Manufacturers compete on the number of programmes, but in practice what matters more is which techniques the chair performs and how precisely. Here are the main ones and what each of them offers.
A slow glide along the back. This is typically how a session begins and ends: the muscles warm up and the skin gets used to the touch. On its own it does little, but without it the more intense techniques feel harsh.
Rotating movements that lift and squeeze the muscle. This is the deepest-acting technique, used on the shoulder girdle and lower back. In chairs it is carried out by two or four massage heads moving in opposite directions.
Quick rhythmic strikes. These have a tonic effect, making them suitable for a morning session or before physical activity. In the evening, such a programme is often too intense.
Point pressure based on Japanese tradition. The mechanism stops at a specific point and holds the pressure for a few seconds. This technique is used to work on tension knots between the shoulder blades.
The number indicates how many directions the massage heads move in. 2D — up and down and side to side. 3D adds forward and backward movement, which means adjusting the depth of pressure. 4D additionally varies the rhythm of movement, so the massage resembles the work of a real person, where the speed isn't constant.
The practical difference is felt around the neck and shoulders: a 2D mechanism works there with the same intensity throughout, while 3D and 4D adapt to the shape of the body.
These work in areas the massage heads can't reach — the shoulders, arms, hips, calves and feet. The rhythm of compression and release stimulates circulation in the limbs. This is one of those things where you notice the difference between a cheaper and a more expensive chair straight away.
