Top 5 Chair Massage Benefits

Studies have found that receiving a 15-minute chair massage once a week can reduce cortisol levels (a stress hormone) and boost the immune system. Employers that offer massage as a part of their company stress management program find that their employees develop a greater sense of wellbeing, experience fewer missed workdays, and have improved overall job satisfaction.

What is a chair massage?

Often called corporate massage, a chair massage is a shoulder, neck, and upper back massage that takes place in a massage chair and is the most convenient method of delivering onsite massage. It can be done “on the spot” without the need to change clothes and helps to reduce tension, promote better circulation, muscle stimulation, and stress relief. Your massage therapist will ask you how a certain pressure feels and your response will help them find the best way to relieve pain, relax and rejuvenate you.

What are the benefits of chair massage?

According to the Mayo Clinic, massage therapy is proven to be an effective treatment for:

1. Depression
2. Stress
3. Pain
4. Muscle Tension
5. Migraines

Massage also leads to increased circulation, which has a positive impact on the brain and entire body. From stress management to decreased muscle tension and fewer migraines, chair massage helps to improve general feelings of contentment and health. Massage therapy has also been shown to be effective at treating depression which is the single biggest factor in low productivity rates. 

Sometimes, you need to disengage in order to re-engage.

Chair massage is for anyone who does the following:

1. Sits at a Desk Full-Time
2. Spends Extended Time Driving
3. Engages in Excessive Lifting
4. Spends Long Periods of Time Standing

Anyone who hunches over a screen most of the day can face chronic neck and back pain, not to mention arm and wrist issues (carpal tunnel syndrome) from repetitive strain. Additionally, a study by the New York Spine Surgery & Rehabilitative Medicine on the issue of poor posture found that our constant downward-looking gaze at cell phones or smart devices puts a lot of strain on neck muscles; any compression, irritation, misalignment, or tension in this area can cause pain.

Regularly taking a break for a chair massage at the beginning, middle, or end of an intense workday not only helps relieve posture-induced stress, but it can also help reduce anxiety. A study conducted by Shulman and Jones of the Touch Research Institute in Miami, Florida indicated that 15 minutes of chair massage was more effective than a 15-minute break to reduce anxiety and help improve clear thinking.

Positive Workplace Stress Reduction

At Body Techniques, we’ve seen chair massage become an essential aspect of corporate stress management programs. Many of our national clients provide chair massage along with other positive workplace stress reduction practices like fitness classes, yoga and mindfulness meditation, and acupuncture sessions to help recruit and retain employees by increasing their job satisfaction along with their health.

Whether it is ongoing massage programs or one-time massage events for company events, employee appreciation days, or health fairs, companies are embracing massage as a key employee benefit because it has proven to be much more than simply a feel-good luxury; it can be a powerful tool to help employees take charge of their health and well-being. Chair massage is a highly effective and efficient use of time and resources that offer employees easily accessed mental, physical, and emotional relief. That means more productivity and fewer resources spent on training new staff to replace those who leave.