Massage Chairs and Stress: The Effects of Six Months of Use

Stress is the topic on which the most studies have been conducted regarding massage chairs, and the longest of these lasted half a year. This page summarizes the findings of those studies.

The short answer

The body of research here is significantly stronger than for the back. In 2022, 80 people between the ages of 50 and 75 used a massage chair twice daily for six months, while a control group received only lifestyle advice. In the chair group, levels of the hormone DHEA-S decreased measurably, afternoon cortisol levels dropped, and participants rated their mood and health more positively than before. A 2025 study of 24 healthcare workers found reduced feelings of low mood and lower stress levels after six sessions; after twelve sessions, it also found lower levels of inflammation in the blood. At a cancer center in the U.S., nursing staff underwent 200 massage chair sessions over half a year: perceived stress, blood pressure, and heart rate all decreased. These results come from small groups, but they all point in the same direction, and they were measured using the chairs themselves, not manual massage. It is striking that the effect increases with the number of sessions: a measurable effect was observed after six sessions, and a greater one after twelve.

What Was Examined on the Massage Chair Itself

Six months, twice a day

The longest study was conducted in South Korea in 2022. Eighty adults between the ages of 50 and 75 were randomly assigned: 41 used the chair twice a day for six months, while 39 served as the control group. Blood cortisol levels were measured at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., along with other hormone levels.

The results: DHEA-S levels dropped significantly in the massage chair group, while afternoon cortisol levels showed a decrease that narrowly missed the statistical threshold. The self-reports were more pronounced, both in terms of mood and perceived health. The authors’ conclusion: Chronic stress can be effectively managed with the use of a massage chair.

For people who work shifts

In 2025, a working group in Malaysia compared the massage chair with progressive muscle relaxation. Twenty-four healthcare workers with elevated stress and depression levels used the massage chair for 15 minutes four times a week over a four-week period.

After six sessions, the levels of depression and stress in the armchair group had decreased significantly; after twelve sessions, the effect persisted. The researchers also measured a marker of inflammation in the blood, which had decreased, and a change in beta-endorphin levels.

Nurses at a cancer center

A 2019 American study provided nursing staff with a massage chair in a quiet room. Over the course of half a year, there were 200 sessions, each lasting 20 minutes. The participants took their own measurements before and after each session: their perceived stress, blood pressure, and heart rate all decreased significantly.

Blood Pressure and Tension

A three-part study from 2026 examined three groups. Among students under stress, the diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and levels of stress and anxiety all decreased. Among hospital staff with high blood pressure, blood pressure and heart rate decreased after the sessions. It’s important to note that these are measurements taken after individual sessions; they do not prove that a massage chair treats high blood pressure. Anyone taking blood pressure medication should not change their regimen without consulting a doctor.

What Applies to Massage in General

The oldest relevant study dates from 1996 and is of particular interest to us because the massage was performed while the participants were seated. Twenty-six adults received a chair massage twice a week for five weeks, while 24 others sat in the same chair as a control group without receiving a massage. Brain activity was measured using an EEG, along with salivary cortisol levels and performance on arithmetic tasks.

Both groups relaxed, as evidenced by an increase in slow brain waves. Only the massage group showed a pattern of increased alertness and subsequently performed calculations more quickly and accurately. Reported work-related stress decreased exclusively in the massage group.

A 2000 review of the intensive care literature analyzed 22 studies. The most consistent effect was a reduction in anxiety: in 8 out of 10 studies, anxiety decreased significantly, and in 7 out of 10, physically measurable relaxation was observed. Only three studies addressed sleep, and the authors classified their results as inconclusive.

What this means for everyday life

What stands out about the armchair studies is that the effect increases with the number of sessions. In the Malaysian study, a measurable effect was observed after six sessions, and a greater effect after twelve. The Korean study lasted six months. Anyone who sits in one and then passes judgment is judging something other than what was actually studied.

In everyday life, this means: The exercise chair should be placed where you pass by it anyway. A piece of equipment in the basement won’t get used. Fifteen to twenty minutes is enough, and the best time to exercise is whenever you actually stick to it.

If you suffer from persistent depression or anxiety, you should seek medical or therapeutic help. A massage chair is no substitute for treatment, and none of the studies mentioned claim that it is.

Sources

• Baek JY, Lee E, Gil B, Jung HW, Jang IY. Clinical effects of using a massage chair on stress measures in adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial. 2022. 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
• Hand M, Margolis J, Staffileno BA. Massage Chair Sessions: Positive Effects on Outpatient Cancer Center Nurses’ Perceived Stress Levels, Blood Pressure, and Heart Rate. 2019. View study
• Lee X, Usman J, Hamzah N, et al. Effects of automated massage chair therapy on mental and physical health. 2026. View study
• Field T, Ironson G, Scafidi F, et al. Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG patterns associated with alertness and mathematical computations. International Journal of Neuroscience. 1996. View study
• Richards KC, Gibson R, Overton-McCoy AL. Effects of massage in acute and critical care. AACN Clinical Issues. 2000. 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.