Why Reviewers Swear By This $28 Tool For Back Pain Relief

BuzzFeed may receive a share of sales or other compensation from links on this page if you choose to shop through them. All products were independently selected by the editors, prices were accurate and items were in stock at the time of publication.

If you have ever woken up with an annoying neck pain or… backyou may benefit from using an acupressure mat to get some much-needed relief. There's one thing available on Amazon right now that reviewers can't get enough of, with over 29,000 five-star ratings: ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat.

This attractive, soft mat uses a technique similar to acupuncture and can provide a variety of health benefits, including muscle recovery, improved circulation, and relief from back and neck pain.

You can buy ProsourceFit Acupressure Mats and Cushions Set from Amazon for about $27-$30.

This type of pain relief is based on traditional treatment methods. Chinese medicine. To find out how these mats work, we spoke to Eileen Leesecond generation licensed acupuncturist in New Integrative Acupuncture in Greenwich, Connecticut, who is also a licensed physical therapist and Chinese herbalist.

“Chinese medicine practitioners used anatomy and physiology to create specific points and channels on the body. Each channel point is rich in blood supply and nerve endings, and they help improve blood circulation in the body and regulate our nervous system, which is rich in hormones and natural pain relievers,” Li said.

Traditional Chinese medical theory states that these channels (also called meridians) are associated with specific organs in our body, and when there is an ailment, the culprit is an imbalance. Thus, acupuncture or acupressure can help bring relief and restore balance.

But unlike traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, which was used to thousands of yearsAcupressure mats are not designed to target specific pressure points and can instead provide more general body relief.

ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat features plastic spikes, each with 27 built-in acupressure points (6,210 points in total) that stimulate blood circulation throughout the body while you lie on it, resulting in the release of endorphins that can relieve pain. The mat also comes with a matching pillow with acupressure points designed to support the neck and relieve headaches.

“The spikes are blunt enough to stimulate the entire body, so this is a more general approach that can have a decent impact,” Lee said. “I wouldn't say it's a great introduction to acupuncturebecause in our medicine, the more specific, the better. However, the acupressure mat is a good introduction to learning Chinese medicine.”

Lee stressed that for those new to acupressure or acupuncture, it's important to take your time getting used to the mat and use it for no more than 20 minutes at a time.

“Start slow and know that it takes your body about two to five minutes to adapt to a new stimulus, so you don't want to lay on it and then immediately give up on it,” she said. “You need to gradually get into it. If you can't stand the whole mat, place a couple of different supports, like a towel, on certain areas to compartmentalize your body.”

The rug comes in several vibrant colors such as pink, orange, purple, green, and blue, so you won't have to deal with it being an eyesore in your home. Additionally, of the thousands of five-star reviews of the ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat, many note that it is especially helpful for back relief, including the following:

“If anyone in my circle even mentions back/shoulder/neck pain or trouble sleeping, this is the first thing I tell them to try! I can't believe the tension and tightness in my shoulders has completely disappeared when I use this just once a week. Works great for meditation and general stress relief.” — Leanna House

“I have been suffering from tight muscles, back pain and piriformis syndrome for over a year now. I have been to doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors and even ended up getting a couple of spinal injections which finally made the pain go away. I still had extremely tight muscles, pain in my hips and tight hamstrings. After I just used this wonderful thorn, I met once… Once! I'm so comfortable that I can't believe it. I only wish I had known about this a year ago or even earlier due to my narrow neck and shoulders. Don't hesitate, buy it, you won't regret it.” — L. H. Stiver

“I don't understand how it works, and trying to explain it to my 8 year old grandson was fun. Bed of nails, baby. I don't know. He said it was like stepping on a thousand legos. But it works like nothing else to relieve the pain. Every now and then my back curls into a clenched fist, and this pad and pillow turn it into jelly. Soup. Something liquid, not solid. Pick up metaphor. The relief is strong. I recommend it. 12/10”. The quality is as good as the expensive ones, but the package does not include a storage bag. However, I appreciate the loop because it is easy to hang.” — Melinda Smith