38 Last-Minute Gifts for Achy People
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
In this article
All I want for Christmas is to crack every joint in my back. Or soak in a bath long enough to melt away the soreness in my shoulders, or go through every muscle knot one by one with an acupressure tool until there is no tension left in my body. As an achy person, when I fantasize about a great gift, my mind often goes to something that would relieve muscle pain — and I’m not the only one. I polled the Strategist’s achy staffers about the tools that work for them and the gifts they’d be excited to receive, and they had a lot of suggestions, frommiraculous compression sleevesto a cute octopus-shapedthumb massager. I also went through our deep archive of ingenious massage tools recommended byOB/GYNs,professional athletes,horror-movie actors, andopera singersfor the most giftable options. For even more gift inspiration, here’sour guide to every gift guide we’ve written this year.
And a quick note about availability: With Christmas about a week away, the cut-offs for on-time delivery from even major retailers are fast-approaching, if they haven’t passed already. We’re regularly updating all of our guides to reflect this, but you should still confirm your specific arrival date before placing any order. You can also checkour brand-by-brand holiday shipping breakdownfor info about many of our most popular sellers.
Updated on December 17, 2025
We confirmed that everything here is in stock, with all prices up to date, and, as of this latest updated, it should all arrive by Christmas.
Analog massage tools
New! You can now save this product for later.
WriterOttessa Moshfeghuses this made-in-America myofascial-release tool to relieve back pain from scoliosis. “This tool is part of my daily existence,” she says. “I would do it all day if I didn’t have to use my hands.”
New! You can now save this product for later.
This acupressure mat helpedformer Strategist writer Lori Keongrelieve intense pain in her back and shoulders. Little plastic spikes put pressure on tension points; for Keong, it led to generalized pain relief.
New! You can now save this product for later.
A cork sphere the same size as alacrosse ball, one of the most powerful massage tools in any achy person’s arsenal.
New! You can now save this product for later.
A stainless-steel gua sha tool that can be refrigerated for relief to head and jaw tension.
New! You can now save this product for later.
SubwayTakeshostKareem Rahmauses this little fascia blaster as a thumb massager. “I think anyone who uses their phone should have one,” he says.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Rahmaalso loves this back stretcher, which he uses to relieve pain from a herniated disc. He recommends lying on it for five to ten minutes in the morning with an ice pack under your back, which has alleviated pain and prevented bad flare-ups.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Rollga Foam Roller
Thisfoam roller’s large divots provide a deeper massage to large muscle groups, like quads and hamstrings. (It’s also a cool-looking object.)
New! You can now save this product for later.
“This neck stretcher is, without exaggeration, one of the single most life-changing items I have ever placed under my body,” sayscomedy writer Caroline Goldfarb.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Another neck and back tool with three sides, each providing different kinds of relief,beloved by opera singers and Broadway stars. “The tool has helped me stave off shoulder-gripping tension headaches, release super-deep knots in my back, and loosen up my glutes and hips,” writes Strategist contributor Kate Garfield. “A 10–15-minute session with the Davinci Tool can really change my entire body and mood.”
New! You can now save this product for later.
A tool optimized forplantar fasciitis sufferers: a spiky ball that comes apart into two hemispheres and contains an even smaller, spikier ball inside for targeted relief.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Or just get them a spiky massage ball that says “Foot.”
New! You can now save this product for later.
Esarora Ice Roller
An ice roller to relieve headaches and stimulate blood flow.
Electronic massage tools
New! You can now save this product for later.
A heated, scarf-likeshoulder massagerthat former Strategist senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson used to relieve soreness in her glutes, leg muscles, and IT bands after running the NYC Marathon.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Anelectric massagerfor hard-to-reach places recommended by Meera Watts, founder and CEO ofSiddhi Yoga.
New! You can now save this product for later.
A heatedshiatsu massage pillowfor working out your back.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Ourvery favorite foot massagerfor a spa-esque, highly customizable experience.
New! You can now save this product for later.
And ourfavorite massage gun, which our testers prefer to the Theragun — the Hypervolt is much quieter and less shaky.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For a less-expensive massage gun, the friend I turn to for achiness advice has been enjoying this model, a gift from her partner.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Strategist deputy editor Simone Kitchens compares this to a more intense nail-salon massage chair. “It has upgraded my evening foam-rolling routine to something that feels pretty close to an actual hands-on massage,” she says.
[Editor’s note: Chirp offers ground shipping in 2-5 business days, and express in 2-3 business days.]
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For a splurgy gift, our testers love Hyperice’s Normatec compression gear, which comes as anon-the-go sleeveortwo full boots.Jason Schwartzmanis another fan: He calls the boots “a total game-changing extravagance.”
New! You can now save this product for later.
The audience for this is small, but in case you’re curious, this is what a $13,500 massage chair looks like.
Heat, cold, and infrared therapy
New! You can now save this product for later.
TheraICE Headache Hat
A miraculous headache-soothing cap recommended byCup of JofounderJoanna Goddard. It chills in the freezer and can be worn over the eyes or as a headband.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Inspired bythisheatable, coolable, cherry pit-filled pillow I learned about from Eckhaus Latta designerZoe Latta(which unfortunately won’t arrive til well after Christmas), this one is filled with flax seeds but can also be heated in the microwave, cooled in the fridge, and will likely arrive by Christmas if youorder ASAP!
New! You can now save this product for later.
This is the big guns of heating pads,recommended by an OB/GYNfor severe muscle pain, arthritis, severe menstrual cramps, and menopause-related joint pain.Lena Dunhamcalls it her “biggest pain-reduction tool” for endometriosis.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Afterextensive testing, Strategist contributor Alex Ronan deemed this the best microwavable lavender neck pillow on the market: It’s “best able to withstand frequent microwaving without losing its warm lavender punch.”
[Editor’s note: Most colorways will arrive after Christmas — be sure to double-check delivery dates before ordering.]
New! You can now save this product for later.
Given as a gift byStrategist writer Brenley Goertzento her professional-athlete partner, then borrowed daily. She describes it as “a heating pad on steroids.”
New! You can now save this product for later.
Jay Duplassdiscovered this infrared-light therapy pad while shooting a horror film in Ireland, where he was “running around like an idiot, getting beat up, and doing fight scenes, screaming and yelling.” He now brings it everywhere: “It is shocking how well it works.”
[Editor’s note: Novaalab ships orders within one business day, and offers both standard (4-5 business days) and express (2-3 business days) shipping. You can alsoreach out via emailif you’re concerned about arrival times.]
Balms and bath salts
New! You can now save this product for later.
Everyonelovestheselavender-scentedEpsom saltsfor good reason: They help soothe sore muscles, and they’re affordable enough to be astocking stuffer.
[Editor’s note: Ulta holiday shipping timelines can be found inour guide.]
New! You can now save this product for later.
A nice-looking pack of dye-free, fragrance-free Japanese bath salts from ourgifts-for-picky-guysguide.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Runners,tennis players, andskiersall use this menthol roll-on stick for fast, long-lasting pain relief.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Wearables
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
These compression socks helpedStrategist writer Arielle Avilamanage shin-splint pain while training for a marathon. They come in multiple sizes and are available in two different levels of compression.
[Editor’s note: The express shipping cut-off for Bombas is midnight on December 18.]
New! You can now save this product for later.
The nicest-looking compression socks I’ve seen, knitted from flecked recycled cotton yarn.
[Editor’s note: Order from Comrad by midnight on December 21 for express delivery by December 24.]
New! You can now save this product for later.
Colorful, gentle compression gloves for sore hands and arthritis.
New! You can now save this product for later.
These slides come in a million colors and are “like walking on clouds,” says Timothy Grindle, co-founder ofCanoe Club.
[Editor’s note: Order from REI December 18 at 9 a.m. PST with standard delivery, but note that most REIlocationsare open for curbside pickup through December 24. Nordstrom offers two-day shipping by December 20, or next-business-day shipping by December 21, if you order before noon EST.]
New! You can now save this product for later.
When Strategist contributor Katie Stone went ona hunt for non-hideous recovery shoes, these megacomfortable Lululemon clogs were her absolute favorite — they mold to your feet and nail the balance between cushioning and support.
[Editor’s note: Lululemon recommends ordering by December 22 at noon PST for guaranteed delivery by December 24.]
More From The Strategist
- The Back-to-School Hall of Fame
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- Everything You Need to Outfit Your College Dorm
- The Strategist Summer 100
The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
