It is common to fall asleep during a massage chair session. The question is: is it OK to sleep in a massage chair?
You can sleep in a massage chair because taking a nap in a massage chair can be comforting and refreshing. However, it should not be too long, and it is discouraged to spend the night in the massage chair.
Why does people sleep in a massage chair?
Sleeping in a massage chair may be the great solution for those who have special health conditions that cause pain and discomfort when laying flat on a conventional bed, such as:
- terrible back or neck pain
- sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux, and chronic snoring
- recovering from surgery
- last trimester of pregnancy
Therefore, it is totally understandable that someone might want a massage chair that is comfortable for sleeping. We assumed you ask this question because it is one of the thing that you consider when buying a massage chair. Or you are trying to find a massage chair that is best suited for sleeping in.
What are things to consider in finding a suitable massage chair for your sleep?
-
Calf and foot massage mechanism – this is probably the only inhibitor of comfort for your sleep in a massage chair. You can’t move your legs anywhere else besides these calf and foot spaces. If you want to move to your side on the chair, your legs will still tend to relocate to the calf spaces. If you want to shift your body whilst on your back, your legs won’t really be able to move anywhere because their movement is limited by the width of the calf and foot spaces in the massage chair.
Solution:
- Look for a massage chair that has a rotating ottoman so that the calf and foot wells can be rotated out of the way and looks like a normal ottoman upon which legs can be moved anywhere.
- Look for a massage chair that only has calf wells so that the ottoman can be easily rotated upside down, allowing for a flat ottoman surface whereupon the legs can be moved wherever the user wants to put them. -
Rollers – when the chair is off and at rest, the rollers will be retracted so that they don’t stick out, you can sit on the chair and not really feel them at all. If a chair doesn’t put back the rollers, they may be sticking out at rest and actually stick into your back. This will not be very comfortable for you. Next thing to consider about the rollers is the roller track space that is vacated when the rollers are retracted and put back. When you sit on a massage chair without the rollers on, your back kind of sinks into the roller space and that is not optimal support for the low back.
Solution:
Put a pillow in the low back/lumbar region to support your low back or else you may wake up in more pain than when you went to sleep. -
Sleeping on your side – You need necessary space to move your body while sleeping. To be honest, massage chairs are not built for side sleeping or lying. They cannot provide you the space needed for your legs (unless the chair has a rotating ottoman – see #1) and your “curl up” position - a common position to sleep in when on your side.
Solution:
- Make sure the chair reclines back to at least 170 degrees or more, which is close to horizontal, so that your body is not bent up from sleeping on your side.
- Look for chairs that have time limits for its massage sessions. Therefore, when you falls asleep while enjoying a relaxing massage, you will not be so sore waking up because the timer was turned off.
How can you use your massage chair to sleep better?
Most of the sleep problems such as insomnia are often associated with a certain chemical imbalance in our brain, when the serotonin and dopamine levels are low; it becomes difficult for our brain to induce sleep. By using a massage chair on regular basis, it will help our body become relaxed and release these necessary hormones to induce a good sleep.
Here is how you can make the most out of a massage chair to help your sleep:
- Take a short nap in the massage chair: If you want to sleep while receiving the massage, just do it and enjoy it. However, take into account that the nap should be short, only about half an hour. Sleeping too much during the day would make it hard for you to fall asleep at night.
- Go to your bed immediately after the massage: If it is a massage before your sleep at night, move to your bed as soon as you finish your session. This will prevent injuries and make you fall asleep quickly and comfortably on your bed without any physical limitations.
- Make a routine on daily basis: Use a massage chair regularly for at least 20 minutes before going to the bed. Once it become your habit, sleep will come easier for you.
Let your body rest and enjoy a relaxing massage therapy session with a massage chair. It will bring relaxation and alleviate the discomfort that might be the core reason of your sleeping problems.