This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
10 Best At Home Shoulder Massagers For Pain And Tension 2019
Technology has paved the way for many cool inventions, including tools that focus on self-care and pain relief.
As someone who spends a lot of time working on the computer, my personal favorite part of a massage is when the therapist work on my shoulders and upper back.
The relief from these two body parts are unmatched.
So when I discovered that the electric massagers sold in the market focus mostly only on the shoulder and back, my journey to find a one that meets my needs has begun (and continues to this day).
Do Shoulder Massagers Work?
Portable shoulder massagers may seem like such a product you see on home-TV shopping, but once you find one that could attend to your needs, your life will never be the same again.
Many shoulder massagers are designed with special features, such as heat, kneading capabilities, and so on. Some are even built after a specific type of massage in mind, such as shiatsu massage and mimic the movements this massage offers.
The most obvious benefit of a neck and shoulder massager is the instant massage. No need to call for a masseuse to help you, or finish the day completely medicated before you can actually rest.
Shoulder massagers do work to provide pain and tension relief, but since these devices are handheld, you still get to control its pressure and relax levels.
10 Best At Home Shoulder Massagers For Pain And Tension
While there are thousands of manual massagers in the market that claim to remove tension and eliminate aches and pain in this area, I decided to focus on electric devices priced $60 and below:
RENPHO Rechargeable Hand Held Deep Tissue Massager for Muscles, Back, Foot, Neck, Shoulder, Leg, Calf Pain Relief
PROS
- Built-in rechargeable batteries
- Looks and feels sturdy
- Powerful motor (almost 4k pulses per minute)
- Has 3 strength levels (adjustable power)
- 4 percussion modes available
- Auto-off every 20 minutes to prevent overheating
- Cordless and portable
- Has 5 interchangeable head attachments to cater to your different massage needs
- FDA Registered
CONS
Some batches have duds (if you’re unlucky enough to receive one)
Only 1 year warranty
Is it Worth Your Money?
RENPHO’s deep tissue massager works by relieving aches and pain instantly on parts of the body that you can reach. At only $40, it’s the best handheld back massager you can get in this price range.
Naipo Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager Foot Massager with Heat
Imagine putting a heated towel around your neck after a stressful day. Naipo’s shiatsu neck and shoulder massager actually works that way. Plus, it is designed with 3D kneading and heat functions that work together in providing a full massage experience every time you use it.
PROS
- Ergonomic U-shaped design
- UL-approved power adapter (also comes with car adapter)
- Designed with 8 deep-kneading Shiatsu massage nodes
- Adjustable power and speeds (low/medium/high)
- Built in heater (improves blood circulation)
- Auto shutdown after 20 minutes of use
- Breathable mesh fabric
CONS
- Some units have heating issues
Is it Worth Your Money?
Naipo’s massager isn’t handheld, but it is definitely effective. It looks expensive for all the features it has, but it is actually affordable at only $40. Naipo produces some of the best-looking and feature-packed neck massage pillow types in the market, so you’re guaranteed of the quality.
InvoSpa Shiatsu Back Neck and Shoulder Massager with Heat
Like Naipo’s Shiatsu massager, this InvoSpa model is designed to hang around your neck, waist, legs, and so on. It comes with heat built into the device and 8 massage roller balls (4 small and 4 big nodes) that simultaneously work in helping any part of your body release stress and relieve sore muscles.
PROS
- Adjustable intensity
- Two massage directions (bi-directional for a more authentic massage feel)
- Built-in infrared heater
- Portable (includes wall and car charger)
- Auto shutdown after 15 minutes
- Comes with 8 kneading nodes
CONS
- Some units come with faulty heater (check the built-in heater once you get this to avoid burns)
Is it Worth Your Money?
InvoSpa’s shiatsu neck and shoulder massager is an Amazon’s Choice item not just because it is inexpensive (at only $50 a pop), but also because it works as advertised. Every dollar of your money will go to pain-reducing and ache-soothing massage today and in the future, so if you’re prone to back aches from the daily grind, don’t hesitate to get this neck massage pillow.
MaxKare Shiatsu Neck Shoulder Massager Electric Back Massage with Heat
PROS
- Overheating protection (shuts off after 20 minutes)
- 8 kneading nodes with two directional rotation knots
- Has therapy mode (with optional heating)
- Adjustable intensity (three levels available)
- Includes AC//DC adapters for car and home charging
- UL and FDA Approved
CONS
- 30-day refund isn’t easy to get if you have issues
Is it Worth Your Money?
What you get for this $35 Shiatsu massager is an all-around device that you can use on multiple body parts, whether you have aches and pains on your back, shoulder, waist, cervical, legs, foot and so on. It may be tricky to wear at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll never want to remove it anymore.
NURSAL 3D Shiatsu Neck and Shoulder Massager with Heat
You can relax anywhere you want with NURSAL’s awesome heated massager that accommodates any body part from neck to foot. The most redeeming feature of this massager is its ability to auto-reverse the kneading movement every minute, so that the massage feels more human and promotes better blood circulation.
PROS
- infrared heat-equipped neck and shoulder massager
- warm function (ideal for blood circulation)
- Auto shutdown after 15 minutes of use
- 4-deep kneading balls
- Easy to store and bring along anywhere
- Adjustable intensity
- One button control hand vibration function
- Quiet device
CONS
- Too heavy for some people
Is it Worth Your Money?
At an affordable price, this kneading massage device effectively eases muscle tension, reduces body aches and ultimately prevents stress. The difference between this NURSAL’s Shiatsu massager with the rest is that it has a warm function, which users can easily control.
Etekcity Rechargeable Lower Back Shoulder Massager
Unlike the other massagers that you hang around the neck, the Etekcity massager targets the lower back and other hard-to-reach body parts.
PROS
- Advanced heat therapy (optional increase in heat)
- Shuts off device after 20 minutes in heated mode
- Two levels of speed adjustments
- Compact and highly portable
- Includes UL-approved AC adaptor (rechargeable batteries)
CONS
- Can be loud when switching directions
Is it Worth Your Money?
Priced around $39, the Etekcity Shiatsu Massager looks a bit different to most massagers on this list, but don’t disregard it just yet. There’s a reason why this particular model has landed Amazon’s Choice and it’s mainly because of its advanced heat therapy. You’ve got to read the manual before using, since many of the complaints about this massager stems from leaning onto the device, which Etekcity clearly says not to do.
Mo Cuishle Shiatsu Neck Massager for Relieving Muscle Pain and Stress
Mo Cuishle’s back shoulder massage model was designed for people with cervical spondylosis, constant bodyaches, fatigue, nervousness and other stress-related physical pains. It has the u-shaped design, which means you can hang it with ease around your neck while your upper back benefits for blood flow improvement, relaxing of tight muscles and pain relief.
PROS
- Portable and quick to set-up/store
- Features infrared heating (this is optional, you can control it)
- 8 deep-tissue kneading nodes to customize your therapy
- Adjustable speed
- Controllable massage direction (it also changes direction every minute automatically)
- 15-minute auto shutoff
CONS
- Always out of stock
Is it Worth Your Money?
If you’re lucky enough to buy one (it’s always sold out), make sure to get one or more (to gift to everyone you know). It’s one of the hottest massagers on Amazon not only because of its price (it’s cheaper than many on this list), but also because it works effectively without heat issues.