If you’re in the market for a massage chair, you may have heard the phrase “body scan” once or twice. But what are body scan massage chairs, and should you get one?
Read on to find out everything you need to know about body scan massage chairs.
What Are Body Scan Massage Chairs?
In simple terms, body scan massage chairs use automatic pressure sensors (or direct input from the user via remote control) to determine where various parts of your body start and stop.
For example, a body scan massage chair won’t try to give you a shoulder massage all the way up to your head. Instead, it will be able to detect where your shoulders are (or be told where they are), and will only administer the shoulder massage up to that point.
The same applies to your legs. For instance, the chair might be able to automatically adjust the length of the ottoman or footrest to suit the length of your legs.
What Types of Body Scanning Are There?
The type of body scanning used varies from chair to chair. These are a few of the most common:
- Motorized: With a motorized body scan, the remote control is used to control the positioning of the chair.
- Mechanical: A mechanical body scan will automatically adjust to be longer or shorter based on the length of your back and legs.
- Spring: A body scan chair that utilizes spring movement allows the user to simply push their feet out in order to extend the ottoman or footrest.
Should You Buy a Body Scan Massage Chair?
To answer this question, it’s important to find out the dimensions of each massage chair you’re considering for purchase.
If the chair is significantly longer or shorter than your body, it will likely be worth it to invest in a chair with body scanning capabilities.
If your height is suited to most standard massage chairs, though, more advanced body scanning (like mechanical scanning) is probably unnecessary and will simply add more weight to the chair.
The best way to find out if you need a body scan massage chair is to visit a dealer in-person. There, you can try out various models and see which ones fit you best.
