When you think of massage, you think of an afternoon at the spa, being pampered with a mud bath, feeling the heat of the sauna, and rejuvenating your skin with fresh peels and wraps. But there is another side-an increasing trend called sports therapy massage. Massage is a natural choice for warming up muscles prior to physical activity. Massage chairs are being built that can perform many sports related massages. Shiatsu massage chair manufacturers are assembling an arsenal of massage therapies into their chairs.
Athletes around the world are reaping the benefits of massage. Sports massages are designed to prepare the body for more strenuous activity. These therapies are much more than just for relaxing after the game. Massage chair manufacturers are adding more massage features that are aimed at both amateur and professional athletes alike.
Doctors have learned that a sports therapy massage for athletes before, during and after a game or match can limit injury and contribute to faster recovery when injuries do occur. This is because sports therapy massages loosen muscles increasing their flexibility while increasing circulation allowing them to metabolize fuel to enhance performance. This cuts down on sports-related injuries such as a pulled muscle, sprains and fractures. Other benefits for athletes are improved range of motion, increased bodily fluid flow, scar tissue break-down and endorphin releases.
Sports therapy massage for athletes is like nourishment for muscles. It increases circulation, cuts down on pain, and allows for quicker rehabilitation after an injury. Many of the high end massage chairs from Panasonic, Omega and Sanyo are incorporating more features aimed at helping athletes. These shiatsu massage chairs have many massage therapies ranging from Swedish, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Acupressure and Deep Tissue massage.
You may not be a professional athlete, but a weekend warrior. Weekend warriors are more at risk since they play more intermittent. If your passion is any type of active sport such as tennis, golf, basketball, or softball, then you know the importance of warming up and warming down your muscles by stretching. The Omega Montage Premier massage chair has a lower body stretch function. This lower body traction functions by using air pressure to hold your feet in the footrest. The footrest is first raised and then lowered down in 3 steps. As the footrest goes down to each lower position, it stretches and elongates your muscles from the hips down. Proper stretching helps you perform better and reduces the chances of injury.
Sport Massage is a blend of Shiatsu and Swedish techniques. Shiatsu uses the stimulation of acupressure points in conjunction with applying a gentle squeezing action to particular points in your body to relax the muscles and relieve tension. Swedish techniques use longer, flowing strokes to enhance circulation and blood flow. Robotic massage chairs use these techniques plus air compression to gently squeeze, hold and release many areas of your body. These shiatsu chairs are built with air compression systems and airbags that can stimulate the muscles in the lower body. The Panasonic EP-3222 massage recliner has 33 airbags positioned in the seat and footrest to perform lower body massages.
If you are looking for a great way to get ready before your strenuous activity, these chairs can be a very practical alternative to getting a professional masseuse. Even sports like golf, which do not seem too strenuous, actually put significant stress on the body. In golf, for example, one swings using the muscles on one side of the body in a singular direction. This causes you to over-utilize some muscle groups and under-utilize other muscle groups. How many golfers complain about bad backs? Too many to count! That simple swinging motion done repetitively can cause muscle and tendon damage if you do not warm up and warm down properly. An invigorating shiatsu massage before and after golf will make you feel better and might even take a couple strokes off your game.
Many massage chair recliners provide a very thorough massage therapy which helps one to relax, reduce tension and warm up the body prior to sports activity. Although shiatsu massage chairs are not cheap. Think of the alternative, injury. If you could avoid an injury, how much is that worth? The cost benefit of having a massage chair is really helping to reduce your risk of injury and enhancing your performance. Whether you are a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, you can get significant benefit from a shiatsu massage chair recliner.