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Posts Tagged ‘bodywork’

If you are serious about body building, then you may want to investigate the benefits of regular massage therapy. Studies continue to show that regular massage therapy helps to increase muscle tone, improve range of motion, enhances your flexibility and reduces recovery time from injury. You already know the importance of diet, exercise and stretching. These are important elements of your established routine. Regular massage therapy should be added to your routine as well. Although time constraints may not allow you to see a massage therapist, a convenient alternative is a massage chair recliner.

What are some of the major benefits of receiving regular massage therapy? For body builders in particular, massage therapy helps to increase your body’s circulation. This helps to provide more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. Additionally, this helps reduce the occurrence of muscle spasms and cramps. If your muscles become overworked or injured, massage helps to soften the muscles and scar tissue. It enhances your flexibility by improving the range of motions of joints. It can reduce the recovery time from hard workouts while also helping to reduce its associated aches and pains. Massage therapy releases your natural pain killer or endorphins which decreases pain.

Obviously, massage therapy can help your body building regimen and help you reach peak performance. Getting a massage before an important event or workout enhances performance. Massage reduces tense muscles, increases flexibility and increases awareness and alertness. In competition, these can help boost your confidence and get you ready to perform.

The reason most body builders do not get regular massage therapy is it is simply not convenient. They have to schedule an appointment and the therapist is only available at certain hours during the day. Getting regular massage therapy can thus be problematic. A massage chair recliner on the other hand, provide you with 24/7 access and no appointment is required. You can get frequent massage therapy, which studies have shown is the key to getting the real benefits from massage.

Massage chairs provide a wide range of therapies. Some of the best massage chairs have hundreds of different possible massage therapies available. Some of the most common are Shiatsu, Swedish, deep tissue, sports massage and acu-pressure massage. Additionally, massage chairs can perform full body massage. A roller system is used for the back, neck and shoulders. The lower body and arms/hands are massaged using an air compression massage. These massage therapies are very effective.

The amount of technology you can find in the top massage chairs is outstanding. You can find traction systems. These traction systems have the capability to stretch the lower body from the hips, thighs, knees and ankles. There are also chairs that come with a shoulder and arm stretch. If you need to get away from it all and relax, then you should try a recliner with a built in music player. They come with headphones and you can load it with your favorite music. Some advanced chairs have heat built into the entire chair. You can activiate the controls to individually focus where you want the heat applied.

Most people think that massage chairs are expensive. However, if you are getting regular massage therapy, then they really are the most economic way to receive massage therapy. A massage therapist may cost $50 per hour plus tip. Massage chairs can provide an hour massage for as little as $3 per hour. Most massage chairs are rated for 1,000 hours. If you purchased a $3,000 chair, then your cost per hour is $3. This is a big economic advantage.

If you body build, then you really should incorporate massage therapy into your regimen. The benefits of regular massage therapy help you to attain peak performance. Keep your body and muscles in top condition and lessen the chance of injury with regular massage. A massage chair is a great compliment to your arsenal to get regular massage therapy.

Amateur and professional athletes alike both know that injury comes hand in hand with sports. Sports by its very nature are geared to push the limits of individuals to remain competitive. As boundaries are pushed, limits will be crossed. This is when injuries happen. However, the body is very resilient and with the help of the physical therapy programs recovery times are minimal. These advanced therapy programs build a regimen of activities to restore health and vitality to the affected areas. Many programs require the use of exercise equipment, massage chairs and stretching elements.

You may have just undergone surgery or are able to recover with surgery. The physical therapist must be able to handle a wide variety of situations for their patients. They are going to design a specific regimen for you to follow. Their goals are to restore flexibility and also to help strengthen the injured or stressed areas. Your therapist is an expert in the make up of the muscle and skeletal systems. They also must know about typical surgery procedures. This helps them understand how scar tissue may form deeper within the body. You will use exercise equipment and perhaps a massage chair to help you heal the injury.

If you are a professional athlete your goals are going to be different than if you play sport occasionally. Your physical therapist will consult with you on a direction and time line that fits your needs. An athlete needs quick recovery and to restore maximum flexibility and strength. Whereas the occasional player may take more time to fully recover. In either case, you will be put through stretching, massage, exercise and more. You will get to use various exercise equipment, massage chairs, free weights and more. These are important tools in the therapist’s recovery arsenal.

One of the key areas when you start is to make your muscles more pliable. When an injury occurs, the body immobilizes the affected area. Your body has redundant systems for most everything. If your leg is injured, it will want the other leg to take over. The body does not want the injured leg used and tries to shut it down to heal again. This is good, but your muscles become stiff and tight. They actually hurt to start to bend them. Stretching is an important part of the physical therapy routine to build back flexibility.

Exercises are important to help rebuild strength. When we have an injury, we tend to protect that area. Protecting that area is usually to isolate and immobilize it. In other words, we tend not to use the injured area. This helps to prevent further injury, but at the expense of strength and conditioning. To help rebuild the body, exercises help to build up strength, endurance and agility. Physical therapy clinics have a wide array of exercise equipment from treadmills, stationary bikes, weights and more. These help you focus building up a particular set of muscles.

When you are recovering from surgery most likely you will have new scar tissue. Scar tissue needs to be made more pliable through time. This will enhance the flexibility of the affected area. The mobility of the muscle and also the skin is at stake here. Massage therapy has been shown to increase the flexibility of muscles. Your muscles when injured may also have the muscle fibers break into short units. This reduces their flexibility. The muscles need to be more pliable by elongating the muscle fibers. Massage chairs use kneading and pressing massage techniques to relieve tight muscles and elongate the muscle fibers to restore their flexibility.

Whether you are a professional tennis player or a beginner skier, injuries can happen to anyone. If you do find yourself in physical therapy, work on setting goals to recover. Find yourself an excellent physical therapy clinic. Make sure they have qualified people, proper exercise equipment and massage therapy. And if you need massage therapy, make sure a massage chair is part of your recovery plans.

If you suffer from back pain, then you owe it to yourself to explore what treatment options are available. You want to check with your doctor or chiropractor to diagnose your condition. Some forms of lower back pain can be treated more naturally while others may need surgery. This depends on many factors that your health professional can consult you on directly. Many back pain treatments utilize massage therapy to help assist the healing process. Massage therapy is not necessarily the cure. It is a compliment to your therapeutic needs. Massage therapy can be performed by a massage therapist or in some cases with a massage chair.

Back pain may come from a gradual process. For instance, you work on a computer a few hours a day. You use the mouse and keep your arm under tension. It starts to ache later. This is minor pain. If you are playing sports and through out your back. This is a sudden injury. The sudden injury gets attended to because the pain is overwhelming. On the other hand, we go back to the computer day in and day out. The tension builds in the arm, shoulder and back. Minor back pain accumulates for months or evens years. Do not wait until surgery is the only option; look at some preventative measures that can be taken now.

If you recognize that you are suffering from discomfort associated with back pain, get medical attention. Explain what you feel to your chiropractor and come up with a plan of action. Back pain can be debilitating, so waiting does not cure it. Understanding the causes is an important first step to starting the healing process.

Many of us have built up habits that are now causing the back pain we experience. I know as my stress builds, my shoulders and neck areas get stiff. This starts to cause considerable discomfort as my shoulders and neck start to ache. After speaking with my doctor, I started to realize how I carried my stress and we found some ways to start to reduce the stress by changing my reaction to certain situations. My shoulders and neck would really ache. I have started to change some habits which have started my healing.

In many cases of back pain, there is physical therapy, change of habits and tension relief. Tension and anxiety can be effectively reduced with massage therapy. Massage therapy is wonderful to help relax the mind and work out the stress that has accumulated in the body. There are many massage therapies to assist your recovery. One option you many not be aware of is massage chairs. Massage chairs offer a vast selection of effective massage therapies.

If you have gradual pain and discomfort get some professional attention. You owe it to your family and yourself to not live with the pain. How happy can you be if your back hurts? Life could certainly be better. Check with your doctor and find a course of action right for you. Most likely massage therapy will be a part of our curriculum. If so, explore your options with both massage therapists and massage chairs. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but finding a healthy treatment to get you back to normal is the most important concern.

Clean out your system with an Acupressure massage. Acupressure massage is based on the ancient Chinese medical arts of acupuncture, but without the needles. Acupressure is accomplished by putting medium pressure on particular trigger points throughout the body. This type of massage therapy activates the body’s energy to increase the effectiveness of the immune system and restore balance within the body. Now technology is being used to locate and stimulate your body’s acupressure points in the premier massage chair brands of today.

Did you know that your body has over 300 acupressure points? These trigger points connect to major organs throughout the body. Sometimes these trigger points can become blocked leading to decreases in energy and lower levels of efficiency for your body. The ancient Chinese studied these points thoroughly and correlated the use of pressure to enhancing energy flow in the body. Western medicine is now catching up and has created maps of the body showing these relationships. Acupressure works by applying pressure to targeted points which help to restore energy flow and regain harmony in the body.

Acupressure massage is performed using kneading, tapping and vibration massage techniques. These massage techniques are used throughout the body in conjunction with stimulating the acupressure points. Delivering the acupressure massage is achieved by making rapid circular motions with medium pressure on particular trigger points. The trigger points are then stimulated in conjunction with massaging the body to release blocked energy. The energy flow is restored and the body returns to a normal balance.

If you are like most people, then you know your body can just get out of balance. We all deal with stress in different ways, but stress seems to be a constant. As it builds up, we need to relieve it. Built up stress causes muscle stiffness and the built up of toxins in the body. Both of these conditions cause the body to be out of balance. Acupressure massage benefits the body by helping to relieve the built up of stress, muscle aches and pain and reduce toxins levels. This helps to get the body back in balance.

The technology that is being incorporated into the best massage chairs is simply amazing. Advanced mechanical systems coupled to sophisticated software has produced wonderfully effective massage therapies. These massage recliners have sensors to scan your back. Their software programs create a digital map of your back and locate your individual trigger points. The software then targets these points and the mechanical systems provide kneading, chopping, vibration and firm pressure. These effective systems provide thorough and invigorating relief for your whole back and body.

The extremities of the body can now be effectively massaged with the massage chairs of today. These chairs have integrated air massage systems which use compressed air. The compressed air is delivered with a built in air compressor. The air compressor activates air bags which are specifically designed for a given muscle group. These air bags can be placed to massage the buttocks, thighs, arms, hands, calves and feet. They design them in an array of shapes and sizes to produce effective massage therapy for the targeted area.

New studies of acupressure massage are showing that it can help alleviate headaches, insomnia, dizziness, digestive disorders, constipation and in some cases even motion sickness. We are just beginning to understand the power of acupressure which has been known for centuries in China. Modern technology is being employed in the best massage chair recliners to deliver more effective acupressure massage treatments. The true effectiveness of acupressure massage is when it is done on a frequent basis. Remember stress accumulates daily, so the stress must also be released periodically. Massage chairs are the most cost effective and convenient way of receiving the benefits of acupressure massage.

It may seem like a contradiction. How do you save money when you have to spend money? Most people look at massage chairs as luxury items. They certainly are luxury items if you really do not need the massage therapy that they can provide. On the other hand, if you do need the massage therapy that they then massage chairs can save you a significant amount of money. Many people suffer from back pain or other conditions that require medical or chiropractic treatment. We all know that health care costs continue to rise. How do you save money buying a massage chair?

If you are already receiving massage therapy, then you know that there is a lot of expense involved. You have to make an appointment. You need to drive to and from the office of the massage therapist. You need to take the time from work or other activities. You need to pay per hour of massage therapist time plus their tip. If you go to a massage therapist a few times a month, the bill could be hundreds of dollars per month. This is thousands of dollars per year.

You may already be getting treatment for an ailment that you have. Perhaps you are seeing a chiropractor. The good doctor puts you through a barrage of therapies, adjustments, exercises and more. The chiropractor is helping you to get your situation corrected. But you also need to make changes to keep those conditions from recurring. Many chiropractors use massage therapy to help their patients. If you insurance requires co-pays and other deductables then you may be payings hundreds per year or more.

Now, if you really need massage therapy, then you have options. You can certainly see a massage therapist. A massage therapist is definitely a great way to go, when you can afford both the time and the money. However, massage chairs are another viable alternative. Massage chairs range in price from $599 to $5,999 and offer a terrific range of massage therapies and full body massages.

We do interesting things when we compare. We look at things in the short term. I see the price of getting a massage as $75/hour and think that is cheap compared to a $3,000 massage chair. Is it really cheaper? Let us find out. My massage costs $75/hour plus gratuity which at 15% is $10.00 for a total of eighty-five dollars. How many hours of massage therapy do I get for the cost of a massage chair? Let us divide the $3,000 by the $85/hour. We get 35 massage therapy hours.

When we look at the cost of the masseuse on an hourly basis and we a paying $85 dollars. It would take us 35 hours of masseuse hours to purchase a $3,000 massage chair. If we were to buy a massage chair for this price, how much massage therapy would we get. A massage chair in the midrange level of $3,000 would have a machine life of 1,000 hours. That means the massage chair is rated to last 1,000 hours under the warranty period. How much does it cost for an hour of massage therapy? To calculate this, divide the cost of the chair of $3,000 by the 1,000 hour rating and you are paying $3.00 per hour for massage therapy!

A massage chair gives you a tremendous return on your investment and lowers your massage therapy cost dramatically. Cost is just one area, convenience is another. A massage chair can offer you in-home convenience and 24/7 access. No hassle making appointments or keeping them. With a massage chair, just sit yourself down and select the massage therapy of your choice. Let the massage chair work its magic to help you to relax and relieve your aches and pains without hurting your wallet.

The focus of this review is the Panasonic EP 30004 which is part of the Real Pro Ultra series of massage chairs. Unlike most massage recliner reviews, we follow a systematic approach to the review process. We review 5 important areas of the purchase of this product. The 5 areas we use for the review include: Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. The overall rating is given by adding up the points earned in each category for a total possible score of 100 points. Here is our evaluation of the EP30004.

Warranty & Customer Service: With any electronic equipment or big ticket item, warranty protection is critical. Although, most massage chairs are built well, there are occasional problems. In this case, you want to make sure you have adequate protection. The EP 30004 comes with a 3 year parts and 1 year labor warranty from the manufacturer. We find this as fairly short and recommend you consider purchasing an extended warranty if it is offered. Customer service is dependent on the retailer the chair is purchased and is thus highly variable. Panasonic earns a 15 in this category.

Comfort & Ergonomics: Ergonomics was a hot topic about 10 years ago when everyone started jumping on the bandwagon. However, surprisingly many manufacturers do not pay close attention to this area. The EP-30004 does follow ergonomics very well. It has a detachable head pillow that can easily be adjusted for each user. The armrests come with sufficient padding to support the arms in comfort. The chair back and the seat support the body well and are form fitting. The leg rest can be adjusted an additional five inches. This is really important to fit individual users. Overall we rate this chair an 18 for ergonomics.

Ease of Use: We are seeing an increasing amount to features being built into massage chairs. This is a very positive and beneficial development. The other side of this is being able to keep the control simple and easy to use. Panasonic has a good understanding of this dilemma and includes a voice guidance system built into the remote. If you need help with running a certain aspect of the chair, then the voice guidance is there to walk you through the steps. Otherwise, the controller comes with one touch automatic programs. It has an LCD showing what massage functions are running in the chair. There are a myriad of manual programming options which are fairly simple to use. We like this controller and its layout. We rate this chair a 19 for ease of use.

Key Features: The Real Pro Ultra series of chairs comes with a new massage technique developed by Panasonic. This massage technique is called Junetsu or ultra fine kneading. This Junetsu massage provides targets the muscles with one-second circular thumb movements like that of a professional massage therapist. Junetsu quickly loosens up tight muscles. The spiral circular motion reverberates down through the muscles to invigorate you down to the surface of your bones. This function is a very effective and quick way to get the muscles to release. The other important new feature in the EP 30004 is the shoulder and arm stretch. This function actually provides traction for the arm and shoulder. The stretch is accomplished by the airbags holding the arm and then the chair back moves back slightly to stretch out the arm and shoulder area. This helps to remove tension and to increase your flexibility and joint mobility. The EP 30004 earns a 19 in key features.

Massage Therapy: This massage chair comes with five automatic courses. It includes a Body Scan which is also customizable. Ultra-fine kneading or Junetsu has been introduced to the full complement of Quad-style massage techniques, including Shiatsu, Swedish, fist kneading, and grasping. Between the automatic and the manual functions there are up to 372 combinations of techniques available in this recliner. There are reflexology pads built into the foot wells that pinpoint areas that will instantly increase blood flow and energy throughout your body. These plates are adjustable and removable. You also have both a lower body stretch and the shoulder stretch. This chair has a virtual arsenal of massage techniques to cater to your every need. We score the massage therapy of this chair a 19.

How does the Panasonic Real Pro Ultra EP-30004 rate on an overall basis? Summing up the score, our overall rating of the Panasonic EP 30004 is a 90/100. Panasonic continues its innovation with cutting edge massage therapies such as the Junetsu massage technique and the shoulder stretch. The technologies incorporated into this massage recliner are solid. We are still a bit disappointed with the aesthetics of this chair, which is very plain. Panasonic has incorporated an extendable ottoman which helps reach a taller user more effectively. The massage therapy tends to be a bit lighter than other chairs which over longer term use may be a concern for some. But, overall, this is a well designed and effective massage chair recliner. If you are looking for a shiatsu recliner in this price range, then this is one you should check out.

The Omega M-5000 DLX is the subject of this product review and evaluation. Omega makes massage chairs that have advanced technology, therapeutic massage therapy and aesthetically pleasing designs. This review will cover the important features, functions and the warranty coverage for this high end massage chair recliner.

The warranty helps to offset the risk the consumer is taking in purchasing a manufactured product. Machines are made by humans and humans make mistakes. You want to get sufficient warranty coverage to protect your investment down the road.

The warranty is from the manufacturer of the product. Let us take a look at the warranty coverage provided by Omega for the M 5000DLX. The DLX warranty covers the frame for 5 years. You are also covered for 3 years on the parts and 3 years on the labor. You also get 1 year of parts shipping covered. The M5000 comes with a 90 day in home technician service as well. This is certainly one of the best manufacturer warranties on the market today.

There are some fantastic massage therapies with the M5000. Select one of the 5 automatic programs. Choose the neck and shoulders for a wonderful massage to loosen those tight areas and invigorate your senses. There are 4 manual massage techniques to choose from with finger press, kneading, tapping and combination kneading/tapping. You can also change the strength or intensity of the massage to 3 increasing levels.

One of the great features of Omega Massage Chairs over the years is they have strong, soothing massages. We have tried plenty of weak machines that cannot get that deeper penetration that is sometimes needed. The DLX comes with an extra back pad to soften the massage. This is great when starting out, but you may want to remove it as you become more accustomed to the massage therapies. The DLX has the best neck and shoulders massage, with innovative software controlling the subtle yet relieving motions of the massage techniques.

The M5000 comes with an air massage system for the lower body. The lower body air massage covers the buttocks, thighs, calves and feet. The air compression is soothing and relieving with the gentle or firm setting. The foot massage comes with reflexology nodes. The airbags activate around the tops of the feet with a firm hold and then the reflexology nodes gently push up into the trigger points of the feet. The reflexology massage helps to relax the major organs of the body and induces full body relaxation.

The M 5000 comes with many designer touches to enhance the appeal of this massage recliner. Omega uses top grain ox hide leather for all the upholstery. The armrests come with highly varnished real wood. The remote control has advanced features like the back lit LCD. There are 5 auto programs that start with the touch of one button. The manual controls are tucked away in a concealed side panel.

One very relaxing feature of the M-5000 is it has a built in MP3 player. A USB stick is included with the chair where you can download MP3 files and then plug it into the back of the chair. The DLX comes with headphones as well. The music controls are located on the main controller. Slip the headphones on and let the music take your mind off your troubles as the massage therapy relieves tension throughout your body.

The M-5000 DLX delivers all that a massage chair is about. It has full body capabilities including head to toe reach. Enjoy an excellent neck and shoulder rub down while your feet unwind to a soothing reflexology massage and your mind drifts off into more creative endeavors. You get peace of mind with the best warranty coverage from Omega. This is certainly one of the top massage chairs on the market today.

How is it that we just do not ever seem to have enough time. We know we need to take better care of our bodies, but somehow we just keep cutting corners. We are all busy. We know we need to make good health a higher priority, but. Well, you know, but. We do know that stress builds everyday. It is cumulative. How does that stress get reduced? Since ancient times, massage therapy was the preferred method. Today, how about the day spa? Nice, if I had the time. This is where a massage chair can help.

Massage chairs have advanced with the pace of technology and include many therapeutic massage therapies. Massage therapy involves the manipulation of the skin and muscles to relieve and alleviate aches, pain and discomfort. Massage chairs deliver full body massages from the base of the skull to your feet. They come with an arsenal of massage techniques and can also pinpoint certain problem areas.

Massage therapy is being recognized in more studies as an effective treatment to increase blood flow and lymph flow; reduce stress; relax muscles; reduce heart rate; and improve range of motion. These are significant findings. However, these benefits are premised on obtaining these therapies on a periodic basis. Just like diet and exercise, massage needs to be part of your total health routine. Not just something done a few times a year.

OK, we know massage therapy is good for our health, but I just do not have the time. I love the day spa and it is wonderful for a great array of massage therapy. My only gripe is not having enough time to take advantage of it. By the time I go and get my wonderful treatment and come home, it took over 2 hours. Now, most of the time was heavenly bliss, so I am not complaining. It it just finding that amount of time (forget about money) to get the benefit. Now, a massage chair has one great advantage. It is always waiting for me with its tireless mechanical hands to relieve my daily stress.

The traditional massage at a day spa for a full body massage starts with a therapist covering one part of your bodywill and then moving on to the next. If there are 5 major areas of coverage, then the massage therapist spends an average of 10 minutes on each area over a 50 minute massage.

The massage chair works in paralell. All 5 areas are receiving specialized massages at the same time. The total time of massage with a massage chair is just 10 minutes. There is a significant time reduction with a massage chair to deliver the same coverage of massgae therapy. The massage chair can effectively massage the back, both legs and arms at the same time. Each area is getting massaged all at the same time. This is a lot of massage therapy at one time. But in essence, 10 minutes in the massage chair is equivalent to a 50 minute massage.

How can a massage chair can help you? The big advantage of the massage recliner is availability. It is there when you need it. How hard is it to integrate massage therapy, when you can get a full body 50 minute massage in 10 minutes. But do not feel rushed! Go another 5 or 10 minutes. The relief from those aches and pains is invaluable. Get your health back in balance and integrate massage therapy into your total health routine. Stress is continuous, the solutions to counteract its affects must also be. A massage chair recliner can be that help you just can not get from anybody else!