The Best Massage Chair Choices for Fans of Winter Sports

Winter activities like snowboarding, skiing and skating are fun ways to stay active in the cold winter months, but they can be hard on the body. Muscle aches and soreness can leave you feeling miserable after a weekend on the slopes.

A good massage can help you feel better or even prevent soreness in the first place. The great news is that you don’t have to go far to enjoy a therapeutic massage. An at-home massage chair can help melt away stress and tension in minutes.

How Massage Chairs Help You Relax After Active Winter Sports

A full body massage chair is a great investment if you enjoy winter activities or lead an active life in general. Here’s how they can help you relax after engaging in active winter sports.

Massage Chairs Can Help Improve Blood Circulation

One major benefit of massages is that they help improve blood circulation. For example, one 2020 study found that a five-minute leg massage helped improve blood flow to the affected leg and the surrounding area. An older study saw similar results.

Improving blood flow benefits the body in many ways:

• Reduces stiffness
• Promotes flexibility
• Helps you feel more relaxed
• Helps soothe aches Improves breathing

When you have a massage chair at home, you can enjoy these benefits anytime you want.

If you’ve spent the afternoon or weekend snowboarding, skiing or doing some other winter activity, a massage session can do wonders to alleviate aches and pains. That's why so many active people use massage chairs as sports recovery equipment.

The increased blood flow also helps your body heal and recover faster after rigorous activity. In addition, better circulation helps deliver more nutrients to your damaged muscles.

How Massage Chairs Reduce Muscle Tension After Winter Sports

Intense activity can cause muscle tension and discomfort. A massage chair can help alleviate this tension, making muscle recovery less painful.

A chair with a sport massage feature can help massage away tension and gently stretch the muscles to prevent tightness and further tension.

Enjoying a chair massage before and after winter active sports can also help prevent tightness and tension.

Some people also argue that massage chairs strengthen the immune system. If you’re engaging in active winter sports, having a stronger immune system may help you stay healthy and even avoid getting sick.

When Is It Better to Use Massage Chairs:
Before or After Winter Active Sports?

You know that massage chairs can help improve blood flow and alleviate muscle tension. But the question is: when should you use your chair?

Is it better to use a massage chair before or after a winter workout?

Pre- and post-workout massages both have benefits.

• A massage before active winter sports can help loosen muscle tension and knots to improve flexibility. Having less stiffness and tension may help prevent injury, but it’s important to keep your massage light and brief. Save that deep tissue massage for later. And if you have any anxiety or stress about the activity, a quick massage can help you relax.
• A massage after active winter sports can help aid in recovery and reduce soreness. It’s best to get your massage within 2 hours of the activity to maximize the benefits. Research has shown that post-workout massages can help with muscle fatigue, reduce stiffness and more. One study found that massage was the most effective post-workout activity compared to stretching, active recovery, hyperbaric treatment and more.

As you can see, there are benefits to both pre- and post-activity massages. But most experts agree that you should save your massage for after the activity. You’ll maximize the recovery benefits and help your body relax after intense exercise.

The great news is that if you have a massage chair at home, you can experiment with pre- and post-workout massages in your own relaxation zone to see which one you like best.

Top Models of Massage Chairs That Will Be Useful for
Fans of Winter Sports

Now that you understand the benefits of massage chairs for fans of winter sports, you may be wondering which chairs are best.

Choosing the right massage chair doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. We’re going to share our top picks for the best massage chair for winter sports fanatics.

Super Novo

The Super Novo is an advanced massage chair with features that can help with pain management, tension and workout recovery.

Features

• 3D and 4D massage technology
• 38 built-in wellness programs
• Magnetic dock to keep your devices within reach
• Cloud touch acupressure
• Dual lumber heat
• Unibody track that covers 60% more of the back than competitors
• Zero gravity position
• Built-in Altec Lansing sound system
• Extended knee, calf and foot massager
• Full-body stretch

The 3D and 4D massage functions vary the speed of each stroke to mimic the feel of a real massage.

With so many built-in massage programs, including recovery, you’re sure to find the perfect massage for your needs. Plus, the full-body stretch can help prevent soreness and stiffness after engaging in winter sports.

Click here to learn more about the Super Novo massage chair

Certus

The Certus delivers a 3D massage that extends the entire length of your spine and thighs to cover all areas that may be stiff or sore after winter sports.

Features

• 11 auto wellness programs
• S- and L-track massage
• Foot and calf massage options
• Zero gravity seating
• Built-in sound system
• Lumbar and foot heating

With 11 built-in programs, heated features and full-body massage options, this is a chair that can help speed up recovery after engaging in active sports.

Click here to learn more about the Certus massage chair

WholeBody® 8.0 Massage Chair

The WholeBody 8.0 massage chair delivers a moderate massage and comes loaded with features that will help melt away tension and stiffness.

Features

• FlexGlide massage
• 7 auto wellness programs
• Warm air technology
• Swiveling base
• Headrest pad
• Foot and calf massager

The WholeBody 8.0 chair is a great option if you want a simple model with fewer massage chair features. You still enjoy a full body massage and the benefits of built-in wellness programs but without all of the bells and whistles of more expensive chairs. The back and foot massage functions will help with muscle recovery and soreness after winter sports.

Click here to learn more about the WholeBody 8.0 massage chair

Final Thoughts

If you’re a fan of winter sports, a massage chair can help you recover faster and relax after an intense day of activity. The right chair can help melt away stress and tension while helping improve blood flow. It’s the perfect way to indulge in some much-needed self-care after rigorous exercise.