That’s not to say that a neck massager is the be-all and end-all of pain management, only that it can make a difference. Specifically, a massager can be one way to alleviate discomfort in your muscles and soft tissues. By loosening up muscle tissue and improving blood flow, one of these devices can help the tissues relax and heal, says Jayesh Vallabh, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center and a member of the International Pain & Spine Intervention Society’s Member Engagement and Health Policy Divisions.
If you’re experiencing neck pain, you can also consider taking an anti-inflammatory drug. Generally, patients should still discuss any medication use with their primary care physician or spine specialist, even if it’s just for over-the-counter medications, Vallabh says.
A general rule when using massagers is not to do anything too much, too soon, or too fast, says Brian Chech, DPT, a physical therapist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Paramus, N.J. Start your massager with gentle pressure and move it around your body so that it isn’t pressed against a single point for too long. If it begins causing you pain, you should lower its strength setting, move it to a different area of the body, or stop using it and consult a professional.
Keep in mind, too, that there are certain areas of your body where you shouldn’t use a neck massager. For instance, while it’s safe to use a massager on the back of your neck, you should avoid the sides and front of your neck because there are a lot of blood vessels and nerves there, Vallabh says. (We’ll dive more into which areas you shouldn’t use a massager on later in the article.)
To find the best neck massagers, my coworker Lisa Fogarty and I tried out six different products. Our selection includes electric-powered massagers as well as handheld massager sticks. Here are the ones we recommend, as well as the ones we will never touch again.
