A zero gravity massage chair puts your body in a neutral position to alleviate stress on the back and spine while promoting better blood circulation and offering various features you would expect from a massage chair.
While more expensive than a regular massage chair and typically retailing for $1,000 – $7,000, they can be a great addition to your home especially if you are looking for a higher end massage chair offering additional benefits which we’ll discuss below.
What is a zero gravity chair?
Before we get to the benefits, let’s have a quick talk about what a zero gravity chair actually is. The concept of zero gravity involves putting the body in a neutral position which means having a torso-to-leg angle of roughly 128° with a variation of +/- 7° and 133° (+/-8°) between the hamstrings and calf.
The concept of a zero gravity chair was invented by NASA and was designed to mimic the weightlessness that astronauts experience. More specifically it was designed to assist astronauts during launch when their bodies experience a tremendous amount of stress and force.
A zero gravity chair puts you in a slightly reclined position while elevating your legs resulting in body weight being equalized and stress being reduced.
The result is that your spine is relaxed, pressure in your back is alleviated and blood circulation is improved.
What is a zero gravity massage chair?
Furniture manufacturers use the concept of a neutral body position to create zero gravity massage chairs to mimic the feeling and the benefits offered. A zero gravity massage chair is one that gives the person sitting in it a feeling of weightlessness when reclined by balancing the body in a neutral position while offering automated features like a regular massage chair.
You aren’t actually floating in weightlessness of course, but the position of your body is such that it relaxes you and places your elevated legs in alignment with or slightly higher than your heart. The benefit of elevating your legs at or above your heart is to give the veins in your legs a break while also making it less likely that blood pools in your legs.
A zero gravity massage chair is thus one that adds electric massage capabilities while you sit in this feeling of comfort and relaxation in a neutral position.
Let’s get onto the 7 benefits of a zero gravity massage chair for your home.
7 benefits of a zero gravity massage chair
While there are a number of benefits you can receive from a regular massage chair, the benefits of a zero gravity massage chair are as follows:
- Relaxation of the neck and back as the neutral position reduces stress by placing it in a more natural S-shaped curve.
- Decompression of the spine enabling your discs to expand and hydrate.
- Better blood circulation as the legs are elevated at or slightly higher than the heart.
- Less stress on the heart due to the elevation of legs, leading to better blood flow.
- Reduction of stress on the lower back which may reduce back pain.
- Improved lung expansion due to the decreased stress on the spine.
- Full body massage with additional features and benefits depending on the model and brand.
Specific zero gravity massage chair features
An automatic massage chair typically offers a number of features for full body massage but different models offer a varying level of functionality. Depending on your chosen model, a quality zero gravity massage chair may include features such as:
- Computerized body scan for a personally tailored experience
- Full body stretch
- Lumbar heat
- Leg extension
- Heated feet and calves
- Foot rollers
- Air and vibration arm massage
- Hip air massage
- Lower back heat therapy
- Neck massage
- Shoulder massage
- Acupressure feature
- Multiple auto programs
- Manual adjustments
Who can benefit from a zero gravity massage chair?
A wide variety of people may benefit from a zero gravity massage chair, and in particular those who already suffer from tightness in muscles, back pain or even pain caused by excessive gaming.
When one considers the difficulty and perhaps dangers of going to a physiotherapist or other medical professional during periods of lockdowns, a massage chair at home can be a convenient alternative.
The benefits of zero gravity are largely proven when one considers the reason the concept of the neutral seating position exists in the first place: To reduce stress on the spine and to put the body into a neutral position that involves elevating the legs and balancing body weight.
The benefits of a massage chair have been proven through research that shows that while not a replacement for most people for physiotherapy, a massage chair can help to alleviate lower back pain among other benefits.