This $20 acupressure mat melts away my tension and muscle soreness — it's one of the best Amazon impulse purchases I've made

• Acupressure mats are designed to help relieve muscle tension and soreness by stimulating key points throughout your body.
• After reading several articles and reviews, I opted for a $20 mat I found on Amazon that turned out to be one of the most useful purchases I've made in helping aid my back and shoulder pain.
• Though it certainly helps release muscle pain and tension, it's not the most comfortable method for treating that soreness on a daily basis — and something I didn't always look forward to using.

I'm always on the hunt for products capable of helping ease my back pain and shoulder tension. From a posture corrector I discovered while watching "Shark Tank" to an at-home shiatsu massager I impulsively purchased on Amazon, I'm willing to try almost anything once.

Lately, I've seen plenty of articles referencing acupressure mats, with people claiming they've been a lifesaver for helping to alleviate muscle tension. Everyone from former coworkers to perfect strangers sang their praise, too. Curious of how they worked, and somewhat desperate to relieve my own pain, I ordered one on Amazon for $20 and crossed my fingers in hopes it'd work.

Not exactly comfortable

Using the acupressure mat — which is covered in shallow plastic spikes designed to stimulate acupressure points — makes me feel like I'm lying on a pile of fire ants. Comfortable is the last word I'd use to describe what it's like to have my bare back and body weight pressed against a surface made of spikes.

But every time I'd sit up from using it (usually after 10 to 20 minutes), I'd notice a huge wave of relief come over me along with a distinct softening of my muscular tension. At that moment, the uncomfortable nature of the acupressure mat is a distant thought.

A doctor's take

I was unsure if this relief was a result of the acupressure working as it was truly supposed to or just a consequence of the endorphins my body was very obviously releasing. I decided to consult Dr. Pooja Shah, a double board-certified doctor of integrative and family medicine and the Director of Integrative Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, for help.

Dr. Shah, who trained in medical acupuncture at Harvard, explained that acupressure points are located all over our bodies and that they "follow 'meridians' or energy channels of the body," she told Business Insider.

Some scientists think these energy channels may actually be linked to the myofascial tissue around our muscles. When you stimulate certain acupressure points, you may feel relief in other areas of the body. This is why during an acupuncture treatment, needles placed in your calves can release tension held in your back or shoulders.

However, Dr. Shah clarified that the acupressure mat "does not stimulate acupressure points specifically, but rather stimulates many points at once."

I took this to mean that the term acupressure mat is likely a misnomer since proper practice involves the very precise placing of pressure around the body along energy channels and nerve pathways. Dr. Shah offered up a different (and possibly better) theory as to why or how they work.

"The gate control theory of pain may explain how these mats may help some pain syndromes," She said. "Basically, a non-painful stimulus (such as the mat) may prevent painful sensations from traveling to the central nervous system, thus suppressing pain. For example, if you rub your elbow after your bang it, you stimulate normal somatosensory input to certain neurons — this closes the gate of other neurons and reduces the perception of pain. These mats may also stimulate endogenous endorphin release from your brain, helping to alleviate pain transiently."

The bottom line

Although these mats aren't necessarily performing any sort of true acupressure, there are still very real theories as to how and why they can help reduce pain and release tension.

I can't speak for every acupressure mat available but the one I got was just $20 on Amazon and it was one of the more valuable impulse purchases I've made.

From a personal perspective, I've found it to be a helpful way to manage my own discomfort, and I definitely recommend it for anyone who's looking to relieve back or neck pain. Though you can use it while wearing a shirt for a less intense experience, I find it most effective with my bare skin against the mat.

Keep in mind that it's best to start slow and try it first with a layer of protection, like a thin shirt or sheet. I recommend beginning with a few minutes at a time and working your way up once you get used to the feeling. Your adjustment period will taper off the more often you use the mat.

• Should you buy it? If you suffer from painful muscle tension and soreness, then yes. At just $20, it offers incredible value and, for me, delivered even better relief. It can be uncomfortable to use but that paled in comparison to the softening of my tension.
• What are your alternatives? There are many similar acupressure mats a simple Amazon search away, though this one from ProSource was all I felt I needed. Larger mats can target more of your body, while acupressure pillows can provide similar therapy to your head, neck, and shoulders.

Pros: Inexpensive, works well to relieve tension

Cons: Can be very uncomfortable