2D, 3D Or 4D Massage Chairs
As you shop for your chair, you'll notice most of them are presented as 2D, 3D or 4D chairs. What exactly do these terms mean?
The Basics
When you sit in a massage chair, mechanical arms move the rollers along a track up and down your spine. In addition to the up-down movement, the rollers can move side to side as well. This range of movement is primarily what 2D, 3D or 4D is referring to, and it allows you to customize your massage to what you need personally.
2D
2D chairs are relatively simple chairs whose arms move up and down, in and out, in 2 dimensions. These are entry level chairs that work well to relax you and work out muscles on the surface, but don't always reach the deeper muscles. Your ability to customize the speed, depth or intensity of a massage may also be somewhat limited. These are the simplest and often least expensive massage chairs.
As massage chair technology improves, 2D chairs are becoming harder to find. Most manufactures have elected to focus on producing 3D or 4D chairs.
3D
These chairs take the lateral and vertical movement of a 2D chair and add an in-out dimension. This allows you to adjust the rollers so they protrude further out or recede further into the seat, which means you have lots of control over the intensity of your massage. This allows you to reach deeper muscles. As an added bonus, the track of a 3D chair is often longer than a 2D, which means it can hit the neck, lower back, buttocks and thighs. 3D chairs tend to have other features too, such as shoulder massagers, foot/calve massagers, a hip massage program, and many more.
If multiple people will be using the chair, 3D is a good option because of the high amount of customization-each person using the chair will be able to have a massage suited to their unique needs and preferences.
4D
A 4D chair takes a 3D and adds the element of speed- the rollers can be sped up or slowed down depending on your preference. With many 4D chairs, this process is done automatically based on the tenseness of your muscles, so you don't have to adjust them yourself.
The goal of a 4D chair is to mimic the motions of a real human masseuse's hands as closely as possible. They are the most advanced and customizable chairs on the market today.
Which one is right for me?
You're spoiled for choice! Each type of chair has its pros, and it's just a question of what you're looking for. Massage chairs have becoming an increasingly cost-effective way to treat pain, improve mobility and quality of life, or just luxuriate and relax. We recommend at least a 3D chair, as they can take care of most needs from minor pain to major, surface level massage to deeper muscles, and allow lots of customizable options for multiple users. If you plan to use your chair a lot or want very precise control over every aspect of your massage, a 4D chair is a wonderful investment too-it really doesn't get any better than that!