At the end of the day, my hands often feel sore. What’s the most effective way of relieving the palms and fingers from the aches and pains of the day? The best massager for hands is what I’m looking for.
Spending the day helping others makes me feel good. I might be baking for my grandkid’s school bake sale – now baking, there’s something that used to be a lot easier on the hands and arms. Tomorrow I might be giving physical therapy to a personal training client.
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We have reviewed five of the best hand massagers just for you so you can feel better now:
- HoMove Hand Roller Massager
- Conair HydroSpa Massaging Hand Sauna
- Breo iPalm520s Electric Acupressure Hand Palm Massager
- Gaiam Restore Hand Therapy Kit (Value option)
- Lunix Cordless Electric Hand Massager with Compression
Why Are My Hands so Sore?
There are a lot of reasons why you may have stiff fingers.
Arthritis, lupus, and even just overuse can make you wish you didn’t have to type that last email of the night. Hand pain can make you unable to keep up with the day’s activities.
Many studies have proven the effectiveness of massage and heat for the relief of arthritis. What you may not know is that acupressure throughout your hands can also help relieve the pressure of headaches, backaches, and tension all over the body. A hand massage with a good massager tool will set you up for the next day.
What Kind of Massager Do I Need?
When your hands are hurting, it can be painful just to do daily tasks. It’s not always easy to get someone qualified to do a hand and arm massage for you although that would be nice. Alternatively doing it yourself is the next best option with an easy device to help release that tension.
These are the different kinds of models available, but the best massager for hands will be the model that is right for you. Check out our guide to self massage tools and massaging.
Static Massagers
This group of massagers is solid, static, and has possibly been used for millennia. There are so many kinds of static units:
- Wooden rods, dowels, and curves.
- Spiked balls.
- Wooden or plastic beads on a frame.
- Recessed balls in holders.
- Silicone or rubber spiked rings, bracelets, and gloves.
These types all have their purpose for a number of reasons. Firstly, they aren’t powered by batteries or have plugs. Usually, a static unit is portable and can be carried around easily. Finally, the static units allow for a more precise application of acupressure points.
Electronic Hand Units
Some models look like they’re straight out of my childhood’s TV space epics. You just put your hand into a handy dandy box, and it gets taken care of. Amazing!
In reality, these units operate either by compression or vibration. Most can be gentle on our delicate joints, but make sure the model you pick is suitable for you. Some can be more aggressive, meant for deep muscle pain. Fingers are fragile, so if you have weak bones, a sprain, or other old injuries, you’ll want to avoid an electronic model.
Compression
Compression massage is achieved with a device that holds and decompresses air in sequence into fabric chambers to help stimulate your muscles and blood flow. They’re usually made for hands, legs, and feet.
They’re the best massager for hands if you’re fighting lupus – compression is a great option for this pain. You don’t ever want to agitate your hands if you’re having a flare-up of any kind. The lowest setting on a compression massager can help to return blood flow and give relief. In fact it’s been shown that any form of massage helps with blood flow to the muscles alleviating pain from stress and trauma.
Vibration
Vibration therapy can be particularly useful for chronically painful nerves, also known as fibromyalgia syndrome, or FMS. By overstimulating the nerves, you can help dull the pain overall. Vibration therapy is also a great feature for the best hand massagers that offer gentle, overall relief.
Heat
Heat can be a great asset to your therapy. It can help to release your aching joints without the use of pharmaceuticals. I know after I take a long, warm bath, my joints are ready to get back to the gym! I’m limber and relaxed. This is because heat allows blood to flow more freely in the joint because your blood vessels are expanding. A good hand massager will give you many of those options, hopefully, all three.
Our Five Best Massagers for Hands
Even now, I bet your hands are a bit sore from scrolling on your computer. By the end of this list, I hope you have some great ideas to give you relief.
We’ve chosen a variety of hand massage tools. Of the five, one is a great nifty manual option so a really reasonable choice. The other 4 are all machines that deliver some form of electrically powered solution.
1. HoMove Hand Roller Massager (1st Choice)
This massager has a soothing rhythm. Its prime feature is the combination of massage techniques: it uses roller wheels, balls, as well as air compression.
The therapeutic areas are customizable; you can select to treat the fingers, the palm, or both. This unit has a heater that can reach up to 107 degrees Fahrenheit, which will help increase blood flow and makes this one of the best massagers for hands. Finally, its acupressure points will help to release pain in other areas of the body.
Pros:
- Customizable and target areas.
- Massages with rollers, air compression, and vibration.
- Adjustable heat.
Cons:
- Heat doesn’t get very hot, only warm.
- Rollers are only on fingers, not thumb areas.
2. Conair HydroSpa Massaging Hand Sauna
The HydroSpa, as the name may suggest, is steam power in your hands! Its warm, gentle steam and vibration combo is great for someone with stiff joints.
Another great feature is the heat option. Because of its design, it will help to moisturize your hands as well as massage. It’s great for the winter months to help keep the skin looking its best.
Pros:
- Heating function.
- Vibration and steam massage.
- Claims to soften and beautify hands. (It seems to help)
- Lasts for 20 minutes before water chamber empties.
Cons:
- Uses only distilled water.
- Steam may not be gentle enough for all users.
3. Breo iPalm520s Electric Acupressure Hand Palm Massager
This unit works by air circulation, but it doesn’t just put pressure on your hands. The unique kneading air pressure, combined with acupressure, is a wonderful release. It runs on four batteries (or a wall adaptor), so it’s perfectly portable.
An interesting feature is the included glove. This enables you to apply lotion or pain cream to your hand and allow the unit to massage it in while keeping the unit clean. Adding in the heat function ensures that your hands will be beautiful and relaxed.
Pros:
- Can be run on batteries or a wall adaptor.
- Heat function.
- Multiple settings to find what works for you.
- Acupressure and compression combo massage.
Cons:
- Tight pressure, especially on the highest settings.
- Heat may not be high enough for some users.
4. Gaiam Restore Hand Therapy Kit
A finger roller is the only non-mechanical option on this list. This is for two reasons. First, the roller is easy to carry anywhere! Second, because it allows you to target specific pain areas.
Many electrical units focus on the hand as a whole and don’t let you specify areas to treat. This massager has two ends, one for individual fingers and one for targeting areas of the palm. It can also be used on feet, arms, back, or other areas.
Pros:
- No power to worry about.
- Included a booklet of all exercises.
- Low price.
Cons:
- Requires a degree of self massage yourself.
- Not as relaxing as an electronic model.
5. Lunix Cordless Electric Hand Massager with Compression
With six levels of air compression massage, the Lunix is adjustable for your needs. If your fingers are stiff, add in the heat option to loosen those joints. If you’re feeling a little numb, you can use the vibration to awaken your hands.
This unit allows you to massage one hand at a time, so you’re free to do other tasks, which makes this unit one of the best massagers for hands.
Pros:
- Acupressure, vibration, heat and air compression combo.
- Free finger massager gift with every purchase.
- Rechargeable, cordless unit.
Cons:
- Leaves acupressure dots on hand, which fade after time.
Hand Relief Is Moments Away
Our first choice for hand relief (no sniggering in the back) is the HoMove Hand Massager. Since it has multiple settings to customize your massage, it’s the best massager for hands.
The heat can help relieve the pain from arthritis; the vibration can help with sore joints and is more gentle than the air compression setting. You can adjust the settings as needed. You’ll have sweet relief in no time. Why not try a massager for the hands and let us know what you think.