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- Acupressure mats have been gaining in popularity lately as a way to relieve tension throughout the body.
- After reading a few articles and reviews, I bought one on Amazon for $20, and it was one of the most useful purchases I've made recently. It helps me release muscle pain and tension, but it's not particularly comfortable to use.
- Though the mat helped with my tension, I had doubts that it was a result of properly employed acupressure — so I spoke with Dr. Pooja Shah, a double board certified doctor of integrative and family medicine and Harvard-trained acupuncturist to get to the bottom of things.
I'm always on the hunt for products that can help to ease my back pain and shoulder tension. From a posture corrector I discovered while watching "Shark Tank" to an at-home shiatsu massager I impulsively purchased on Amazon, I'm pretty much willing to try anything once.
Lately, I've been seeing a lot of articles about acupressure mats popping up, with people claiming that they've been a lifesaver for helping to alleviate muscle tension.
Everyone from former coworkers to perfect strangers seemed to be singing their praise. Curious about how they worked, and somewhat desperate to relieve my own pain, I ordered one on Amazon for $20 and crossed my fingers for a miracle.
Using the acupressure mat — which is covered in shallow plastic spikes that are designed to stimulate acupressure points — makes me feel like I'm lying on a pile of fire ants. "Comfortable" is the last word I'd use to describe what it's like to have my bare back and body weight pressed against a surface made of spikes. But every time I sit up from it (usually after 10-20 minutes), I noticed a huge wave of relief come over me along with a distinct softening of my muscular tension.
At first, I was unsure if this relief was a result of the acupressure working as it was truly supposed to or just a consequence of the endorphins my body was very obviously releasing, so I consulted Dr. Pooja Shah, a double board certified doctor of integrative and family medicine and the Director of Integrative Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center.
Dr. Shah, who trained in medical acupuncture at Harvard, explained that acupressure points are located all over our bodies, and that they "follow 'meridians' or energy channels of the body," which some scientists think may be linked to the myofascial tissue around our muscles.
When you stimulate certain acupressure points, you may feel relief in other areas of the body. This is why during an acupuncture treatment, you may have needles placed in your calves that can release tension held in your back or shoulders. However, Dr. Shah clarified that the acupressure mat "does not stimulate acupressure points specifically, but rather stimulates many points at once."
I took this to mean that the term "acupressure mat" is probably a misnomer, considering that its proper practice involves very precise placing of pressure around the body along energy channels and nerve pathways. I figured there was likely a different (and possibly better) theory as to why or how they work. Dr. Shah offered up a possible answer that made a lot more sense. She told Business Insider:
The gate control theory of pain may explain how these mats may help some pain syndromes. Basically, a non-painful stimulus (such as the mat) may prevent painful sensations from traveling to the central nervous system, thus suppressing pain. For example, if you rub your elbow after your bang it, you stimulate normal somatosensory input to certain neurons — this closes the gate of other neurons and reduces the perception of pain. These mats also may stimulate endogenous endorphin release from your brain, helping to alleviate pain transiently.
So, though these mats aren't necessarily performing any sort of true acupressure, there are still very real theories as to how and why they can help reduce pain and release tension.
I can't speak for all the acupressure mats out there, but the one I got was just $20 on Amazon, and it was one of the better impulse purchases I've made in a while.
From a personal perspective, I've found it to be a helpful way to manage my own discomfort, and I definitely recommend it for anyone who is looking to relieve back or neck pain. Though you can use it with a shirt on for a less intense experience, I find it most effective with my bare skin against the mat. Just keep in mind that it's best to start slow and try it first with a layer of protection, like a thin shirt or sheet. I recommend beginning with a few minutes at a time and working your way up once you get used to the feeling. Your adjustment period will taper off the more often you use the mat.