Click here to learn more about Mark Henderson's journey with Human Touch Massage Chairs.
For almost two years, I had a name for my pain: sciatica. What I didn’t have was the right diagnosis.
It took a bike crash and an X-ray to uncover the real problem. My right hip was bone on bone, with multiple fractures in my femur where it was pressing against my hip bone. By the time I went into surgery, I couldn’t walk without crutches.
Six months ago, I had my right hip replaced. These days, my routine includes physical therapy, lifting, and something that asks a little less of me: time in my Human Touch Super Novo 3.0 massage chair.
After my surgeon cleared me to use it, the chair became part of how I start and finish my day. I use stretch mode and lower body programs in the morning, followed by tension relief mode at night. It doesn't replace the work of recovery. It's where I make time to pause around it.
Finally Understanding the Problem
The time before surgery is a big part of this story.
For almost two years, I was living with a problem that had been identified as sciatica. Finding out that my hip was actually bone on bone, and that there were fractures in my femur, changed my understanding of what I was facing.
This wasn't something I could simply keep working around.
Going into surgery on crutches made the situation clear. My starting point wasn't just discomfort during exercise. I had reached a point where walking required support.
I think about that when I look at where I am now. It gives context to the work I'm doing and reminds me that this process deserves time and attention.
Bringing My Massage Chair Into My Recovery Routine
I didn't use my massage chair immediately after surgery. I waited until my surgeon cleared me before incorporating it into my routine.
Once I had clearance, I began using my Super Novo 3.0 during two parts of my day: stretch and lower body mode in the morning and tension relief mode at night.
It's a simple routine, which makes it easier to give it a place alongside physical therapy, lifting, and everything else happening in life.
The Super Novo 3.0 offers a variety of massage and stretching programs that allow me to choose an experience based on what I need that day. Having those options at home makes it easy to build a consistent massage routine around my other recovery activities.
Starting the Morning With Intention
In the morning, I use stretch mode and the lower body mode.
That session puts time for myself on the schedule before the day starts filling up. Instead of leaving it until I have a spare moment, I make it part of how I begin.
After everything that led to my surgery, there's something meaningful about that consistency. The big moments, the X-ray, the diagnosis, and the operation, changed the direction of my life. But this stage is built around much smaller moments.
It's showing up for physical therapy. Making time for a lifting session. Sitting in my chair in the morning.
I'm not looking for every session to deliver a dramatic milestone. I'm creating a routine that keeps recovery part of my everyday life.
Winding Down After the Work
At night, I use tension relief mode after physical therapy, lifting, or both.
The timing matters to me. My chair session comes after the work; it doesn't replace it.
Physical therapy and lifting are active commitments. They require effort and focus. My evening chair time is different. It's an opportunity to stop trying to complete another exercise or check another item off the list.
I've given that pause a specific place in my home and a specific place in my day.
That's how I use my Super Novo 3.0: not as a substitute for rehabilitation, but as part of the routine surrounding it.
Making Space to Stop
When you're focused on getting stronger, it's easy to pay attention to what you're doing and less attention to when you stop.
An appointment goes on the calendar. A workout has a clear beginning and end. Taking a pause can be easier to put off.
Having my chair at home makes that pause more intentional. It's not a vague plan to relax when everything else is finished. It's something I've already built into my morning and evening.
That's the real story behind my partnership with Human Touch. The chair isn't just something I own. It's something I use consistently during a significant chapter of my life.
Moving Forward, One Day at a Time
Six months ago, I went into hip replacement surgery unable to walk without crutches. Today, I'm putting in the work through physical therapy and lifting, and making time for what comes before and after.
My Human Touch Super Novo 3.0 has a place in that commitment: stretch mode to start the morning and tension relief mode to close out the day. It's not a shortcut. It's a reminder that taking care of myself doesn't end when the workout does.
For almost two years, pain shaped what I could do. Now, I'm focused on what comes next. And I'm giving recovery the same commitment I give the work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Massage Chairs and Recovery
Can you use a massage chair after hip replacement surgery?
Whether you can safely use a massage chair after hip replacement surgery depends on your individual recovery, surgical procedure, and medical guidance. Always get clearance from your surgeon before using a massage chair after surgery.
Can a massage chair replace physical therapy after hip replacement?
No. A massage chair is not a replacement for physical therapy, prescribed rehabilitation exercises, or medical care. It may be incorporated into a broader wellness routine when approved by your healthcare provider.
How can a massage chair support an athletic recovery routine?
Massage chairs offer features such as stretching programs, targeted massage, and adjustable intensity settings that can support relaxation and help manage everyday muscle tension. Athletes may incorporate these features into their routines alongside proper rest, hydration, and recovery activities.
What makes the Human Touch Super Novo 3.0 useful for everyday recovery?
The Super Novo 3.0 combines DuoSync massage technology, 3D and 4D massage programs, full-body stretching, and customizable massage settings. These features provide different massage experiences for relaxation and everyday muscle tension relief.
Which Human Touch massage chair programs does Mark Henderson use?
Mark uses stretch mode and lower body programs in the morning, followed by tension relief mode at night. He incorporates these sessions into his personal routine alongside physical therapy and lifting.
This is Mark Henderson's personal experience, not medical advice. He resumed massage-chair use after receiving clearance from his surgeon. Recovery experiences vary, and anyone recovering from surgery should consult their surgical team before using a massage chair.
