Everything you want to know about acupressure mats

Acupressure mats have been touted as having miraculous health benefits, from increasing circulation, easing pain and even improving mood. But do they actually work? We gave one a go and you might be surprised at the answer.

What is an acupressure mat?

Originating in ancient China and according to encyclopedia.com, 'acupressure is a body-based therapy similar to acupuncture that involves the application of pressure (from the hands or from various implements) to the same points on the body stimulated by needles in acupuncture'. Acupressure mats use the same principles, just in the form of a mat. And while the later has a long history of popularity, acupressure mats owe their widespread popularity thanks to the ever-growing wellness trends championed by celebrities such as Elle MacPherson, J-Lo and Kate Beckinsale.

They look a bit like thick yoga mats and covered with round plates adorned with little plastic spikes, designed to apply pressure to certain areas of your body. Some also have small pillows which let you apply pressure to your neck when laying down.

By placing a mat on the floor or chair, acupressure enthusiasts slowly lower themselves down to rest their body weight on the spikes, providing the pressure required to stimulate blood-flow to the areas in contact. This is said to increase energy flow and unlock a range of health benefits.

What are the benefits?

Reported benefits of acupressure mats include easing chronic pain, headache relief, relaxing tension in the body, treating insomnia, increasing circulation, improve digestion and even support weight-loss. Scientific evidence of the benefits is however limited, so reports of health improvements rely instead on anecdotal studies.

There does however seem to be some evidence on the effects of pain, with several studies showing a positive effect on period, dental, back and headache related pain.

My experience

After a very convincing conversation with a friend who is a regular user, I decided to try it out for myself, with a mat and bolster specifically designed for use in the office. Positioning the mat on my chair, I took a deep breath and gingerly lowered my backside down onto the plastic spikes. It felt spiky, but surprisingly, not painful.

I reached for the bolster and placed it in the small of my back against the chair, leaning back to increase the pressure. Again, not a painful experience, and I found my posture improved just by adding the bolster. Around 10 minutes in though I’d reached my limit, with the spikes growing slowly more painful the longer I sat, so I removed them. For a first try, I was happy I’d lasted as long as I did.

Whilst the experience was somewhat invigorating, I felt no different afterwards aside from the easing of the pain caused by the spikes. But as many converts attest, the benefits come with regular use. So, continuing on this way every day for a few weeks, I managed to build up a tolerance of half an hour twice a day - and my results surprised even me.

So do they actually work?

Did I see better sleep, less headaches and a more even mood? I can’t say that was the case, but what I did notice was that I was able to sit for longer at my desk without getting a sore or numb backside and an improvement in my seated posture. In fact, if I used the mat a couple of times a day, I could happily sit all day without the ache of a sore bum.

I put this down to breaking up the surface area of my bottom actually resting on the chair itself. Normally sitting on a chair our backsides are entirely pressed into the seat, but sitting on the acupressure mat, the weight of my body was spread out over the tiny spikes meaning there was less full contact between my glutes and the seat.

Will I keep using it?

As a long-term sufferer of sore ‘sitting bum’ I’m happy to recommend use of an acupressure mat to anyone who experiences the same issue. In fact, after several months use, I’m a convert and I use the mat on my office chair every day.

Want to give it a go?

If you’re keen to try it out for yourself, here’s a few tips for beginners:

Don’t use the mats against bare skin when starting out. If you’re wanting to use one at the office on your chair, wear trousers to give your skin a little extra protection.
Sit or lay down on your mat SLOWLY. Sitting down quickly may cause unnecessary pain.
Build up your time on the mat a few minutes each session. If you can bear it, try for 10 minutes and work your way up to where you feel comfortable.
Expect to be a little uncomfortable – then you’ll be pleasantly surprised it’s not so bad!