating all factors, it is easy to see that the Five Star FS8812 Massage Seat Cushion with Heat is the best available option of the three reviewed in this article. With an affordable price tag, it can be used in home or office with ease and discretion. Although it only offers a Swedish massage option, the massage is strong and offers a variety of zone controls which left most consumers happy overall with the results of using this cushion to alleviate aches, pains, and stress.
While there are, of course, other models on the market, it is a fair assessment that the Five Star is the one to beat thanks to a variety of options, excellent reviews, and a price tag that almost any consumer can get on board with.
