In another world, pressing play on a “heal overnight manifestation” video or taking a nice hot bath would be enough to relieve our tech necks and tense muscles. Instead, we usually need real, everyday support.
At the Filter, we’ve tested a lot of gadgets to soothe our own achy bodies: eight seat cushions, 18 massage guns and countless products for sleep aid. Below we’ve selected six practical items from our coverage that may help ease your aches and pains.
These products aren’t miracle cures. However, this pair of slip-on shoes and this thick seat cushion have brought our contributors comfort as they navigated pain from injuries and everyday muscle tension.
Lumia Occipital Release Neck Wedge
From her jaw muscles to her shoulders, Filter contributor Maria Ricapito felt tense.
After testing Lumia’s neck wedge for roughly six weeks, she was surprised to experience relief. “I already feel like my jaw muscles are a little looser. It’s hard to tell if the foam wedge is responsible, but the actual time spent lying on it is also relaxing and meditative, so it certainly doesn’t hurt,” she said.
Read the story: ‘A literal life-saver’: 11 essential exercise products our writers use to get fit
Lumia
Occipital Release Neck Wedge
from $35.99
Kizik Lima 2 Slip-on Shoes
Kizik
Lima 2 Slip-on Shoes
from $119.95
After a back injury left Filter contributor Richard Baguley unable to bend down, he made it his mission to find the best products to aid him as he recovered.
He found a stair-climbing grocery cart and a grabbing stick, but one of his top recommendations was a simple pair of slip-on shoes. It reduced his need to tie shoelaces, while still appearing like a standard pair of laced sneakers. “That helps me feel more like a normal member of the human race, but without the agony required to tie shoelaces,” Baguley wrote.
Read the story: Seven essential gadgets to live with when you have back pain, from grabbers to lap desks
Kizik
Lima 2 Slip-on Shoes
from $119.95
Xtreme Comforts Seat Cushion
Xtreme Comforts
Seat Cushion
$33.99
Saiji
Laptop Lap Desk
$142.98
Therabody Theragun Sense Gen 2
Therabody
Theragun Sense Gen 2
from $299.99
With the help of fitness journalist Kieran Alger, last year our UK colleagues tested 18 different massage guns for relieving muscle pain.
In the end, this one from Therabody was his top pick. It was “well-built” and “plenty powerful for tension-busting”.
He also gave a shoutout to its built-in guided routines: sleep prep, back pain, tension relief and lower leg recovery, which he said made it “a doddle to use”.
Read the story: The best massage guns in the UK to relieve sore, tired muscles
Therabody
Theragun Sense Gen 2
from $299.99
Renpho
Heating Pad
from $23.99
Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
