10 Best Massage Tools (Review) In 2020

Our first choice might come as a surprise to some of you. It looks more like a hat stand than a massaging tool, but you’d be surprised at the results you can get out of it. The Thera Cane Massager is one of the most basic massaging products on the market. There’s nothing at all fancy about it, it’s just a green cane with six ‘treatment balls’ that you can use to eliminate knots in your muscles. Probably the most impressive thing about it is the shape. It has a straight section, with various treatment balls that double up as handles, and a hook with another treatment ball on the end. That might not sound impressive, but it’s cleverly designed so that it can reach any part of your body.

The treatment balls are designed to provide deep compression and maximize the flow of oxygenated blood to your muscles. It takes a little practice to get it right, but once you’ve got the hang of it, you become your own personal masseuse. If you’re not convinced, check out the Amazon reviews – people are in love with this product. Make sure you also check our guide to the best foot massagers.

The feet are one of the most neglected parts of the body. They get used constantly and barely get any love. And, they contain the nerve endings for almost every part of the body. But you can change all that with the TheraFlow Dual Foot Massager Roller. In the world of massage tools, this product is pretty unique because it allows you to work both your feet at once. It’s a wooden product that has 10 self-moving rollers – all you have to do is stand on top and move your feet backwards and forwards.

It works because each roller is covered in small, hard nubs that apply pressure to different parts of your feet. There are two treatment modes – acupressure and kneading – which offer different results. But to sum the product up, it’s one of the most effective ways of treating problems with your feet at home. If you have poor circulation, severe foot pain, or just spend a lot of time on your feet, you’ll absolutely love this product. 

This Shiatsu Shoulder & Neck Massager from Naipo is one of our favourite self-massage tools. It’s a step up in price from the two products we’ve looked at so far, but it’s clear to see why. This electric massage roller takes inspiration from the ancient Japanese bodywork tradition of Shiatsu, which is similar to acupuncture.

It has eight deep-kneading nodes that move around to massage your body. These nodes move around, and you put your body pressure on them to determine the intensity of the massage. It’s primarily designed to massage your shoulders and neck, but it can also be used on your feet, lower back, arms, and legs.

If you’re looking for versatility, you’ve found it with the Wahl 4290-300. It’s a handheld device with four different attachments (or heads) that provide you with different types and intensities of massage.

The most useful attachment, in our opinion, is the ‘Acupoint’ head. It’s basically a deep-tissue massage tool that pinpoints a particular area of the body, increasing circulation and improving the muscles flexibility. Then, you’ve got the ‘4-finger flex’, which is designed to replicate the fingers of a masseuse – great for a relaxing massaging that doesn’t go as deep as the first attachment. The other two attachments are the ‘flat-disc’ and the ‘muscle-ball’. These both provide a less intense massage designed to relax the body and cover a wider area.

The Five S FS8812 was an easy choice to be our Premium Product. What’s more relaxing than having a full-body vibrating massage, from the comfort of your favourite chair? It might be more expensive than some of the other products on this list, but it’s much cheaper than a full-blown massaging chair – and it does the same job. Once you get it out of the box, all you have to do is place it in a chair, plug it in, and enjoy the massage.

It has three massaging speeds and four different massaging programmes, all of which is controlled by remote control. The different programmes are designed to target separate areas of the body including the neck, shoulders, back, and thighs. It’s important to note that this isn’t a Shiatsu massager. It only vibrates, so it’s not as effective as a deep-tissue massaging tool. However, it’s just as satisfying.

The HoMedics Percussion Action Massager is another handheld massage tool. It focuses purely on percussion massaging, which means that the massaging balls move in and out like pistons, instead of rotating. Whilst this type of massage might not feel as satisfying, it’s actually really effective. This is especially true for sports injuries because it breaks down adhesions and internal scar tissue and improves circulation and flexibility.

It has dual pivoting massage heads that can operate at a maximum of 3,100 pulses per minute. That might not be as powerful as the Wahl 4290-300, but it’s even more effective because there are two heads working at once. You can adjust the intensity by pressing the power button until you’ve found the perfect speed. Plus, it has an optional heating setting to bring warmth to your muscles.

This Nayoya massage roller set is one of the simplest products on this list. It’s a manual massaging tool that uses the power of the hand, instead of complicating things with electricity and heat. And the simplicity of it is what makes it effective. The set includes two identical massage rollers inside ergonomic plastic cases. They can pretty much be used on any area of the body, but you’ll need a partner if you want a massage in difficult-to-reach areas like the lower back.

The best thing about this massaging tool is the fact that it’s so portable. Each massage roller is small enough to fit in your hand, so you can just chuck them in your bag and take them anywhere with you. That makes them a great companion to take to the gym or when you’re travelling. They’re pretty effective too because you can use as much or as little pressure as you need. They come especially recommended for arthritis sufferers, who struggle to use their hands to perform a massage for long periods of time. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best foam rollers.

Gua Sha is a Chinese massaging technique that’s completely different to everything else on this list. Instead of putting deep pressure on your muscles, you scrape a tool over your skin, which produces ‘Sha’. This can either produce bruising or redness of the skin, which is supposed to treat muscle tension and pain. Like all traditional medicines, there is some dispute as to how effective it is. But people still use Gua Sha to this day and rave about its benefits.

This set includes four different Gua Sha boards made from buffalo horn. And they even include instructions to test that it’s real buffalo horn if you’re left in any doubt. The quality of these boards is our favourite thing about this set. Even if you never used them to massage, they’ll look great in your home. They’re all different sizes and shapes, which allows you to work on different parts of the body. Plus, it comes with a 70-page instructional eBook – led by a licensed chiropractor – that will help you become a Gua Sha master.

If you’re looking for a budget self-massage tool, the HealthAndYoga Palm Urchin is one of the best. It’s a uniquely-shaped tool that has been scientifically designed to relieve muscle pain. When you pick it up, you’ll notice immediately how well it fits into the palm. It’s designed this way to give you maximum control, even when you’re using oils and creams. Then, there are four legs with angled knobs on the end to work different muscles at the same time. It is kind of hand-shaped but is much more effective because it’s so rigid.

It’s made from acrylic, which not only makes it strong but means that it’s easy to wash. This is especially important because it’s designed for both self-use and for professional massage therapists. When you are using oil and have to wash down the equipment after every use, it needs to be easy to clean. The only small complaint that people have is that it breaks relatively easy when it’s being transported. Because of the shape, this is to be expected. Just make sure you wrap it up carefully and don’t knock it around in your bag.

The last product on our list is the VIKTOR JURGEN Handheld Back Massager. This handheld back massage tool is one of the most powerful massagers on here, with a maximum speed of 3,350 pulses. But don’t worry, the speed is completely customizable and has multiple different settings.

The thing we really like about this massage tool is the fact that it comes with multiple different attachments. There are three different sets of heads that have different functions. The main one is a ball-shaped head that is good for general massaging, but it’s also one with three-prongs and one with lots of smaller prongs. That means you can really get into those tight muscles.