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.
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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
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Kizik Lima 2 Slip-on Shoes
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 they still looked 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
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Xtreme Comforts Seat Cushion
Filter contributor and pro product tester Adam Doud’s back pain flares up when he sits for an extended period of time. After realizing that a seat cushion helped him feel better, he conducted a rigorous test to find the very best ones on the market.
Following six weeks spent sitting on airplane seats and a “god-awfully uncomfortable” wooden chair, Doud deemed this one from Xtreme Comforts as his overall favorite, praising its thick memory foam and budget-friendly price tag.
Read the story: You need to sit down for this – the best seat cushions in the US to relieve your back
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Saiji Laptop Lap Desk
In 2026, you can write the next great American novel or hop on a work call from the comfort of your bed. However, if you struggle with back pain, “straining to work in bed with a laptop balanced on your chest can make things worse”, as Baguley discovered.
He credited this lap desk for helping him work from his bed without discomfort, praising its ample space to hold your laptop and phone at easily adjustable heights and angles.
Read the story: Seven essential gadgets to live with when you have back pain, from grabbers to lap desks
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Therabody Theragun Sense Gen 2
With the help of fitness journalist Kieran Alger, last year our UK colleagues tested 18 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
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Renpho Heating Pad
Recently I reviewed a $1,400 infrared mat that claimed to help relieve muscle soreness.
After a week of testing, I advised you to save your money and invest in the humble heating pad. This one from Renpho came recommended by Filter contributor Maria Ricapito, who deals with back pain. It features 10 temperature settings and automatically shuts off after two hours.
Ricapito says it’s become “a constant companion” and has even helped improve her sleep.
Read the story: ‘The most rejuvenating sleep of my life’: 12 products our writers rely on for rest each night
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Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
Seven essential gadgets to live with when you have back pain, from grabbers to lap desks
‘A literal life-saver’: 11 essential exercise products our writers use to get fit
You need to sit down for this – the best seat cushions in the US to relieve your back
