![BestMassage BM-EC06C Review: FIELD TESTED [May 2022]](https://www.wellnessgeeky.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ec06c.png)
Shopping around for a high quality, full body, Shiatsu massage chair and finding the BestMassage EC-06C turning up again and again in the results of your research? There's a reason.
It has become one of the most popular due to many factors. Technology, features, and price, to name a few.
This is a winning combination and one that is hard to come by in competitive brands and models. More and more of us are turning to health and wellness therapies like yoga, meditation, and massage because we've experienced the benefits for ourselves, and we've read the scientific findings.
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There's never been a better time to make the purchase of a home massage chair recliner. They are more prevalent than they've ever been, the quality is high and always improving, and the technological advances in mirroring professional-grade massage are available in the rich feature set that so many are currently offering.
Because the BestMassage EC-06C continues to top the list of so many advocates, we've compiled the details and specifications for you, including the benefits, pros, and cons. Consider your to-do list one item shorter.
Massage
Designed and built to emulate the Chinese medical-inspired method of massage, there are four types included: Shiatsu, tapping, kneading, and knocking. These techniques used in combination have been practiced for thousands of years to treat pain, decrease stress, and increase relaxation.
Shiatsu employs pressure, applied directly to the points on the body defined as healing zones, outlined by acupuncture treatment. Running along both sides of the spine, these points penetrate into the muscle, relieving tension, tightness, and soreness caused from muscle pain. This releases healing oxygen via increased blood flow.
The tapping feature provides light beating, or pounding, which is referred to as tapotement. This stimulates various meridians, and can relieve anxiety and stress, as well as release tension. Knocking is similar to tapping but is applied with slightly more pressure.
Kneading simulates human massage with a penetrating rubbing motion that would ordinarily be received by the pressing of the therapist's thumbs. This action delivers a deep tissue massage that works to remove knots and reduce the pain associated with muscle tightness.
Features
The length of the chair contains extra long, powerful rollers that penetrate deep into the neck and back, all the way down to the tailbone, to relieve tension over the entire length of the body and rejuvenate the mind.
The rolling motion is part of a patented system, ideal for relaxation and reducing fatigue associated with sore muscles. The neck region is outfitted with massage heads that press deeply into the pressure points to relieve stress and reduce muscle tension and stiffness.
The legs are equipped to deliver both percussion and compression massage to increase the flow of oxygenated blood, improve circulation, ease sore calf muscles, and heighten mobility and flexibility.
The lower body portion contains 20 air bags, delivering variable compression massage to the legs, feet, and thighs. You can control the intensity of the air massage from low to high, for the desired level of pressure and intensity.
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You can fully recline with the automatic control, dropping the back and raising the legs and feet. You can move the legs and foot ottoman individually from the recline to raise just your feet and legs if preferred, and you can adjust the height of the leg rest with the remote control.
The buttocks area has a high-powered combination of air pressure and vibration massage.
The arm sections flip up, and the hands, arms, and forearms all get massaged. The forearm massage is delivered via compression air bags, and the hands and wrists by way of air administered in waves.
There's a remote control for easily changing between programs and modes, and you can opt for added heat to the back and feet. The chair is equipped with a sensor and switch that work together to measure your height and weight in order to deliver a customized massage.
There's a stretch setting to stretch as well as massage muscles, and an emergency off setting. You can also set it to sleep mode, so that after the massage program ends, the chair will not move from a reclined to a seated position.
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Warranty
The chair is covered under a one-year warranty, which covers parts and labor.
Pros
One common refrain when comparing best massage chairs is the absence of good arm massage. For arms and hands, the EC-06C has a leg up against the competition. You not only get the tops of the arms, but wrists, hands, and forearms as well.
Another thing on the pro side is price. At just under 600 dollars, this is a very reasonably priced machine for the feature set.
We also like that there's heating in the soles of the feat. Many chairs come with back and seat heat, but adding heat to the feet offers excellent benefits for increased circulation and blood flow.
It's also made of real leather, so it's durable. The feel is soft and it wears well.
Cons
One of the biggest downsides is the warranty. Most companies offer at least a three-year and sometimes a five-year waranty, but the EC-06C only comes with a one-year warranty.
The manual can assist with minor repairs and troubleshooting, but this doesn't make up for the lack of an excellent warranty. Some retailers offer additional warranties for a fee.
People have also had a very hard time with communication and adequate service. Even with the one-year warranty, there have been reports of faulty parts, or chairs needing repair within the first year and consumers having a hard time getting them fixed.
For very tall people, those over six feet, there have been complaints about the fit. If you're very tall, you should consider giving this a trial run in the store before you purchase.
It's also quite heavy at 300 pounds, so make sure you have some pals around to help you move it into the house.
While price is a pro, it depends on where you buy it. A definite downside is that while you can find it available from a host of retailers, it appears to range in cost by more than a few hundred dollars.
You can find it online anywhere from 599 to 900 dollars. This is more than confusing. We're not sure if you should consider it a discount when you find it for around 600 hundred dollars, or just overly priced when it's listed for more from other sellers.
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Comparisons
BestMassage offers a range of models in the product line that are worth exploring. If you're looking for a good unit with other features or at a different price point, there are many to choose from.
BM-EC77
The BM-EC77, for example, comes in about 20 dollars cheaper. We like this one a lot, as it offers the highly beneficial therapeutic zero-gravity positioning. This enables you to release your spine and take all of the weight off your joints and bones.
You only get a heat option for the back, and waist, but it offers eight-point Shiatsu massage, stretch, compression, airbags, and foot rollers.
BM-EC161
For a couple hundred more dollars, you can step up to the Bestmassage BM-EC161. It's called the long rail because it adds 60 percent more massage area to the other models. The programs are more intuitively labeled, such as recover, extend, refresh, and relax.
The sensor measures the width between your shoulders and then delivers a personalized massage experienced, tailored to your body specifications.
The foot bed contains a rolling massager for improved circulation, and the heated area includes the waist.
No one has to tell us that massage is good for us. We know it reduces tension and pain, eases sore and tight muscles, and provides untold benefits for our minds and bodies.
Massage provides an overall sense of peacefulness and relaxation. It reduces blood pressure and is unparalleled for providing relief from arthritis pain. It is recommended by doctors and therapists for treating literally hundreds of diseases, ailments, and illnesses, including hypertension and cancer.
It helps reduce chronic and acute pain, enables athletes to rehabilitate quicker.
Owning your own massage chair is a smart investment that pays for itself quickly and in untold ways.
And when set against the field, you can't go wrong with the BestMassage EC-06C. At the price point (if you buy it at the lowest price we could find, which is around $599), it is a well-featured chair that delivers an excellent massage.
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