If you’ve been training clients for more than a few months, you’ve had the conversation: someone mentions they’ve started using a “spike mat” for their back, or they saw one on a mate’s Instagram story, and they want to know if it’s worth trying, or whether you’d recommend one yourself.
Acupressure mats (also called spike mats, or their more famous nickname, the “bed of nails”) have been part of the wellness landscape for years, but the questions from clients haven’t slowed down. Given that roughly three million Australians live with back problems, and up to 90 per cent of people experience lower back pain at some point in their lives, it’s a fair bet you’ll get asked about this again. Here’s what’s actually behind the trend, and how to talk about it credibly.
What an acupressure mat actually does
An acupressure mat is a foam pad covered in thousands of small plastic spikes (usually somewhere between 6,000 and 9,000 depending on the brand), designed to press into pressure points across the skin without breaking it. The concept borrows from the traditional Indian “bed of nails” practice used by yogis for over a thousand years, and from acupressure more broadly: the idea that stimulating specific points on the body can ease muscle tension, increase local blood flow, and trigger the release of endorphins.
Unlike acupuncture, there’s no needle involved and no skin penetration, which is part of why it’s found a home in general wellness use rather than clinical settings.
What the evidence says about acupressure mats
This is the part most consumer coverage skips, so it’s worth being precise about it.
The most relevant clinical research is a 2021 randomised controlled trial out of the University of Padua’s Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, published in the journal Applied Sciences. Researchers worked with patients experiencing chronic non-specific low back pain and split them into two groups: one doing a supervised therapeutic exercise program alone, and one doing the same exercise program plus daily use of an acupressure mat at home.
The group using the mat alongside their exercise program showed a significantly greater reduction in pain compared to the exercise-only group, and the benefit held up well at the six-month follow-up.
The important nuance: this wasn’t a “mat alone” trial. It tested the mat as an add-on to structured exercise, not as a replacement for it. That’s a genuinely useful distinction for anyone working with clients… the research supports the mat as a low-cost adjunct that clients can use between sessions to support the work you’re already doing with them, not as a substitute for proper programming or a physio referral where one’s needed.
There’s also a separate body of research on auricular acupressure (ear-based pressure points, not mats) for chronic low back pain, including a systematic review of seven trials that found meaningful pain reductions. It’s a different delivery method to a mat, but it adds to the broader picture that acupressure as a category has some clinical interest behind it… this isn’t purely anecdotal wellness marketing.
Who shouldn't be using a "spiky mat"
This is the section a professional resource should include and most retail-driven content leaves out. Acupressure mats are generally considered safe for most people, but they’re not appropriate for everyone. Clients (or you) should avoid using one, or check with a doctor first, if any of the following apply:
- Pregnancy: certain pressure points are linked to uterine activity, so caution is advised, particularly earlier in pregnancy
- Blood thinners or clotting disorders: the mechanical pressure carries a higher risk of bruising or bleeding
- Open wounds, active skin conditions, or high skin sensitivity: including eczema, psoriasis, or recent sunburn
- Diabetes with reduced sensation: particularly on the areas being used
- Uncontrolled epilepsy: sudden pain stimulus has, in rare cases, been linked to seizure activity
None of this makes the mat dangerous for the general population, but it’s exactly the kind of screening question worth asking before you casually suggest one to a client, especially one with an undisclosed medical history.
How to use this with PT clients
A few practical ways trainers and studio owners are working acupressure mats into their practice:
- As a cooldown or post-session tool for clients dealing with tight lower backs, particularly desk-job clients who spend most of the day sitting
- As a take-home recommendation for clients managing mild chronic back pain, positioned clearly as a complement to their program, not a fix in itself
- In a “recovery corner” if you run a studio, a couple of mats available for members to use post-class costs very little and adds a tangible point of difference
- As simple content: a 60-second video on why and how you use one with clients tends to perform well, because it’s specific and practical rather than generic wellness content
The line worth holding onto for scope of practice: this is a supportive tool, not a treatment. If a client’s back pain is severe, sudden, or accompanied by red flags (numbness, radiating pain, loss of function), the mat isn’t the answer… a referral is.
If you're looking at stocking or recommending one
There are several acupressure mats on the Australian market, and quality varies more than the price tag suggests: materials, spike construction, and certification are worth checking before recommending one to clients.
White Lotus is an Australian-made option that’s picked up several international product awards and uses food-grade plastic spikes rather than the ABS plastic found in cheaper imports, along with non-allergenic dyes and glue-free construction. They run both a standard affiliate program and a wholesale option, which is worth knowing if you’re considering stocking mats for retail or client use in a studio setting.
Shakti Mat is another Australian brand with a longer track record in the category, known for consistent spike quality and durability across models pitched at different sensitivity levels. It may be a useful option if you’re working with clients who are new to acupressure and want to start on something gentler.
Either is a reasonable starting point if a client asks where to buy one. The main advice worth passing on regardless of brand is to avoid the cheapest unbranded imports, where inconsistent spike quality and ABS plastic are common complaints.
In summary
Acupressure mats aren’t a miracle fix, and they’re not going to replace good programming or manual therapy where that’s what’s needed. But there’s real, published evidence that they can meaningfully support pain reduction as part of a broader exercise-based approach, which makes them a legitimate, low-cost tool worth understanding, rather than dismissing as another wellness fad or blindly recommending without the caveats. Know the research, know who should steer clear, and it’s a genuinely useful thing to have an informed opinion on next time a client asks.
Product mentions in this article are for reader reference only. WNiF does not currently have a commercial or affiliate relationship with any brand named above.
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