Massage Chairs for Back Pain: What the Studies Show

Back pain is the most common reason people visit our showroom. As a result, we’re often asked what a massage chair can really do to help with it. This page summarizes the research findings on this topic: first, studies on massage chairs themselves, and then studies on massage in general.

The short answer

There is robust evidence for specific, clearly defined conditions. A 2023 study followed 58 office workers with neck and shoulder pain for six weeks: The group that used a massage chair subsequently experienced measurably less pain and had a higher pain threshold than the control group, with no adverse effects. When it comes to back pain in general, the findings are more sobering. The major 2015 Cochrane Review evaluated 25 studies involving 3,096 participants and concluded that the authors had little confidence that massage is an effective treatment for back pain. Where there was some improvement, it was short-lived. So anyone who hears that a massage chair can fix their back should be skeptical. What it demonstrably does: It relaxes the muscles for the moment, it lowers the barrier to doing anything at all in the evening, and it costs a fraction of what regular treatments cost. All the studies that showed any benefit lasted for weeks with several sessions per week. A single session doesn’t change anything.

What Was Examined on the Massage Chair Itself

The Neck and Shoulders During Office Work

The most compelling study was conducted in South Korea in 2023. Sixty office workers were randomly assigned to two groups; 58 remained in the study until the end. One group received heat therapy for six weeks, while the other used a massage chair. At the end of the study, the chair group had significantly better scores on both pain scales, as well as a higher pressure pain threshold. This means it took more pressure on the muscle before it became painful. No adverse events occurred throughout the entire study.

A Direct Comparison with Physical Therapy

In 2020, a research team divided 56 people with back pain into two groups: physical therapy versus massage chairs. Both methods were effective, but physical therapy was more effective. The massage chair cost 60.17 percent as much as physical therapy. We’ve dedicated a separate article to this finding: Can a massage chair replace physical therapy?

For people who work shifts

A 2025 study followed 24 healthcare workers who were suffering from stress and physical symptoms. After six sessions, their back pain scores had decreased, and they decreased again after twelve sessions. Calf pain also decreased. Inflammation markers in the blood were also measured and found to have decreased in the group that used the chairs.

A three-part study conducted in 2026 examined, among other things, hospital staff with chronic back pain. The study found that lower back function improved and pain decreased significantly.

What Applies to Massage in General

These studies were conducted using manual massage. It remains to be seen whether their results can be directly applied to a device. We list them here because they provide the background context, and we label them for what they are.

The 2015 Cochrane Review is the most thorough analysis on this topic. It included 25 studies with 3,096 participants; in three of these studies, massage was administered by a machine. The authors rated the quality of the underlying studies as low to very low. For acute back pain, massage was better than no treatment, but only in terms of pain and only in the short term; it did not improve mobility. For longer-standing symptoms, short-term improvements in pain and function were observed. There were no notable side effects.

A controlled study from 2001 compared massage with relaxation training in 24 adults who had been experiencing back pain for at least half a year. The sessions lasted 30 minutes twice a week over a period of five weeks. Afterward, the massage group reported less pain, less feelings of depression, and better sleep; in addition, their trunks were more flexible.

A 2004 review of orthopedic conditions reached the following preliminary conclusions: Massage may be effective for lower back pain; patient satisfaction is high; and the procedure is considered safe.

What this means for everyday life

Based on the research and what customers tell us, a simple picture emerges: A massage chair is not a cure. It is a tool for relieving tension, and for many people, tension is part of the problem—not the whole problem.

It makes sense when consistency is key. Someone who goes for a massage twice a week pays between 60 and 120 euros per session—and has to schedule an appointment first. Someone who has the chair at home can sit in it for 20 minutes in the evening, without an appointment and without having to travel.

Whether the rollers hit your shoulder or miss it depends on your height and where your pelvis sits in the chair. Your body will notice this within the first two minutes, and no product description can replace that test. At our store, every chair is set up, and you can try them out one after another.

If you have a herniated disc, osteoporosis, have recently undergone surgery, or are taking blood-thinning medications, please consult your doctor beforehand. For information on what to keep in mind, see “When to Exercise Caution with a Massage Chair.”

Sources

• Chu H, Park SJ, Jeong Y, et al. Effect of a massage chair (BFM-M8040) on neck and shoulder pain in office workers: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine. 2023. View study
• Kim SK, Min A, Jeon C, et al. Clinical Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of Massage Chair Therapy Versus Basic Physical Therapy in Patients with Lower Back Pain. Medicine. 2020. View study
• Ong MLY, Malik AA, Zain NM, et al. Recharging Healthcare Professionals: A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Impact of Automated Massage Chair Therapy. 2025. View study
• Lee X, Usman J, Hamzah N, et al. Effects of automated massage chair therapy on mental and physical health: A comprehensive study. 2026. View study
• Furlan AD, Giraldo M, Baskwill A, Irvin E, Imamura M. Massage for low-back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015;(9):CD001929. View study
• Hernandez-Reif M, Field T, Krasnegor J, Theakston H. Lower back pain is reduced and range of motion increased after massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience. 2001. View study
• Dryden T, Baskwill A, Preyde M. Massage therapy for the orthopedic patient: a review. Orthopedic Nursing. 2004. View study

You can find an overview of all the studies analyzed—including their design, number of participants, and results—on the " Studies on Massage Chairs" page.

This article summarizes research findings and is not a substitute for medical advice. If your symptoms persist, consult your doctor.