Can you adjust the intensity of the massage on your new massage chair? The answer is yes—but it depends on how the chair delivers the massage.
There are two main components that work on your body in a massage chair:
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Airbags
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Rollers that travel up and down your back
Airbag Intensity
Airbags are the easy part. You can adjust their intensity by changing the airbag compression level—making them inflate more firmly or more gently. Every massage chair on the market allows you to do this.
Roller Intensity: 2D vs. 3D vs. 4D
Roller intensity depends on the type of chair you have.
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2D chairs:
The rollers only move up and down and side to side. You cannot adjust how deep they press into your muscles. In other words, you can’t make them dig in more or back off. -
3D and 4D chairs:
These chairs allow you to adjust the third dimension (the Z-axis), which controls how far the rollers move forward and backward into your body. This lets you increase or decrease intensity.
What If the Lowest Setting Is Still Too Strong?
If the massage feels too intense even at the lowest setting, we recommend adding extra padding:
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Use a throw blanket folded lengthwise into quarters and drape it over the backrest
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Use a back pad you already have at home
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Or purchase a dedicated back pad from us or another retailer
This extra layer acts as a buffer and softens the massage.
What If the Strongest Setting Isn’t Strong Enough?
If the chair still isn’t strong enough at its highest setting, there are limited options. The best thing you can do is fully recline the chair. When you recline, your body weight presses more firmly against the rollers, which increases the perceived intensity of the massage.
That’s really the only way to make a massage chair feel stronger beyond its built-in settings.
I hope this explanation made sense and helped answer your question.
I’m Dr. Alan Weidner from Massage Chair Relief, and I’ll see you in the next video.
Bye-bye.