At a glance, you’d never guess how good a stretch this mat gives you, especially once you start to move through the three intensity levels. It’s pretty expensive, but If you’re struggling with lumbar pain and tension, it’s well worth the price. It will leave you feeling energised but also incredibly relaxed, and much less tight. Plus, it’s easy to operate without moving, other than lifting a finger to operate the handheld control, and you can fold it for easy carrying and storage.

If your massager is not specifically meant for this purpose, don’t sleep with it on. You can over-ice or overheat the area. Settings: Cupping, tapping, scraping, Shiatsu, acupuncture, and relaxation, plus 15 levels of electric muscle stimulation (EMS) If you want to connect the Mini to the Therabody app, do so via Bluetooth and gain access a library of information, including guided routines.

Soothe your aching back and invigorate your muscles, with our pick of the the best back massagers you can buy

Beyond being an effective massager, it was easy to use: "You just set it down, hit the power button, and lie down on it," our tester said, noting that its small shape made it easy to adjust and position to target specific areas. Crawford C, et al. (2016). The impact of massage therapy on function in pain populations — a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: part 1, patients experiencing pain in the general population.

If your bedding sags, consider swapping your pillow or mattress for supportive types, like a cervical support pillow and medium-firm mattress. Treat the area with heat and cold by alternating 15 minutes of ice with 15 minutes of moist or dry heat. The deep massage along with the soothing heat can do a world of good to all the desk workers of the world. It takes less than 20 minutes of one’s time to reap the health benefits from this unit.Electric muscle stimulation: With this type of therapy, a massager uses electrodes to send electrical impulses to the muscles, which causes them to contract. The overall design is a bit cumbersome, and you have to pull down with greater force to work on deep knots, which may be difficult for people with limited mobility or strength. The nodes also change direction automatically every 30 seconds, it’s more expensive and some people report a weaker heating element. For these reasons, we like the Etekcity as a cordless alternative, but it doesn’t compare to a plug-in model. The massager has positioning handles and arm loops so you can get comfortable and relax throughout the automatic 15-minute massage. If all of that wasn’t enough, it comes with a portable carrying bag and both a wall and car adapter for easy, on-the-go use. Shiatsu massagers mimic the traditional Japanese massage therapy which delivers a deep, kneading massage with circular motions. These massagers contain ‘nodes’ that move around and apply pressure, like the fingers and palms of a massage therapist. Shiatsu is great for loosening painful knots, releasing chronic tension and improving circulation, and is a wonderful stress-reliever.