Types of massage in devices
Shiatsu, percussion, compression, acupressure, vibration, hydromassage and heating. What each one is for.
Device boxes often list five technique names, and it is easy to think they are all variations of the same thing. They are not. The techniques differ in how deep they reach into the muscle, how pleasant they are and what they are for. Below is an explanation of each, with the body areas it is used for.
Shiatsu massage
Shiatsu is a Japanese finger-pressure technique. In devices, it is performed by nodes or heads that rotate in circles and change direction. It acts on deeper muscle layers and is most often combined with heating. It is used for the neck, shoulders, back and feet.
Body areas: neck, shoulders, back, feet
Percussion massage
The head moves back and forth several thousand times per minute. The strike goes deeper than vibration and targets a specific muscle group. That is why it is used for warming up before training and for recovery afterwards. The head stroke amplitude determines how intense it feels.
Body areas: thighs, calves, back, arms, shoulders
Air compression
Cuffs around the feet, calves and thighs fill with air in sequence, pushing fluid towards the heart. This is the principle of pressotherapy. It is used when legs are swollen and heavy, after standing for a long time, a flight or training.
Body areas: feet, calves, thighs
Acupressure massage
Instead of broad kneading, the device presses individual points. For eye massagers, these are points around the eye socket; for the feet, the reflex zones of the soles. The pressure is brief and repeats in cycles.
Body areas: eyes, feet, palms
Vibration massage
Vibration does not go as deep as percussion, but it relaxes surface muscles well and is pleasant as an addition to other techniques. That is why in most devices it is an extra function rather than the main one.
Body areas: whole body, as an additional function
Hydromassage
Water heated to about 40 degrees softens the skin and relaxes the muscles, bubbles provide light stimulation, and rollers at the bottom give the soles a mechanical massage. The combination is more pleasant than a dry massager, but needs preparation and washing afterwards.
Body areas: feet
Heating
Warmth dilates blood vessels and shortens the time a muscle needs to relax. On most Naipo devices, it is turned on with a separate button and can work without massage. It is not a therapy in itself, but it enhances the effect of the other techniques.
Body areas: all areas
How long and how often
The same rule applies to all techniques: 15 to 20 minutes per area is enough. Most devices have a built-in timer that switches them off, usually after 15 or 20 minutes. Longer use does not give better results and can cause muscle tenderness the next day.
For massage guns, the recommendation is up to two minutes per muscle group. Foot hydromassage is usually used two to three times a week.
When a massager is not the answer
A massage device relaxes the muscle and improves circulation. It does not treat the cause of pain. If pain lasts longer than a few weeks, spreads to an arm or leg, or comes with numbness, see a doctor before buying any device.
Do not use a massager on open wounds, on a fresh injury, directly on the vertebrae or on the front of the neck. If you are pregnant, have a pacemaker, diabetes, thrombosis or phlebitis, consult a doctor before use.
