VR massage — an abbreviation of Virtual Reality massage — is a massage treatment that combines a physical massage treatment session with an immersive, 180 or 360-degree virtual reality environment.
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Instead of looking at the ceiling or at the floor through an opening on a massage table, the receiver wears a VR headset and headphones during the massage treatment to transport their mind to a relaxing digital destination, like a tropical beach, the mountains, or a forest.
The goal of a VR massage session is to achieve even deeper relaxation by completely eliminating both external (like the room where one receives the massage) and internal mental distractions (the chatter of one’s own thinking).
So, how does it work?
Well, there are basically two types of VR massage. Either you sit in an automated chair-based massage or you are treated by an actual massage practitioner.
Automated Chair-Based Massage
In this scenario, you’ll sit in a comfortable massage chair while wearing a VR headset and noise-cancelling headphones.
During the massage, the automated chair carries out the treatment and you’re connected to an accompanying VR session. You may likewise feel the actual breeze from a fan, feel the heat of special hot lamps, or smell scents to mimic specific sensations, all depending on the type of VR environment.
An Actual Massage Therapist
You would typically lie on a massage table and the therapist performs a manual massage like Swedish, deep tissue, full-body oil, or sports massage, while you wear a VR headset and headphones.
The session may be a choreographed combination between VR technology and a professional therapist, designed to make what you see, hear, and feel work together as one experience.
By contrast, the session may also be entirely disconnected, in the sense that you’re transported to a relaxing VR environment, while at the same time experiencing the touch of the masseur.
Benefits of VR Massage
By replacing the treatment room with calming, visual nature phenomena, one may experience deeper relaxation. A VR experience is also proven to be effective for lowering perceived physical pain and tension during deep soft tissue work.
In addition, the VR environment may prompt the receiver to engage in the session at crucial moments through audio beats, guided meditation, spatial soundscapes, or guided diaphragmatic breathing.
And for those who feel uncomfortable with human touch, the automated chair version offers an entirely private, fully-clothed alternative option.
Deficiencies of VR Massage
Although VR massage may enhance deep relaxation, it lacks the type of interaction with a massage therapist that is of specific importance in therapeutic sessions. In those types of sessions, appropriate, accurate, and immediate verbal and non-verbal feedback and exchange with the masseur/masseuse is of high importance.
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In addition, clients may experience cybersickness and nausea. As there’s a sensory mismatch where the eyes see movement but the body is lying still, it can trigger motion sickness, dizziness, and nausea.
Headsets may also cause discomfort, for instance neck strain. Moreover, the headset may be strapped too tightly, which can cause facial bruising, eyestrain, or tension headache.
There are also hygiene concerns. That is, VR headsets are placed against the skin, and hence trap sweat, facial oils, and makeup. If they’re not thoroughly cleansed after a session, the equipment can become a source for the transmission of pathogens.
VR sessions may also cause sensory overload and thereby overwhelm the nervous system. Instead of relaxing, some receivers experience increased anxiety. In addition, traditional massage relies on mindfulness and internal bodily awareness. Being artificially distracted by a VR environment can disconnect from the body, defeating the entire purpose of therapeutic bodywork.
And last but not least, wearing a light-blocking headset and noise-cancelling headphones means that receivers are unaware of their immediate physical environment. Many clients have reported feeling unsafe or unable to monitor their surroundings.
