Sunday, June 28, 2009

Massage Chair Guide for Treatments

Massage Chair Guide for Treatments

by James H Knowlen

Massage therapy is probably one of the oldest methods of healing and rejuvenation. Its roots can be traced back to 2000 BC where it was used by the Romans. It has been used as a method to help ease aches, pains and relieve tension in the body. With the advance of technology, massage chairs are now available which include many massage techniques as well as supplemental treatments for wellness.

Reduce Back Pain: back pain is one of the most commonly reported occupational injuries in the United States. The muscles of the lower back become stiff which leads to discomfort. The flexibility of these muscles needs to be restored to help reduce the incidence of back pain. Massage chairs have a number of techniques which are used to help elongate the muscle and soft tissue areas. This helps to restore their prior flexibility.

Upper Back Massage: stiffness of the shoulders and neck is a common problem that people experience. This can be remedied with a soothing and relaxing massage. The use of a shiatsu massage or kneading can help to relieve the stiffness in the shoulder area. When the muscles become tight, this can result in tension and discomfort. A massage is your best bet to relieve these issues.

Shiatsu: Shiatsu is a technique which originated in Japan. It uses acupoints to help relax the total body. The acupoints are stimulated which relieves tension and other parts of the body. This technique also includes other massage movements to help provide invigoration of the muscles and soft tissue areas.

Reflexology Style Massage: This type of technique is very effective. Massage chairs come fully equiped with reflexology nodes built into the foot wells of the leg rest. These nodes will gently push up into the trigger points of the feet which helps to induce relaxation to its corresponding part of the body. This is also very relieving for the feet as a compression massage is also given which squeezes the feet to help reduce tension and stiffness.

Compression Massage: Air compression massage is used to provide a gentle squeezing action to the larger muscles in the body. Generally it targets the arms, hands, legs and feet. The air compression is run from a compressor which activates specially designed airbags throughout the recliner.

Traction system: some massage chairs are now equipped with traction systems for the lower body. A traction system helps to relieve stiffness in the hips, thighs, knees, calves and ankles. This can provide relief when the lower body has stiffness. These traction systems are an excellent feature now being integrated into massage recliners.

Heating elements: the best massage chairs now integrate heating systems and to their recliners. Heat is commonly used to help reduce swelling particularly with athletes. It is also known to assist with enhance blood flow.

Music Therapy: Music is typically used in massage therapy to help the mind relax. The soothing rhythm of soft music helps to distract the mind off of its troubles. When the mind relaxes is, it helps to release tension in the body making it more responsive to the massage therapy.

These are some of the major components that you should consider when looking for a massage chair. These recliners are integrating more therapeutic treatments in order to enhance the overall massage therapy. Make a list of the most important features and make sure that the massage chair you are considering meats your minimum requirements.

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