We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Massagers & Pain Management The 8 Best Back Massagers of 2024, According to Spine Experts Our favorites provide heat, vibration, and Shiatsu-style kneading By Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley is a freelance writer with six years of experience creating personal essays, reported features, and commerce content related to health and parenting topics. health's editorial guidelines Updated on May 13, 2024 Medically reviewed by Cara Beth Lee, MD Medically reviewed by Cara Beth Lee, MD Cara Beth Lee, MD, is the current Assistant Medical Director in the Medical Affairs department at Comagine Health. learn more Fact checked by Richard Scherr Fact checked by Richard Scherr Rich Scherr is an updates strategist and fact checker for Dotdash Meredith brands, including Health and Verywell. He is a seasoned financial and technology journalist who served as editor-in-chief of the Potomac Tech Wire for nearly two decades, and is a regular contributor to the sports pages of The Baltimore Sun. He has also been a news editor for America Online and has contributed to the Associated Press and The Washington Post. health's fact checking process In This Article Expand In This Article Our Top Picks ReviewsTypes of Massage Styles How We Selected Our Experts What to Know Who We Are Health / Kristin Kempa If you suffer from back pain, you’re not alone. The American Chiropractic Association says that back pain affects up to 80 percent of the population sooner or later. Back pain typically comes from accidents, injuries, or wear and tear with an underlying genetic predisposition, says Ehsan Jazini, MD, a spine surgeon with Virginia Spine Institute. Factors such as being overweight, having poor posture, living a sedentary lifestyle, not exercising, smoking, and regularly lifting heavy objects can worsen it. While regular massage or physical therapy with a trained professional is the ideal treatment for moderate back pain, it may not always be accessible or affordable. In such cases, a personal back massager can be a useful alternative. There are various devices available for back pain treatment that come in different shapes, sizes, and types of massage. These devices can offer complete coverage of the back or can be smaller, more focused, and portable for use at home, work, or even in the car. To find the best at-home back massagers, we consulted with three medical experts about the most important things to consider when shopping. Using their advice, we researched a wide range of different types of massagers to find the best options across different budgets. We also had an orthopedic surgeon on our Medical Expert Board review this article for medical and scientific accuracy. Types of Massage Styles When it comes to back massagers, there are several therapeutic options to consider. Leia Rispoli, an interventional pain management specialist and physiatrist, suggests that as long as you can adjust the frequency and intensity of your massage, the choice between percussion, vibration, or Shiatsu is simply a matter of personal preference. Shiatsu: A Japanese massage technique that involves pressing, tapping, and kneading the body with varying degrees of pressure. During a Shiatsu massage, the therapist typically uses their hands and fingers to apply pressure to specific body areas. Massaging machines try to replicate this technique by using rollers or nodes to mimic the sensation of a therapist's hands and fingers.Percussion. Massage guns use percussive massage to deliver rapid taps or pulsing beats, loosening stiff muscles and reducing soreness and pressure in the process.Vibration. Vibration massage involves smaller and faster movements than percussive massage. It can cover wider surface areas and typically has more intensity and speed settings. Our Top Picks Best Budget: Mighty Bliss Deep Tissue Back and Body Massager at Amazon ($50) Jump to Review Best Heated: Comfier Heated Massage Belt at Walmart ($43) Jump to Review Best for Lower Back: Homedics Back and Neck Massager at Amazon ($50) Jump to Review Best For Neck and Upper Back: Resteck Neck and Back Massager at Amazon ($80) Jump to Review Most Portable: Theragun Mini at Walmart ($199) Jump to Review Best Handheld: RENPHO Rechargeable Handheld Massager at Amazon ($50) Jump to Review Best Message Gun: Mebak Handheld Massage Gun at Amazon ($100) Jump to Review Best for Chairs: Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager at Amazon ($58) Jump to Review Best Budget Mighty Bliss Deep Tissue Back and Body Massager PHOTO: Amazon $50 at Amazon $50 at Walmart Why We Like It The Mighty Bliss Deep Tissue Back and Body Massager is portable and rechargeable but powerful. It offers six different heads for a customized massage. This nifty handheld device scores our best budget pick because it can go anywhere and massage literally any part of your body, all for a lower-than-average price. The Mighty Bliss relies on percussive massage, like a typical massage gun, delivering 3,700 pulses per minute to the targeted area of your choice: your back, your shoulder, your knee—you name it. We love that the handle is long enough to make targeting even those tough, middle-of-your-back knots and cramps easy to reach and that the changeable heads (designed for large muscle groups, deep tissue, and even your scalp) allow you to pinpoint different body parts and enjoy different types of massages without needing separate devices. It’s Worth Noting The lower price means that it might not last as long as more expensive options. Product Details: Massage Type: PercussionTargeted Area: AnyStyle: HandheldCordless: Yes Best Heated Comfier Heated Massage Belt PHOTO: Amazon $43 at Walmart View on Comfier.com Why We Like It There’s no question that heat can be beneficial for back pain, but you do have to be careful with how much heat you apply; with a few extra safety features, the COMFIER Heating Pad is one of the better-heated options out there. Not only does the heating element have two adjustable settings for comfort, but it also includes a 30-minute automatic shut-off. This way, if you accidentally fall asleep with the pad on, it won’t overheat or injure you. We like many of the other features of the COMFIER pad, too: thanks to velcro fastening on each end, it can be positioned in multiple ways (diagonally across the center of your back or horizontally around your lower back, for example), and it can be extended up to 62 inches for a customized fit. Of course, let’s not forget about the whole massager part of this pad—four different motors distributed throughout the pad provide three levels of vibration intensity for a soothing and relaxing massage with heat. It’s Worth Noting You’re not going to get a professional-quality massage with this pad. Product Details: Massage Type: VibrationTargeted Area: Back Style: Strap-on padCordless: No Best for Lower Back Homedics Back and Neck Massager PHOTO: Amazon $50 at Amazon $50 at Target $73 at Walmart Why We Like It Technically, this HoMedics Massage Pillow isn’t just for your lower back—it can also be used on your legs, neck, or upper back—but its compact, lightweight design makes it a perfect fit for nestling into the lower half of any chair you spend a significant amount of time sitting in. With the shape and contour of a lumbar pillow, the HoMedics Back and Neck Massager fits easily into the crook of an office chair, recliner, or sofa to provide both Shiatsu massage and heat to your lower back; in fact, its lumbar-supporting design may even help relieve some back pain when the massage features aren’t being used. Although it needs to be plugged in, and that limits its portability a little, the setting controls are right on the pillow itself (so no extra pieces, like a remote, are required). It’s Worth Noting The power cord is only six feet long, so it’s likely you need an extension cord. Product Details: Massage Type: Shiatsu, vibrationTargeted Area: AnyStyle: PillowCordless: No Best For Neck and Upper Back Resteck Neck and Back Massager PHOTO: Amazon $70 at Amazon Why We Like It Both the neck and upper back can be hard areas to target with at-home massagers, but the RESTECK Massager for Neck and Back solves some of the most common issues. With a unique U-shaped design, this massager is less likely to slip out of place than pillows and pads, and it won’t tire out your arms while you try to reach behind your back with a handheld device. The RESTECK is designed almost like a sling—the massage and heat features are located in a pad around the back of the device, while two elongated straps hang over the front of each of your shoulders and down to your chest. From these shoulder straps, you can adjust the heat and massage features, which are pretty comprehensive. The Shiatsu nodes can be moved in different directions to target specific areas and can be set to various intensity levels, too. The heat is adjustable, as well. The RESTECK massager straps include loops for your hands or arms to fit through; this helps keep the massager in place rather than slipping and sliding around. It’s Worth Noting You’ll have to sacrifice a little mobility here, since the massager requires you to loop your hands or arms through the straps to keep it in place. Product Details: Massage Type: ShiatsuTargeted Area: Neck, shoulders, backStyle: SlingCordless: No Most Portable Theragun Mini PHOTO: Walmart $155 at Walmart View on Therabody.com $199 at pgatoursuperstore.com Why We Like It Most of the massagers on this list are technically portable, but the Theragun Mini is one of the few that could actually be tossed in a duffel bag and used literally anywhere. With a petite but powerful design and a rechargeable battery (no power cord needed!), the Mini is a great choice for athletes, students, travelers, or really anyone who needs discreet, on-the-go back pain relief. While the Mini can be used on many different areas of the body, its small and lightweight size makes it easy to reach around your back and target tough spots. It’s Worth Noting It only has one attachment head and three speeds, so it’s not the most comprehensive massage gun on the market, but it’s quiet, ergonomic, and endlessly packable, making it stand out in terms of portability. Product Details: Massage Type: PercussionTargeted Area: AnyStyle: HandheldCordless: Yes Best Handheld RENPHO Rechargeable Handheld Massager PHOTO: Amazon $40 at Amazon View on Renpho.com Why We Like It If the RENPHO Rechargeable Handheld Deep Tissue Massager were smaller, it might have given the Theragun Mini some competition in the portability department, but since it’s pretty sizable, we’re picking it as our best handheld option instead. You shouldn’t read “sizable” as a bad thing: we love the elongated design and anti-slip handle of this massager, which makes it easy to use on any part of your back. We also love the multi-attachment head, which delivers 3,600 pulses per minute of deep tissue massage; choose from a gentle round head, a targeted pointed head, two different three-point heads, or a curved head made for hugging your calves, arms, and thighs. No matter what, the RENPHO offers a soothing, percussive massage experience. Its rechargeable battery gives you 140 minutes of massage time without a power cord. A few buttons make this massager easy to operate, allowing you to adjust the intensity up or down as needed. It’s Worth Noting There’s no heat element with this tissue massager. Product Details: Massage Type: PercussionTargeted Area: AnyStyle: HandheldCordless: Yes Best Message Gun Mebak Handheld Massage Gun PHOTO: Amazon $100 at Amazon View on Mebakshop.com Why We Like It If you like the idea of the Theragun Mini but want more customization, the Mebak 3 Massage Gun is a full-sized massage gun with many attachments and a long running time. Once charged, it can run for three to six hours, depending on the intensity settings you use. Speaking of settings, you get to choose from a range of percussive speeds, starting with 640 pulses per minute and increasing to 3,200. You can gently relax and invigorate muscles or get a deep-tissue massage, especially once you find the right combination of speed and attachments. Seven different heads work on sensitive tissue, large or small muscle groups, tendons, joints, and common trigger points. Although the Mebak is larger than mini massage guns, it still manages to be lightweight and fairly quiet. It’s the best of both worlds—portability and adjustability—for a cool price point, too. It’s Worth Noting If you’re using it for your back, you may need a partner to assist you. Product Details: Massage Type: PercussionTargeted Area: AnyStyle: HandheldCordless: Yes Best for Chairs Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager PHOTO: Amazon $50 at Amazon $60 at Walmart Why We Like It Chairs come in all shapes and sizes, so we think the best back massager should be able to adapt to nearly all of them. The Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager is compact but effective. It has four heated massaging nodes that rotate and knead to provide deep tissue massage to any part of your back. Some of the key things we love about this massager for chairs: It has a slim, rectangular design that allows it to be positioned behind your upper, middle, or lower back. It also comes with a protective sleeve for travel and a velcro strap, meaning it will stay in place—both on the chair you attach it to and along the part of your back you really want to target. If you have the proper power setup in your car, you can even strap the massager to the headrest for neck relief while driving. It’s Worth Noting It’s not super-customizable in terms of heat and massage settings. Product Details: Massage Type: Shiatsu Targeted Area: Back and neckStyle: PillowCordless: No How We Selected To find the best back massagers, we consulted with three experts knowledgeable in physical therapy, pain management, and spinal health to determine what people with back pain can expect when using one of these massagers at home. We drew on our experience researching various products related to back pain, including the best mattresses for people with back pain and the best massage chairs. We utilized our expertise along with the insights of our experts to compile a comprehensive list of back massagers that cater to different types, styles of massages, and budgets based on the following factors: Personal comfort: Consider which type of massage you prefer, such as Shiatsu, percussion, or vibration.Portability: Prioritize a lightweight, compact device with a long-lasting rechargeable battery, wireless capability, and a durable carrying case.Frequency of use: Look for products that are durable and reliable. Look for adjustable intensity settings and an ergonomic design to ensure comfort and effectiveness over time.Budget: Evaluate massagers based on cost, durability, effectiveness, and warranty coverage to find the best balance between benefits and budget. Our Experts The Experts we spoke to included: Ehsan Jazini, MD, a spine surgeon with the Virginia Spine Institute Karena Wu, MD, a board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York City Leia Rispoli, MD, an interventional pain management specialist and physiatrist What to Know About Back Massagers It is crucial to always adhere to the manufacturer's instructions when using any back massager you purchase, but generally, there are a few guidelines to follow to ensure maximum safety. Effectiveness: According to Dr. Jazini, back massagers can definitely help relieve back pain and stiffness, as long as your back pain isn’t caused by something more serious than a strained muscle or joint (in which case, you need to see a healthcare provider). He explains that vibrating back massagers can help with blood flow circulation, muscle relaxation, and stress relief. Athletes, especially, can benefit from back massagers before or after workouts to help loosen up joints, relax muscles, increase range of motion, and decrease soreness.Frequency: Dr. Rispoli advises against excessive use of at-home massage therapy, particularly if the targeted area is already sore. It is better to limit the sessions to one or two shorter sessions per day at most. However, if you have been using the product for a while and are aware that you can handle more frequent sessions, then you can continue accordingly.Duration: If you are a beginner, you can use a back massager for just five minutes until you get used to it. As long as you feel comfortable, you can have one or two sessions per day, which can last up to 60 minutes, according to Dr. Rispoli.Comfort: Dr. Rispoli warns that there may be a slight adjustment period when receiving a massage from a machine instead of a person. Many patients need to get used to the machine's massage, so there may be some personalized trial and error involved. You will have to be the judge of what feels good for you.Safety: Most people can use a back massager safely without side effects. Still, it’s important to listen to your body, says Dr. Jazini—using your back massager with too much force can cause new injuries and exacerbate existing ones. If your back pain increases or becomes chronic, stop using the massager and see a healthcare provider. Who We Are Sarah Bradley has been a freelance writer since 2017, tackling health commerce articles, product reviews, and shopping guides on everything from dry skin moisturizers and wart removers to menstrual cups and toothbrushes for braces. She has written about back pain products many times, from the best back braces and pillows to the most comfortable desk chairs, so she knows how to look for products that offer real symptom relief. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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