Relieving Sports Massages with a Shiatsu Massage Chair
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’s 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 chairs are assembling an arsenal of massage therapies into their chairs.
Athletes know the benefits of massage. Many athletes obtain sports massages to prepare their bodies for more strenuous exertion. These massages are more than just feeling good after the match. Today’s massage chair manufacturers are have many massage features specifically for both amateur and professional athletes.
Athletes are always looking for ways to minimize injury and enhance faster recover from injuries. Many athletic trainers utilize sports therapy massage for their athletes before, during and after a game. They have found that sports therapy massages loosen muscles increasing their flexibility. Also, massage increases circulation enabling athletes to metabolize fuel faster leading to enhanced performance. Further benefits is increased range of motion, enhanced circulation and releases of endorphin. Sports massages can help reduce sports-related injuries such as sprains, fractures and pulled muscles.
Many of the high end massage chairs from Sanyo, Panasonic, and Omega have built in features specifically for athletes. These shiatsu massage chairs come with a variety of massage therapies including Reflexology, Swedish, Shiatsu, Acupressure and Deep Tissue massage. Sports therapy massage for athletes is as integral to a serious sport regimen as lifting weights. Massage increases fluid circulation, reduces pain, and speeds recovery after an injury.
Is your passion tennis, golf, basketball, or softball? Then you know it is important to warm up and stretch your muscles prior to playing. Although professional athletes have trainers and masseuses available to them, what is available for a Weekend Warrior? How about a shiatsu massage chair? Need to warm up, try the Omega Montage Premier. The Montage Premier massage chair has a lower body traction function. Omega uses an air system to hold the feet in the footrest. The footrest then raises to a horizontal position. The footrest is then lowered to 3 positions. As the footrest lowers to each position, it stretches out and elongates your muscles from the hips down. Proper warm up and stretching can help increase performance and also reduce the chances of injury.
Sport Massage Therapy combines both the Swedish and Shiatsu techniques. Swedish techniques use long, flowing strokes which enhances circulation and the flow of blood. Shiatsu stimulates the acupressure points while applying a gentle squeezing action to particular areas of the body. Shiatsu relaxes the muscles and relieves tension. Massage chair recliners use these techniques for the upper body and use an air compression system for the lower body. The air compression system gently squeezes, holds and releases the muscles of the lower body. These shiatsu chairs contain many strategically placed airbags. The Panasonic EP-3222 massage recliner uses an incredible 33 airbags built into both the seat and footrest to perform lower body massages.
Many people view sports like golf as not very stressful on the body. Although golf does not seem too strenuous, golf puts significant stress on the body. When one swings the club, the muscles on one side of the body are utilized in a one direction. This repetitive one-sided activity causes some muscle groups to be over-utilized while others are under-utilized. Any golfers you know complain about bad backs? I cannot count that high! A simple swinging motion done repetitively can cause tendon and muscle and tendon damage. This is especially true if you do not warm up and warm down properly. Are you looking for a great way to get ready before your strenuous activity? A massage chairs is a very practical option to getting a professional massage. Getting an invigorating shiatsu massage before your golf game may just take a few 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.
