Get Stress-Free Using the Best Neck and Shoulder Massagers

Best Neck and Shoulder Massager

What’s the best neck and shoulder massager and how to choose one?

In this article, we are going to be talking about the many advantages that come from the use of a neck and shoulder massager and how you can purchase one that is going to be ideal for your specific needs.

Product ImageProduct NameMassage TypeHeat FunctionalityWeightPortabilityWarranty
LiBa Shiatsu Neck Back Massager PillowShiatsuYes2 poundsYes; Includes car adapter3-Year Warranty
GESS GESS129ShiatsuYes3.5 poundsYes; With car charger included3-Year Warranty
FIVE STAR FIVE S FS8801ShiatsuYes4.7 poundsYes; Includes car adapter3-Year Warranty
truMedic Instashiatsu PlusShiatsuYes5 poundsYes; Lithium-Ion battery included6-Month Warranty
Canary Products Neck TherapyVibrationYes1.4 poundsYes; Embedded rechargeable battery1-Year Warranty

Overview

Figuring out the best neck and shoulder massager is vital for those who have tons of stress and tension in their lives. Besides the pressures of daily living, there are several causes for neck and shoulder pain. The biggest cause for this issue is injuring soft tissue.

The soft tissue includes tendons, ligaments, and muscle areas within the neck and shoulder area. If that wasn’t bad enough, another leading cause is degenerative arthritis. This condition can lead to nerves within the spine becoming pinched, which often leads to huge amounts of pain and discomfort. Additionally, if you have previously broken bones, neck and shoulder pain can be common in the years following your recovery.

This all just goes to show how delicate and sensitive that part of our body can be. The thing is, those are not the only causes for distress in the neck and shoulder area. If you think figuring out the best massager for neck and shoulder pain is something you can put off, think again. In addition to the other causes we have discussed, others can include a broken shoulder blade. The force of the trauma associated with a broken shoulder blade almost inevitably leads to neck and shoulder pain. What about rotator cuff injuries? That group of tendons can get damaged if you spend a lot of your time lifting heavy objects. Feeling a slight twinge of discomfort? You might have your reason right there.

Including everything we have covered, along with whiplash, tendonitis, and inflammation, there is a literal laundry list of reasons you could be feeling discomfort. Regardless of what the specific cause was, you now have a question you’ve got to ask yourself. What is the best neck and shoulder massager? Let’s get into it!

Remedy for neck and shoulder pain

Thankfully, you are not helpless if you are dealing with these painful issues. While you work to figure out the best massager for neck and shoulder pain, there are several smaller steps you can take to help relieve some of the discomforts you are experiencing.

First and foremost, you have to stay hydrated.

Your spinal discs are composed of almost 80% water each, and that number reduces as you age. Keeping up on your water consumption will help maintain comfort and balance across your entire back.

Second, be careful of how you use your phone.

Go hands-free whenever possible, and consider holding your phone up as high as possible so that you are not constantly angling your neck and shoulders at weird, unnatural angles.

Third, in addition to standard exercise, going for the occasional swim can greatly reduce cramped muscles and pinched nerves in the neck and shoulder area. Water therapy can be a great alternative to expensive medical treatments.

Last but not least, don’t forget the two most basic and affordable forms of treatment: acupuncture and investing in a neck-supporting chair or neck and shoulder massager. Acupuncture may be able to get to certain pressure points that deep-tissue massages can’t handle, and neck-supporting chairs help keep your spine aligned in a way that aids in keeping pressure off of sore spots while neck and shoulder massager will help you alleviate your sore muscles.

The Benefits of Neck and Shoulder Massagers

Money Saver

Let’s face facts: going to a medical professional or physical therapist can be expensive. Now, add to that the fact that if you have prolonged neck and shoulder issues, you’re talking about multiple visits over the course of years. Those fees are going to add up quickly, and take a serious chunk out of your finances as time marches on. Given that harsh reality, wouldn’t it make sense to make an investment on a massager up front, and save yourself a healthy chunk of change?

Portability

It’s an unfortunate truth that we can’t predict when neck and shoulder pains are going to pop up out of nowhere. Since most of us work 8 to 10 hour days, getting away from our responsibilities for an hour-long massage isn’t always possible. For this reason alone, the portability of most neck and shoulder massagers is reason enough to make the investment. Having one on hand whenever you need is a smart play.

Reduce Pain Naturally

No one likes the idea of being stuck on prescription medication for the rest of their lives. If you have the chance to put off that process or avoid it entirely, you owe it to yourself to follow through. Pain management, and even reduction, is an important part of dealing with neck and shoulder pain. Do what you have to do to handle it naturally.

Minimize Stress

Daily life can put tons of pressure on our shoulders, both figuratively and literally. Having a personal neck and shoulder massager will at least give you those few moments of relief we all need. A ten-minute break can make all the difference when you’re having a bad day.

Easy to Reach Difficult Areas Alone

There is nothing worse than needing tension relieved from your neck and shoulder area, and there being no one around to help out. With your own personal massager, that’s no longer a concern. Even if you’re on your own at home or in the office, you can still have the comforting massage you need to get on with your day.

Review: Top 5 Neck and Shoulder Massagers

1. Shiatsu Neck & Back Massager Pillow by Liba

Pros:

  • Value for money
  • Home, office and car use
  • Outer surface made with premium leather
  • Portable
  • Extensive warranty

Cons:

  • A little bulky
  • Can consume more space if placed on car’s headrest

Does neck pain stop you from doing your daily tasks? The heated shiatsu massager by Liba is ideal for relieving muscle pain in the neck. Let’s see what’s inside this portable neck massager.

The heated balls works as shiatsu rolling to help sooth pain on your neck. It penetrates deeply down into the muscle area where discomfort clings. The comfort level is amazing because the surface is made with premium quality and it is soft to lie with. You don’t need to worry if you fall asleep very fast. This massager shuts down automatically after 20 minutes of use to ensure only enough massage is applied.

This unit is great for home and car use though may consume space if put it on the car seat. It is a little heavy so the strap should be carefully and tightly tied. The heated shiatsu massager by Liba comes with an extensive 3 year warranty.

See Shiatsu Neck & Back Massager Pillow Price on Amazon

2. GESS129 Shiatsu Kneading Massager Pillow with Heat

Pros:

  • Portable
  • Home, office and car use
  • 4 massage heads with heating and kneading feature
  • Extensive warranty

Cons:

  • Noise is very noticeable when used closer to ear especially on the neck

The GESS129 Shiatsu Kneading Massager is not just your ordinary massager. It packs with amazing features and performs very well. There are 4 massage heads that rotates either by clockwise or counter clockwise. Its heating function is infrared which means it is the same heat you feel from the sun or near a bonfire. The heating and operation auto shut off after 20 minutes to ensure overall safety. If you want it to be used on your car, it’s not a problem. Not just the electrical cord included but also a car adapter. Just plug it on the car’s 12v socket and voila! You can use it while in a long travel.

This massager has an extensive 3 year limited warranty.

See GESS129 Shiatsu Kneading Massager Price on Amazon

3. FIVE STAR FIVE S FS8801 Shiatsu Kneading Massager with Heat

Pros:

  • Auto shutdown feature
  • Sports 8 rollers with heat
  • Home, office and car use
  • AC and DC adapters included
  • Extensive warranty

Cons:

  • Difficult to use while driving
  • Not cordless

Another good massager with wrist support, the FIVE STAR FS8801 does perform very well with its 8 rollers for the best shiatsu massage experience especially on the neck and shoulder. This massager is multi-purpose which means it can be used on most parts of the body. The heating function is a very good addition to help you feel relaxed though it cannot be adjusted to your preferred temperature. What’s making this massager portable is its handy AC and DC adapters. You can use it anywhere – home, office or car. This has an auto shutdown feature after 10 minutes of use. You can turn it back by pushing the power button for another 10 minutes of operation.

For your safety, it is not recommended to use while driving while your arms are inserted on the straps. If you want to use it in the car, be sure you’re the passenger, not the driver. Likewise, this doesn’t operate with a battery so you need to plug it into an AC or DC sockets. If you need a cordless one, the truMedic InstaShiatsu Plus is a great option. The FIVE STAR FS8801 warranty is extensive up to 3 years.

See FIVE STAR FIVE S FS8801 Price on Amazon

4. truMedic InstaShiatsu Plus Neck and Back Massager with Heat

Pros:

  • Cordless
  • Fast charging Li-Ion battery
  • Wrist support helps adjust to your preferred pressure
  • Multi-purpose massager

Cons:

  • Wrist support is not adjustable
  • Battery is neither replaceable nor removable
  • Very short warranty

The truMedic introduces its InstaShiatsu Plus Neck and Back Massager designed to be a versatile massager. This massager can be used on most part of the body. It is cordless which makes it portable so you can take it anywhere. It holds enough power to operate cordlessly and the charging time consumes an hour at full thanks to its fast charging Li-Ion battery. This unit works like shiatsu which is great for relieving sore and aching muscles. Heat can be applied with one touch of a button which is located on the upper left part of the wrist support. Heating function cannot be adjust to your preferred temperature.

The InstaShiatsu Plus’ wrist support helps in adjusting the right pressure when used on your neck and back though it is not adjustable. You cannot replace the battery if it malfunctions and if it is outside the coverage of its 6-month warranty, the whole unit should be replaced.

See truMedic InstaShiatsu Plus Price on Amazon

5. Canary Products Neck Therapy Massager

Pros:

  • Wireless massager
  • Wireless controller with LCD display
  • Customizable timer and intensity level
  • Also works as TENS
  • Infrared heating

Cons:

  • Designed only for the neck
  • Only vibrates
  • Only 1 year warranty

If you’re looking for an advanced neck massager that can be wirelessly operated, then the Canary Products Neck Therapy Massager is a great option. There is no cords or wires need to start the operation. Just charge it and it is ready to use. The wireless controller is all you need. It has an LCD display where you can adjust your preferred settings: Mode, Timer, Pulse, Intensity, Vibration and Heat. The heating function is infrared and can be adjusted according to your preferred level.

This massager is only designed for the neck so if you want a multi-purpose massager then the GESS129 is a good alternative. With its wireless ability, there are no massage balls or heads to perform a shiatsu or kneading massage. What you get is only vibration (can be adjusted to your preferred level). On the other hand, this unit comes with 1 year warranty.

See Canary Products Neck Therapy Massager Price on Amazon

Choosing the Best Neck and Shoulder Massager

Go for The Best

We’re talking about your physical well-being. Bearing that in mind, you shouldn’t go cheap. So, when you start shopping around and comparing brands, try to eliminate any models that get a low rating. Quality products stand out, especially when it comes to user reviews online. While you shouldn’t just accept them on blind faith, if there are enough within the same range, that should tell you all you need to know.

Shocking

When shopping for a neck and shoulder massager, always go for electric models. The main problem with going with manual massagers is they can often leave your hands cramped after extended use. Additionally, manual neck and shoulder massagers can have limited reach when compared to electric models.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Once you’ve got your selections narrowed down, you should also keep in mind that there can be elegance in simplicity. Too many features on a massager can sometimes mean that it does none of them extremely well. From your final selections, try to go with a model that has three to four options at most.

Tips on Avoiding Neck and Shoulder Pain

So, you’ve figured out the best massager for neck and shoulders. But, how do you avoid it in the future? Here are a few steps you can take.

Your Back Is Key

Sleeping on your back is good not only for your breathing but your neck and shoulders as well. If you’re looking for additional support, consider sleeping with smaller pillows under each arm. Sleeping on your side or stomach puts a lot of strain on the muscles in that area. Over time, that strain can add up to serious damage to that entire area.

Time for a New Pillow

People can get really comfy and complacent with their pillows. It’s no surprise, given how much use they get, and how dependent we are on them. After a few months of use, most pillows lose their shape, fullness, and support. If you find yourself suffering from chronic pain, maybe it’s time to get yourself a new pillow. You’d be surprised what a fresh pillow with just the right level of firmness can do for your well-being and pain relief. It just might help give you the best night of sleep you’ve had in weeks.

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight

Backpacks, purses, groceries… everyone has stuff that they have to carry around from day to day. The problem is most people don’t know how to carry that weight evenly. Carrying stuff is such a common daily occurrence that we don’t consciously think about it most of the time. Putting too much weight on one side of your body can not only throw off your posture but lead to severe discomfort throughout your neck and shoulders.

Eyeballs on The Screen

Most people, be it in their profession or private lives, depend on the daily use of computers. If you’re one of those people, make sure that your computer screen is at eye-level. Keeping your vision locked at a bad angle for hours at a time means that you’re keeping your neck and shoulders locked at a bad angle for several hours. It’s not a smart way to be productive; however, it’s an easily-corrected problem.

Summary

When you’re younger, your body bounces back from injury and discomfort at a fast rate. That time lowers the older you get, and eventually, injuries start becoming permanent. Don’t let what might seem like a small problem now- neck and shoulder pain- grow into a larger problem that you carry with you for the rest of your life.

Take care of yourself; invest in the best massager for neck and shoulder pain today, and help make things easier on your future self. It may seem like an investment now, but down the line, you’ll be thanking yourself.