Many people, young or old all suffer from chronic neck and shoulder pain due to various reasons such as poor posture, improper sleeping positions, or daily activities like typing, driving, and writing on a desk. Fortunately, a neck and shoulder massager can solve this problem anytime, anywhere, even in the comfort of your home!
Before you immerse yourself in the best neck and shoulder massager reviews, it’s important to first know what are the benefits of a neck and shoulder massager, why you need one, and how it can help you overcome some health problems. So, read on to find out more!
Benefits of a Neck and Shoulder Massager
A massage, in itself, offers so many benefits for your physical, mental, emotional, and overall health and well-being. However, a neck and shoulder massager has special and unique characteristics that enhance a massage’s convenience and helps you reap all the good stuff.
Listed down below are the advantages and benefits of using a neck and shoulder massager:
1. It naturally reduces pain and aches
Neck and shoulder pain are so common today that most people have been accustomed to taking painkillers, using liniments, pain-relieving patches, and other temporary ways to relieve pain and discomfort. However, all of these may result in mild to severe side effects.
This is why a neck and shoulder massager serves as a better way to fight pain and aches naturally minus all the possible complications. The pain and stiffness of muscles are mainly due to the build-up of lactic acid in the cells due to a lack of oxygen.
A neck and shoulder massager helps improve blood flow and thus increases the oxygen supply on sore body parts. This allows inflammation to subside while also soothing the pain. Not only will this improve your general feeling but it also helps restore or improve your range of motion.
2. It helps provide relief for less accessible body parts
The sides of the neck and nearby areas of the back are typically hard to reach for massage therapists and masseuse. These areas are also pretty sensitive with a lot of soft tissues, so a massage therapist may not be as confident in massaging them properly.
Fortunately, a neck and shoulder massager helps work out knots and stiffness in these hard-to-reach areas to ease pain and muscular tension.
3. It helps reduce stress and anxiety
Every day, we encounter stressful people and situations, no matter how old we are or whether or not we realize it. Stress is then felt by your body in the form of aches and pains and affect your concentration, which significantly reduces your productivity and damages your mood. Some of the symptoms of anxiety can also be felt as pain on the neck, shoulders, and back.
After a long day in school or your job, a nice massage on the neck and shoulders will surely perk your spirits up. According to several studies, massage treatments can elevate your mood almost instantly because of the motion and stimulation of the skin and muscles boost the body’s production of feel-good happy hormones like dopamine and serotonin.
These hormones cause your body and nervous system to relax. As a result, your heart rate is lowered, and your breathing is stabilized, helping realign and decentralize the body’s functions.
This fact has been proven multiple times. In fact, large companies like Google actually provide massage treatments for their employees in order to help them manage stress which in turn results in better productivity and overall job satisfaction.
4. It can be taken anywhere
Another benefit of a neck and shoulder massager is that you can take it with you wherever you may go, be it while watching TV on your living room, lying in your bed when you are out camping, or during your breaks in school or at work.
The small, compact, and portable design of neck and shoulder massagers make them so easy to store, transport, and use. They are also found to be most beneficial in providing instant relief from pain, stiffness, and discomfort in the workplace without having to interrupt your other activities.
5. It helps prevent and reduce migraine symptoms
Migraines are severe headaches that are caused by a wide variety of triggers, including neck and shoulder tension. Fortunately, massages in these areas have been found to remarkably reduce headaches and migraine symptoms naturally without the side effects that pain relievers and other medications can bring.
Massages relieve muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders, promoting better blood circulation and helping reduce the pressure in the head. A study also showed that patients who have ongoing migraine attacks experienced a dramatic and immediate reduction of headaches and pain after a neck and shoulder massage treatment.
Aside from physical triggers, a massage also helps counteract the emotional triggers of migraine-like anxiety, overexcitement, depression, stress, and shock by releasing stress-management hormones.
6. It helps strengthen the immune system
Multiple studies and researches have proven time and again how today’s environment, overworking, and the food we eat affects our overall health and immune system. Many people also have lowered immune defenses due to lack of sleep, body overuse, and other factors.
If you ever find yourself not getting sick or not catching a cold, you may have to thank your portable massager or masseuse for it. Regularly and repetitively getting massages has been found to significantly strengthen and improve the body’s immunity.
In fact, a study involving participants who received one to two massage treatments per week found that an increase in the production of lymphocytes and white blood cells results from the massages. These two blood components are vital in fighting off infections and illnesses.
7. It helps you save time and money in the long run
I know that booking and scheduling an appointment to a massage parlor or salon can be too much of a hassle, not to mention a quite expensive deal. To go to your appointment, you also have to set aside a certain amount of time from your already tight and busy schedule.
This is where a good neck and shoulder massager comes in handy. While it may seem expensive at first glance, it will actually prove to be a great investment and will help you save your time and money in the long run.
With a massager, you won’t have to pay for expensive trips to the massage parlor. You can also get an instant massage hassle-free whenever you want, right in the privacy, safety, and comfort of your own home.
8. It is suitable for everyone
Unlike other types of electric massagers, a neck and shoulder massager is generally suitable for users of all ages. It can be used by students, athletes, professionals, office workers, the elderly, or basically anyone who suffers from muscle fatigue, stiff neck, or poor blood circulation.
9. It is super convenient
A neck and shoulder massager is also one of the most convenient relaxation tools out there. You don’t have to make an appointment to use one. You don’t have to wait for anything or anyone. You don’t need any medications or special diets.
Anytime you feel pain or discomfort, just put it on for an instant massage treatment at home. Most massagers even come with batteries which allows you to keep them in your car or office and use them while working or traveling.
These massagers are also very simple and easy to use. You can also adjust the heat and pressure for a customized massage. You can even use strap options for a hands-free massage.
Massage benefits for specific health conditions
Aside from the benefits of a massager for otherwise healthy individuals, medical experts also believe that neck and shoulder massages can offer significant benefits in terms of managing, overcoming, and even preventing a variety of health conditions.
Here are some of the most notable of these health benefits according to Dr. Mark Rapaport. Dr. Rapaport is the Chairman of the Emory University School of Medicine. He is a published author of more than 180 peer-reviewed studies for many different distinguished publications.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
According to Dr. Rapaport, individuals who suffer from a generalized anxiety disorder were documented to have considerably lower levels of stress due to a decrease in the levels of the stress hormone cortisol and an increased sense of well-being attributed to a spike in oxytocin (also known as the “love hormone” or “cuddle hormone”) right after receiving a massage on the neck.
New Mothers
This increase in oxytocin levels and a decrease in cortisol levels are also beneficial to new mothers and their newborn children. In fact, women who have recently undergone a Cesarean section were found to have lower stress levels after getting neck massages as well. This may help in alleviating some symptoms of postpartum depression and also helps in hastening the body’s healing and recovery.
Inflammation and Other Related Disorders
A growing number of research studies also indicate that massages can pose a significant impact on some inflammatory markers. This means that the effect of a massage can help reduce the amount of time needed to recover or heal from surgery and injuries.
Massages have also been found to potentially benefit patients who suffer from Crohn’s disease also known as inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disorders like arthritis, and even some allergies.
While more studies may be needed to actually confirm and define the effects of neck and shoulder massages in detail, one thing is for sure: they offer amazing benefits not just for healthy individuals but especially to those who suffer from various medical conditions.
Does a Neck and Shoulder Massager Really work?
In our fast-paced world today, we spend most of our time working, studying, hunched over our computer screen, or staring into our mobile phones. All of these, when done for extended periods of time, can cause muscle strain and stiffness.
Neck and shoulder pain is very common among both men and women, young or old. To alleviate the pain and reduce the discomfort caused by this, experts and recommend neck and shoulder massagers instead of taking pills and pain medications.
However, the question is: are massage machines really effective? Well, you have come to the right place. Here, we will discuss if massagers work and how they work.
The quick version of the answer to this question is yes, these massagers do work by softening and loosening up the muscles.
The long, detailed answer is also pretty simple: yes, the massagers work. Like a massage therapist would, they work your muscles that have become stretched or pulled due to repetitive movements or staying in a position for hours at a time. However, instead of having to pay for a massage therapist to visit you, you get an instant massage service whenever, wherever you need it. It somehow replaces the human touch.
A neck and shoulder massager also differs from a full body massage or those offered by similar equipment like foot massagers or back massagers. This is because, within the neck, an important bundle of nerves called the “neurovascular bundle” is located. When this bundle is stimulated and massaged properly with a Shiatsu-style neck massage, you can reap amazing benefits including a decrease in inflammation, full relaxation, and reduced stress levels among others.
How Does a Neck and Shoulder Massager Operate?
Neck and shoulder massagers come in many types, brands, and models. However, they do share similar characteristics and operate in the same way.
This type of massagers come with deep kneading features and optional heat settings. These features allow you to enjoy a relaxing massage without another human being.
A massager cushion can also be used to massage your back, your shoulders, or your neck. Some massagers even come with timers, different intensity settings, and various massage options that let you customize each massage session depending on the type of massage, pressure or intensity of the massage, and the duration of the massage.
Others also allow you to have full control of the massager through buttons, mobile applications, or a remote control.
If you want heat, simply turn on the heat button. Otherwise, you can turn it off while you still enjoy the kneading motion of the massage balls inside the massager. These balls provide the pressure needed to work your skin and muscles in order to remove knots, stiffness, and pain.
Conclusion
So those are the many benefits of a neck and shoulder massager. Aside from the best neck and shoulder massager reviews, I hope this article can help you make an informed decision before purchasing a massager for yourself or your family.
Hopefully, you can find the best massager that will suit your needs so you can look forward to pain-free, stress-free days ahead of you!