Massage Chair Techniques

Massage chairs employ multiple different massage styles to achieve the relaxation, detoxification, and the stress relief you desire. Over time massage chair technology has evolved and continues to become more sophisticated, encompassing numerous massage styles. Each massage style provides a unique sensation and various therapeutic benefits.

Massage Chair Techniques

Perhaps the most commonly recognized massage technique, Swedish massage uses long flowing massage strokes and is associated with pain relief, reduced joint stiffness, improved circulation, and of course relaxation. The Swedish style applies sliding, kneading, tapping, friction, and vibration to relieve muscle tension.

This massage therapy applies targeted deep pressure and focuses on the muscles that lie far below the surface musculature. Deep tissue massage usually involves friction across the grain of the muscles using slow methodical stokes. Classic or Swedish massage promotes relaxation, adversely, deep tissue focuses on specific problems like chronic pain, recovery from injury from injuries, limited mobility, or muscle tension.

Many massage chairs use reflexology in the ottoman during foot massage to promote overall wellbeing and further relaxation. Reflexology is the application of pressure to certain areas of the foot to gain a desired response from a correlating area of the body. As you can see in the reflexology map, each organ, gland, and part of the body is represented. Reflexology relieves tension, improves circulation, and helps promote the function of the related areas of the body, and is believed to balance the body by releasing endorphins that reduce stress and pain. Also, reflexology feels great on tired feet!

The sports massage technique stems from both Swedish and deep tissue massage and has been adapted to meet the special needs of an athlete. Massage prior to an event can help the athlete to gain focus and energize for the competition and loosen and warm the muscles while promoting circulation to prevent injury. After an event, massage speeds recovery by ridding the body of waste products.

Shiatsu massage consists of pressure, also known as acupressure, and stretching. Translated, Shiatsu means “finger pressure” in Japanese and the massage chair simulates this pressure to help people relax and manage issues such as stress, nausea, muscle pain, anxiety, and depression. The philosophy behind Shiatsu is that vital energy, or ki in Japanese (qi or chi in Chinese), flows through the body through a series of energy channels. When a channel becomes blocked, the energy does not flow freely and creates a symptom. In turn, Shiatsu massage releases the blockage and gives an invigorating and refreshed feeling.

Also referred to as Percussion massage, is a series of rapid rhythmic tapping strokes that stimulate the spine and energize the body. This tapping massage technique is also associated with the breakdown of scar tissue, increased blood flow and circulation, and can tone and strengthen the muscles.

Kneading relieves tense, sore muscles though manipulating and stretching motions. The kneading technique also promotes deeper blood and lymph circulation and helps bring vital nutrients to the spinal area. Eliminating toxic materials from the muscle tissue and revitalizing the nerves, a massage chair kneads your back in a small, circular motion on both sides of your spine. Some massage chairs have “grasp and knead” technology that focuses on the neck and shoulder region that commonly holds tension, working out knots and reliving pain. (see the Sanyo HEC-DR8700K Zero Gravity Massage Chair)

Vibration is great for relieving soreness and discomfort and helps promote circulation while soothing and calming the nerves. Vibration ranges from weak to strong and massage chairs usually have various rhythmic or pulsating settings.

Air bags have become equally important in massage as the massage rollers. Air bags usually provide compressions to hands, arms, neck, shoulders, hips, buttocks, thighs, calves and feet to alleviate stiffness and enhance blood circulation. This squeeze and release style of massage is especially effective in stimulating the lymphatic system to eliminate toxins from the body.

Rolling applies constant pressure while rolling gently up and down your back near your spine. Massage rollers warm and loosen your muscles, preparing your back for a deeper massage. The rolling massage technique relieves muscle tension, improves circulation and relaxes the back.

Zero Gravity is a deep recline position of a 128 degrees or more. Zero Gravity Raises the feet above the heart and increases the bodies state of relaxation. This position also helps increase lung function, reduce stress on the spine, and aid in circulation.