If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best acupressure mat for back pain relief, then I’d recommend the Spoonk Regular Size Acupressure Mat as the best one.
Acupressure mats have long been used to relieve back aches and pains. There are dozens on the market though, so choosing the best acupressure mat can take time.
In this article we’ll talk about the best ones out there and learn a little bit more about what acupressure mats are and what they can do for your back pain.
Here are the top acupressure mats we’ll be reviewing:
- ProSource Fit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
- Nayoya Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
- Sivan Health and Fitness Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
- YOGU Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
- Spoonk Regular Size Acupressure Mat
Acupressure Mats for Back Pain Relief – Buyer’s Guide
Medication, injections, and other procedures might provide relief for your back pain, but they can be rather invasive.
With an acupressure mat, you may find a way to treat and manage your condition in your home.
Our guide touches on how an acupressure mat can benefit you as well as what features you should look for before deciding on one.
This should help you choose the best acupressure mat to suit your personal needs for back pain relief.
How Acupressure Mats Work
Before we dive too deep into acupressure mats, it might help to understand how they function in the first place.
Acupressure does sound close to acupuncture, and though the two aim to resolve your health issues, there are some obvious differences.
Acupressure is a well-known method, thousands of years old in fact, of naturally healing the body and relieving stress and pain.
It makes use of deep, focused pressure on various spots of the body. It’s an act that can be accomplished by therapists through the use of their knuckles, fingertips, or elbows.
When it comes to acupuncture, it focuses on a similar line of thinking, but the main difference is that you’re being carefully penetrated by thin needles on specific points of your body.
Meanwhile, with an acupressure mat, you won’t need to go searching for a skilled professional.
You can simply lie on the mat as it addresses your various nerve endings and points along your vertebrae.
Benefits of Using an Acupressure Mat
When you use an acupressure mat, it is able to help the body release endorphins through the bloodstream.
Since endorphins are known as a natural pain reliever as they reduce the brain’s perception of pain, this can help manage the stress you may feel in your back.
An acupressure mat may also help release oxytocin in the bloodstream, and oxytocin is another natural way to help manage chronic pain.
In addition, these mats might improve your blood flow and circulation. This may lead to your back feeling less tense and inflamed over time.
Features to Consider
As you’re searching for the best acupuncture mat for back pain relief, there are some key features to be on the lookout for.
Materials
Since acupressure mats differ from one another, the type of material you’ll need is more of a personal choice.
Generally, acupressure mats have some type of cloth covering. This is to help the mat feel better against your skin.
Of course, there are materials that organic and free of any type of irritants. It helps if the fabric is breathable as well so that you don’t run hot while using the mat.
Beyond the cover, mats have some kind of foam padding. The thickness or thinness of the padding may differ.
Those with thicker padding may place more focus on making things comfortable for you.
You may even find mats that forego the foam padding and instead use the likes of coconut fibers to provide comfort and support.
Spikes
The main feature of the acupressure mat is the spike setup. As you are seeking a way to help remedy your back pain, it’s helpful for a quality acupressure mat to have thousands of spikes.
This way, it can provide a greater area of coverage throughout your back rather than just one spot.
Another trait to pay attention to is how the spikes are attached to the mat. Many quality brands mention if they are glue-free.
Those attached with glue may not be that sturdy. A reliable method is with the use of heat. Heat-attached spikes may have a longer life than their glue counterparts.
Size
Size is perhaps one of the more obvious features you should focus on. You’re on the search for acupressure mats to manage your back pain.
So, you’ll need something big enough to actually fit on your back.
Acupressure mats come in a variety of sizes to address different areas on the body.
It stands to reason that your mat of choice should be a comfortable size when it comes to both its length and its width.
Precautions to Using an Acupressure Mat
Although you may feel this is the best method to alleviate your back pain, there are a few risks associated to acupressure therapy.
If you have a serious spinal injury, you may want to consult with your doctor or avoid using the mat altogether.
Also, for women, if you are pregnant, you should not use an acupressure mat. This is due to the fact that the mat may trigger contraptions if the spikes hit a certain spot.
Best Acupressure Mat – Top 5 Reviewed
Shopping for an acupressure mat that will fit your needs does not have to be a hassle.
We’ve put together a list to help you narrow down your search to just five high quality acupressure mats to take a closer look at.
ProSource Fit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
The ProSource Fit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set seem to provide a lot within an affordable price range.
As its name suggests, you will also receive a pillow so that you may have a more well-rounded treatment experience.
There are 6,210 spikes so that numerous of pressure points are covered.
Although it appears to be of a decent size to manage your back, it can be tough to get it in the right position.
This may mean that it merely has a learning curve, more so if you have never used mats such as these before.
It may also not feel too comfortable, but after breaking it in, your body may relax more into using it so that you might feel a positive effect.
It is made from eco-friendly foam material that is soft and covered with fabric that is 100% cotton.
This fabric may not be as high in quality as the rest of the mat though since it can be prone to tearing over time.
It does come in seven different colors if you’re interested in the more aesthetic side of things.
Pros
- Over 6,000 spikes
- Cushioned well
- Eco-friendly material
Cons
- Tough to get in the right position at times
- Fabric seems low in quality
Nayoya Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
The Nayoya Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set is yet another product that comes with a pillow for added relief and support to various parts of your body.
There are thousands of spikes on the mat, 6,210 to be precise.
Coupled with the good length and width of the mat, and you may be able to receive a great amount of coverage to start providing yourself with some back pain relief.
It is a bit pricier than others, but the cover material seems high in quality. The cover washes up well too so that you can easily maintain it.
If one area of the construction could benefit from improvement, it is the foam padding.
At times, it might seem too easy for it to cave in a bit, implying that it may need some more strength.
You may feel like it takes awhile to actually break this mat in so that you aren’t feeling pain when you use it.
Once broken in, it is relatively easy to position properly. It comes along with a carrying case so that you can quickly pack it up and go.
Pros
- Easy to get into position
- Good back coverage
- Quality amount of spikes
Cons
- Foam may benefit from being stronger
- Long break-in period
Sivan Health and Fitness Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
The Sivan Health and Fitness Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set offer you good portability as both the mat and the pillow roll up well for packing.
There’s a removable cover so that you can wash it up as needed. It feels soft enough to help give you some amount of comfort.
There is foam padding under the cover, but the foam doesn’t feel that high in quality. It may seem a bit cheaper when compared with the rest of the material.
The spikes, however, are made from high-grade plastic that is 100% non-toxic.
You may find that the spikes come across as a touch too sharp though. This might make it even harder to break in, especially for novice acupressure mat users.
There are enough spikes, thousands, to cover your back properly.
You can decide from two different colors, green and black, if you want it to match with some of your other fitness and therapy equipment.
Pros
- Removable and washable cover
- Non-toxic spikes
- Good portability
Cons
- Foam may feel low-quality
- Plastic spikes can feel too sharp
YOGU Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set
The YOGU Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set features plant-based foam as well as 100% cotton material in the fabric covering.
This plant-based foam may help make this set more eco-friendly.
Even so, the mat may benefit from using more padding to give the mat just enough cushioning to ease some of the discomfort from the mat.
There is also the issue of the spikes themselves feeling too hard. This may mean you have to take some time effectively breaking it in.
If you feel content using the mat, it might not take long to begin feeling some positive effects along your back.
This mat and pillow set is simple to take with you on-the-go considering it’s lightweight. It also seems to hold up well so that it may not wear out during your travels.
You may even choose the mat according to your taste as it comes in four different color styles.
Pros
- May feel it working fast
- Lightweight
- Plant-based foam material
Cons
- Might benefit from more padding
- Seems a touch too hard
Spoonk Regular Size Acupressure Mat
The Spoonk Regular Size Acupressure Mat may be the best acupressure mat made using eco-friendly construction.
Its eco-foam doesn’t feature any toxic material, and the plastic and fabric seem like they won’t irritate your skin.
The cotton cover is also rather easy to clean as it features a Velcro closure system. Simply undo the Velcro and pull off the fabric cover to better maintain.
There are more than 6,000 acupressure spike points on the mat. This is a healthy number, allowing you to get great coverage on your back.
It may be a bit tough or painful to actually break the mat in, but once you manage it, the padding should offer some adequate cushioning to offset the spikes.
You may not feel relief as fast as the company claims. However, once you are used to it, you might notice your body’s response to the acupressure quickening.
You can take this on-the-go with you too to get relief anywhere as both the mat and the pillow roll up into the accompanying travel bag.
To personalize this, you can decide from three colors.
Pros
- High-quality materials
- More than 6,000 acupressure points
- Easy-remove fabric cover
Cons
- Doesn’t seem to work immediately
- Can feel painful to break in
Final Thoughts
If you want to get a similar experience to acupuncture without the needles, then acupressure therapy might be a good option for your back pain relief.
An acupressure mat can save you a trip to see professionals, and it can allow you to treat yourself no matter where you are.
From our list, we feel the Spoonk Regular Size Acupressure Mat is the best acupressure mat for your needs.
It’s a good size in order to better cover your back, both the upper area and lower area. There are more than 6,000 plastic spikes to give you well-rounded coverage too.
The material seems high in quality so that the mat may last you awhile.
You can easily maintain it all by removing the cover and washing it. Once you break it in, you may steadily begin to feel some relief to your back pain.
