The back kneading device is characterized in that the massage mechanism moves forward and returns to its original position with an adequate movement amount, while the size in the front-rear direction can be reduced to avoid increase of backrest thickness in the chair-type massage apparatus. The back kneading device 4 mounted in the chair-type massage apparatus 1 comprises: the massage mechanism 10 including paired right-hand and left-hand massage members 17 having the treatment element 21a for massage and the driving section 18 for transmitting massage action to the massage member the base member 12 for supporting the massage mechanism, with the massage member pointing forward the vertical movement mechanism 13 for moving the base member in the vertical direction in the backrest 3 and the protruding-amount varying mechanism 14 for moving the massage member so that protrusion amount of the treatment element in the front-rear direction can be varied.
