What type of hand massager should I buy?
With all the work we do with our hands every day, it’s not surprising that many of us experience pain and stiffness. Besides overuse, pain can also result from an injury or health conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and nerve impingement in the wrist.
With the proper care, you can ease tension and restore balance to muscles, joints and nerves. Brookstone Shiatsu Plus Air Hand Massager offers a comfortable glove with heat and air compression, providing you quick relief.
What to know before you buy a hand massager
Benefits
Besides the feel-good effect, hand massagers provide a range of benefits, from full-body relaxation to improving certain health conditions. Hand massagers can:
Reduce pain from arthritis
Boost blood circulation through the arms, providing relief for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow
Improve sleep quality
Relieve headaches
Provide a greater range of motion by reducing stiffness and loosening hand muscles
Unlock trigger fingers, a condition where the tendons of fingers get locked instead of extending straight
Types of hand massagers
Kneading massager: These massagers use a kneading action similar to the massage you receive from a professional massage therapist. The advantage of this type is that you can have a self-massage for as long as you like, though it’s without the tactile ability and knowledge of a professional.
Vibration massager: Unlike an actual massage or a massage from a kneading massager, these devices have vibration waves that penetrate like ultrasound and laser. This type tends to be more effective because it can penetrate deeply without causing pain and damage. The vibrations offer many therapeutic benefits, including their ability to penetrate deeply without too much pressure and provide relief without the need for special knowledge and skills.
Hand massager features
Compression
Hand massagers use air compression to apply pressure to your hands. To create this effect, many contain small air pressure bags that inflate and deflate in succession. Others have larger airbags that can make you feel as if your full hand is being squeezed. The compression boosts blood circulation and relieves pain, inflammation and fatigue.
Heat
A high-quality hand massager usually includes a heat feature. Not only does heat relieve pain, stiffness and inflammation, but it also reduces water retention, offering better comfort and an improved range of motion in your hands. Most hand massagers emit moderate heat to relax your muscles and the connective tissue in your joints.
Portability
Most hand massagers are portable and small, making it easy for you to take them anywhere. There are also cordless options with long battery life for those who plan on transporting their massager frequently.
Vibration
A hand massager’s vibration feature provides an instant boost while you wait for it to warm up. It offers a welcome relief to strained, tired and heavy hands after a long day of work. Vibration helps loosen tight muscles in your hand in a relaxing way.
Coverage
An important feature to consider in hand massagers is coverage. While most massagers target your fingers and palm, some don’t cover your thumbs and wrists. If you have thumb and wrist issues, consider getting a forearm massager.
Customization
Hand massagers come with several built-in functions designed for people with various symptoms in their hands, fingers and arms. Look for a model that offers different massage modes and intensity levels so you can better customize your massage to address your specific needs.
Hand massager cost
The best hand massagers cost anywhere from $15-$130, so there’s something that fits every budget. Less costly versions have a basic kneading function, while pricier versions include additional features such as heat, ultrasound and laser. Consider your needs and health symptoms in order to choose a massager that offers the most relief and is kind to your wallet.
Hand massager FAQ
Are hand massagers easy to use?
A. Most hand massagers are simple to use. Follow the instructions and you’ll have all the information you need to apply effective therapy. Position the vibrating pad over the areas that need attention and let the massager take care of the rest. However, if you have a more complex condition, consult a professional. They’ll be able to offer direction on when and how often you should use the massager.
I’d like to use a hand massager for relaxation purposes — what should I look for in a device?
A. Not all hand massagers are created equal. If your specific reason for buying a hand massager is relaxation, look for one that’s simple to use and doesn’t require special massage skills or knowledge, penetrates deeply enough not to cause pain and damage to nerves and tissue and provides a wide range of therapeutic benefits proven by science.
Which hand massager should I get?
Best of the best hand massager
Brookstone Shiatsu Plus Air Hand Massager: available at Kohl’s
Our take: The massager has a soft glove that pampers hands with heat and air compression, providing instant relief.
What we like: The squeeze feature with adjustable intensity revitalizes the muscles quickly. This product offers a gel shiatsu massage and it’s compact and portable. With soothing heat and touch features, the device offers relief for stiffness and tightness in the hand.
What we dislike: Massager only fits the palms since it lacks a central roller.
Best bang for your buck hand massager
Comfier Wireless Hand Massager: available at Amazon
Our take: Provides total relaxation to hands, knuckles and fingers.
What we like: Comes with three intensity levels and three pressure modes. Features such as the lithium-ion rechargeable battery and wireless design offer convenience. This massager keeps hands warm and moist, and it improves blood circulation. Ideal for home and office use.
What we dislike: Would not work well for someone who has hands that are larger or smaller than average.
Honorable mention hand massager
Lunix LX7 Touchscreen Electric Hand Massager: available at Amazon
Our take: A hand massager that combines heat therapy, pressure point therapy and compression.
What we like: The device offers intense massage features that are fully adjustable. It offers relief for tired hands and is designed to suit different needs. The Lunix LX7 comes with a wide range of settings and is equipped with shiatsu technology and an LCD touchscreen. The cushioned interior lining provides comfort.
What we dislike: The machine is quite costly, noisy and not as effective as the LX3 model.
Seline Shenoy is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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