When you think of a massage chair, chances are you’ve got sore neck muscles or back relief on the brain. But today’s quality massage chairs can cater to the whole body, from the base of your skull all the way to the soles of your feet.
Massage chairs with a leg massager often feature an extendable footrest component, which can ease tired calves and thighs; many also offer reflexology programs that rival (and can even surpass) the real thing. From improved circulation to better posture, leg massage chairs can be an invaluable key to head-to-toe health.
The Benefits of a Leg Massage Chair
Our legs and feet are hard workers: They get us where we need to go, and provide the strong base we need to stand, walk, bend and sit. It stands to reason we should treat them every once in a while! A leg massage chair gives special attention to the whole leg, from the glutes all the way down to your foot pads. The benefits of a leg massage contribute to your whole body health:
- Aligns posture: Since massage chairs are designed to take stress off the hardworking parts of the body (read: legs and back), this enables a distribution of tension and can help “straighten out” your hips, spine and shoulders.
- Alleviates back pain: Much like how it can correct posture, a leg massage chair can de-stress the glutes and back muscles by bringing relief to your base.
- Improves circulation: Kneading, tapping and rolling techniques applied to the body encourage blood to flow faster through those areas, which can result in a pleasant sense of warmth and relaxation.
- Relaxes and de-stresses: When relief starts at your base, it radiates upward. Relaxed and rejuvenated leg muscles can help carry you comfortably through the rest of your day, or ease you into a peaceful sleep.
- Stimulates the lymphatic system: This large network of tissues and organs helps the body process waste and rid itself of toxins. Lymph fluid can pool in the extremities, causing uncomfortable swelling; an invigorating massage can send that fluid back into the bloodstream to continue doing its job.
Leg massage is a favorite therapy of athletes, who need to keep their muscles limber and pain-free for peak performance. Leg massage can also help to ease the numbness and pain associated with neuropathy, a condition caused by diabetes or injury. And people in occupations that require lots of standing and walking are great candidates for leg massage: think nurses, chefs, or machinists.
Leg Message Chair Key Features
Massage chairs with a leg massage function come with a range of features, from heated calf rollers to tailored reflexology programs. Here are some of the key features to consider when shopping for your ideal leg massage chair:
- Automatic Footrest Extension: A footrest that extends mechanically to best accommodate a user’s leg length.
- Body Scanning: Sensors inside the chair will detect your body’s unique pressure points, and adjust the rollers accordingly to best address your massage needs.
- Calf Rollers: Rollers on either side of each leg rest imitate a masseuse’s hands, kneading and compressing the muscles for maximum tension relief.
- Foot Pads: Soft removable footrest pads allow you to enjoy your massage chair as a recliner in between massage sessions.
- Foot Rollers: Two-way rollers under the footrest target pressure points on the soles of the feet.
- Heat Therapy: Heating elements along the leg- and footrests that soothe aching muscles and stimulate blood flow for a more relaxing massage.
- Knee Massager: Calf massage rollers extend up to address the often-neglected muscles behind and around the knee.
- Reflexology: A series of rollers inside the footrest mimic the thumb-and-forefinger technique practiced by trained foot massage specialists.
- Sole Massage: Air cells hold the foot in place as rollers mimic shiatsu techniques, addressing the plantar arch, heel pad and ball of the foot.