I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 8 years old and have been looking for relief ever since. As a teen, my doctors recommended a brace at night - this huge, stiff, ridiculous piece of plastic - to prevent my pronounced S-curve from getting worse. I don't think I even lasted a week sleeping in it; it was so uncomfortable. A spinal fusion was presented as an option, but I passed on that, too. Now, at 31, my curve has landed somewhere between 20-30 degrees. I've learned to live with it, always standing up straight to correct my posture and hide my winging shoulder, but the pain is always there.
Suffice it to say, I'm always on the lookout for a new recovery tool to help cope with the discomfort. Foam rollers, massage guns, acupressure mats - you name it, and it's in my pain management regimen. The same goes for therapeutic services like acupuncture, chiropractic appointments, and massage therapy, but these are more cost-prohibitive. And when you're a freelance writer with limited health insurance, weekly, out-of-pocket massages aren't necessarily an affordable option.
So, when I was introduced to the Chirp Contour Decompression Table ($549), I was intrigued. This sleek, at-home device promises to gently stretch your spine, relieve pressure, and melt tension in the comfort of your own home, almost like an at-home massage therapist minus the weekly bills. It focuses on decompression, aka creating space between your vertebrae and reducing pressure on discs.
"The use of gravity combined with the shape of the Contour could help people to extend their spines and combat the forward-leaning postures that are so common in our technology based society," explains Matt Tobler, LMT, a licensed massage therapist at CNX Manual Therapy in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Eager for a massage device to help me cope, I decided to give it a try. And I'm glad I did - the Chirp Contour has quickly become my new favorite among my collection of recovery tools and gadgets. Here's why.
Experts Featured in This Article:
Matt Tobler, LMT, is a licensed massage therapist at CNX Manual Therapy.
Jessica Rizzo, DPT, GSC, CDP, is a physical therapist based in Austin, Texas.
What I Love About the Chirp Contour
The Chirp Contour is shockingly easy to set up, which was immediately impressive. When it first arrived, I was expecting a complicated Ikea-esque table I'd have to MacGyver pieces into, but no - the entire table comes preassembled in the box. You just remove the packaging, plug it in, lie down, and enjoy. The most you have to do is swap out the interchangeable roller to the one you want to use (there are three: a soft roller for sensitive backs, a four-point contour roller for targeted relief, and a deep-tissue roller to really get in there).
As someone who's sat in her fair share of massage chairs, I love the different settings and modes the Chirp Contour offers. It's very relaxing, and since I'm lying down, I can feel my body and muscles relax even more versus being upright in a massage chair or when using a massage gun.
The table offers three different modes for back massage, each of which allows you to tailor the stretch to your specific needs. First, there's "roll," which simply rolls along the spine for a full back massage. Then there's "decompression," which is my favorite mode; the rollers move slowly up and down your back to alleviate pain and pressure (which I have a lot of!). It reminds me of tiny foam rollers that really work their way along my vertebrae to relieve pressure, and I love that I can dial up the strength on days when I need more oomph. The last mode is "target", which I also love on days when I get stuck with a hard-to-reach knot that needs working out. "Target" basically keeps the rollers in one spot along your back, giving you, well, targeted relief. As someone who's consistently twisting and reaching to try and alleviate random spots of pain and discomfort, this mode helps immensely.
On top of the three spinal massage settings, the Chirp Contour also features a separate deep tissue neck massager that feels absolutely dreamy. Some days, I'll just turn the neck massager on, no back massage modes at all, and treat myself to a little TLC. It feels amazing, and like everything else on the Contour, it can be customized to your liking with heat and pressure settings.
All of this is controlled with a remote on the side attached to the device, so there's no need to get up and down to toggle through modes or settings. You can do everything you need to do lying down, which, honestly, who doesn't love?!
What's Worth Noting About the Chirp Contour
While the Chirp Contour feels great and does provide me with relief, some professionals have concerns about the phrase "decompression." According to Jessica Rizzo, DPT, GSC, CDP, a physical therapist based in Austin, Texas, true spinal decompression refers to both surgical and nonsurgical techniques that relieve pressure on the spinal cord, nerve roots, or intervertebral discs. She emphasizes that the spine is a stable network of joints, connective tissue, muscles, and nerves, and decompression therapies are best administered under the supervision of a professional. So, while the Chirp Contour can offer temporary relief and relaxation, it's not a substitute for medical intervention if you have significant spinal issues.
Less important - it's also not exactly compact. While flat and able to be stored under couches and beds, it does command a decent amount of floor space, so if your studio apartment is already playing Tetris with furniture, this might not be your ideal match.
Also, be prepared for a bit of trial and error. The table offers a range of settings to customize your stretch, but finding your sweet spot might take a few attempts. I recommend starting slow and gradually increasing the stretch as your body adjusts - your spine will thank you.
Who Is the Chirp Contour Best For?
If you're someone who deals with chronic back pain, tension from too many hours at a desk, or that post-workout soreness, the Chirp Contour could be a game-changer. It's also a win for folks who like to stay proactive about their body care. Think of it as the in-between maintenance your spine craves when regular massages or chiropractor visits aren't cutting it (or are cutting into your budget).
But know if you are experiencing pain, have a condition, or have had spinal surgery or fusion, you should be evaluated by a medical provider before using the Contour, or any at-home device for that matter. "Back pain especially is very complex and is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis, indicating that adequate treatment cannot be managed by one modality," explains Rizzo. She explains that pain can occur for a number of different reasons, from sitting wrong in your computer chair to neurological problems. "That's why it's important to have a professional assess you and determine an appropriate treatment plan to best meet your individual needs," she says.
As someone with a lifelong scoliosis diagnosis who has tried multiple modalities and recovery tools, I feel confident that the Chirp Contour is safe and beneficial for me, but with any at-home modality, you'll want to chat with your healthcare providers first.
Is the Chirp Contour Worth the Splurge?
At $549, the Chirp Contour isn't exactly an impulse buy. But if you factor in how much you might spend on appointments for similar relief, it starts to make a lot of sense.
I find myself reaching for it daily, especially after long writing sessions over my laptop or following a workout. It's also surprisingly therapeutic for winding down in the evening before I go to bed. If you're someone who values investing in your wellness and prefers an at-home solution that delivers results, the Chirp Contour is well worth considering. While it won't replace professional care, the Chirp Contour feels good and is always ready to stretch away a day's worth of tension. My scoliosis isn't going anywhere, but with the Chirp, it's a bit more manageable (and relaxing!) than ever before.
Francesca Krempa (she/her) is a freelance writer who splits her time between Salt Lake City and New York City. She earned a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Kentucky and a master's degree in journalism from CUNY's Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, where she specialized in health and science reporting. She was previously the commerce editor at Well+Good, where she tested and covered the latest wellness products, including fitness, beauty, travel, style, and more.
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