Monday, December 8, 2008

Review: Shiatsu Massage Chair

By Steve Esquire

If you are looking for a massage chair, then you will see many massage chairs claiming to be a shiatsu massage chair. There is a lot of confusion as to what constitutes a true shiatsu style massage chair. First we need to understand the actual massage therapy technique, then we can better evaluate if a chair really fits into this category.

Massage therapy has been used for over 5,000 years. It has different origins in China, Egypt and India. Shiatsu massage therapy is an offshoot of Chinese medical arts such as acupuncture. Acupuncture uses pressure points in the body to promote healing. The Japanese adapted acu pressure to control and regulate the flow of energy in the body. They noticed that applying pressure to specific points reduced discomfort and pain in the body. A body of knowledge developed using specific pressure points to induce total bod relaxation which formed into the traditional shiatsu massage.

Traditional shiatsu massage incorporates both kneading with the thumbs and fingers and chopping action with the sides of the palms. Kneading was found to stretch out tight muslces making them more elastic. This help to restore flexibility and improve the range of motion. Chopping massage was found to invigorate an given area to enhance blood circulation. The chopping action helps to loosen tight muscles which then make it easier to perform the kneading massage. The use of pressure point massage helps the major organs relax while the kneading and chopping work on relaxing the muscles.

Now that we understand the origins of traditional shiatsu massage, we can evaluate if a chair labeled as shiatsu earns the name or not. Some of the most famous shiatsu massage chairs originated in Japan and are made by Sanyo or Panasonic. Other brands like Omega and Human Touch which are American companies have developed shiatsu style massage therapies based on these principals. Here are some of the best shiatsu chair recliners available.

The Panasonic EP30004 Real Pro Ultra creates a virtual map of your back. It takes into consideration the curvature of your spine and shoulder height. This chair also comes with an ultra-fine kneading function called Junetsu. Junetsu uses small circular motions that reverberate to the bone to provide muscle invigoration and relaxation. These massage techniques are particularly effective for the whole back region. The Junetsu is a unique massage only incorporated in the Panasonic chair.

Sanyo has developed a shiatsu lower body massage therapy. The Sanyo system targets multiple pressure points in the leg and foot. The pressure points are applied firm pressure which helps relieve stress and enhance energy flow throughout the body. Additionally, the tactically placed air bags provide a comforting and thorough air compression massage.

The Montage Premier Massage chair by Omega delivers a penetrating and invigorating shiatsu massage. The Montage Premier has the best foot massage of the high end chairs. This chair has acupressure nodes that penetrate both the arch and the heel of the foot. It performs an alternating sequence which stimulates the major organs and induces full body tranquility and relaxation. Omega also incorporates an MP3 player to play your favorite music to keep your mind occupied on relaxing.

Now you are an expert in shiatsu massage therapy as applied to massage chairs. This is an important massage therapy used throughout the globe. If you are researching robotic chairs, then start with the best brands like Sanyo, Panasonic or Omega. These shiatsu massage chairs provide therapeutic massage and other therapies. - 15438

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