The Fatigue-Free Life: How to Overcome Chronic Fatigue

An estimated 3 million people in the U.S. and 65 million people worldwide have chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS. It’s a condition that causes sufferers to feel severe fatigue regardless of how many hours they’ve slept.

Symptoms of CFS can often worsen after mental or physical activity. The condition can come on suddenly and last for years. Many people with CFS struggle to carry out daily activities and enjoy the things they once loved doing.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for CFS. However, massage can help bring some relief and ease symptoms.

Benefits of Using Massage Chairs for Chronic Fatigue

Having a massage chair in your home is like having your own personal massage therapist that’s always on call. There are many benefits of massage chairs, from muscle pain relief to less stress. The effects of massage can benefit those with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Some of the top benefits of massage chairs for CFS include:

Improved Energy Levels

People with CFS often feel tired no matter how much rest they receive. One of the biggest benefits of massage chairs for CFS is that they can help improve energy levels.

Massage doesn’t directly boost energy levels, but rather, it addresses underlying issues that contribute to feelings of fatigue.

For example, regular massages can help support:

• Restful sleep
• Digestion
• Happy moods

When these three things are in balance, you naturally feel more energized.

Additionally, massage chairs apply pressure and movement that helps promote circulation. Improved circulation means that your organs receive more nutrients and oxygen. Waste can also be flushed out more easily, helping you to feel reinvigorated and ready to take on the day.

Relaxation

One of the most well-known benefits of massage is relaxation. Massage chairs come equipped with advanced massage systems that help alleviate muscle tension and help you feel more relaxed.

Massage can also trigger the release of endorphins – your body’s feel-good chemicals. Endorphins can promote a sense of wellbeing and melt away stress.

Many people with CFS suffer from muscle tension and stress. Lack of adequate rest can make it difficult for your body to relax and unwind. Regular massages can help combat these issues, providing some much-needed relief.

Help With Stress, Depression and Anxiety

Massage chairs can help you relax, and that relaxation can, in turn, help combat anxiety, depression and stress.

Those endorphins we just talked about can also help lift your mood and reduce anxiety.

Massage helps reduce cortisol levels, too. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. It boosts your energy levels in high-stress situations, increases blood sugar, reduces inflammation, affects how your body uses carbohydrates and even affects your sleep/wake cycle.

Cortisol certainly has its benefits – when it’s needed. However, chronically high levels of this hormone can have negative effects on your health.

Regular massages can reduce cortisol levels back down to normal, giving the body a chance to recover.

Massage can also help increase serotonin and dopamine levels while reducing norepinephrine, another stress hormone.

Less Pain and Tension

Pain and tension can contribute to CFS, or they can be a side effect of the condition. Massage chairs help with these issues by:

• Closing the pain gate by affecting nerve signals to the brain
• Relaxing muscle tension
• Reducing anxiety and stress

The release of endorphins, dopamine and serotonin can also help with pain relief and allow the body to slip into a more relaxed state.

Massage is one of the top mental health activities you can engage in if you’re stressed, suffering from muscle tension or need to take a break to recharge.

How to Choose the Right Massage Chair for Your Needs

Wellbeing massage chairs can deliver a stress relief massage that can be just as effective as one delivered by a masseuse.

But finding the best massage chairs recliners isn’t always an easy process. There are several factors that need to be considered.

Here's what to consider when choosing a massage chair:

Types of Chairs

There are a few different types of massage chairs on the market today. Understanding the differences between them can help you find the right chair for your needs.

The most popular types of massage chairs include:

• 2D: These chairs have massage rollers that move up and down and side to side.
• 3D: With these chairs, massage rollers move up and down, side to side and in and out. They deliver a more intense massage and can help with deep muscle tension.
• 4D: With a 4D massage chair, the rollers have all of the same movements as 2D and 3D chairs. But they also add variable speed into the mix to better mimic the natural movement of a massage therapist’s hands.
• S- and L-track: Chairs with S- and L-tracks target the entire back down to the backs of the thighs for a more thorough massage.

With a better understanding of the types of massage chairs, you can find one that will meet your needs.

Some chairs have all of these features combined into one, like the Super Novo 2.0 massage chair from Human Touch. These chairs will give you the best of all worlds, allowing you to maximize the benefits of massage.

Built-in Programs

Another thing to consider is the chair’s built-in programs. Modern massage chairs typically come equipped with automatic programs that can address specific issues.

These programs can include:

• Stretch
• Full-body massage
• Recovery

Some chairs also have acupressure systems and body mapping systems that help make these programs even more effective.

Your Lifestyle and Home

Two other important considerations are your lifestyle and home. For example, if you’re limited in space and want a massage chair that can move into the zero gravity position, you’ll need to look for models that require zero or minimal clearance.

If you have CFS and also lead an active lifestyle, you may want a chair that has a recovery program to help you better recover from workouts.

In addition, you should consider your symptoms and what you want to address so that you can find a chair that has the features you need.

Final Thoughts

There’s no easy way to get rid of chronic fatigue, but a massage chair can help bring you some relief. Over time and with regular massage sessions, you may find that your symptoms improve, and you can start enjoying more of the things you love in life.