One of the oldest forms of Chinese medicine is acupuncture. The Chinese discovered that the body responded to healing itself when certain trigger points were activated. One branch of this is the use of acupressure in place of needles. Acupressure uses gentle pressure to stimulate the energy flow throughout the body. The most advanced massage chairs have now incorporated many new technologies based on these ancient forms of Chinese medicine.
There are different types of acupressure based on the traditional trigger points in the body. The differences between the types are the rhythms, techniques and pressures used. For instance, Shiatsu is a subset of acupressure massage and is its most famous form. Other techniques involve applying firm pressure for 3 to 5 seconds on trigger points. Another technique involves using a pressing pressure with an intermittent tapping action. Yet another technique involves slow pressure on the trigger points to induce whole body relaxation.
Many of the best massage chair brands like Panasonic, Omega and Sanyo include a body scan technology to accurately identify an individual persons acupressure points. The software then adjusts the massage for each person. There are over 300 acupressure points that have been identified throughout the body. Acupressure uses these trigger points to manipulate the flow of energy throughout the body and to help to remove blockages.
The massage chair performs the scan of the individual and then depending on the acupressure program, the massage will target the trigger points on the back. Some chairs use slow kneading in combination with firm pressure. Other chairs use gentle pressure with light, quick tapping. The programs in different chair models can vary as well as between manufacturers. The best is to try some different massage chairs to find out which ones are right for you.
Just don’t think that massage is the only thing you get with a massage recliner. Many chairs are increasingly brining in more dimension to the massage experience. These dimensions may be the application of heat therapy. Heat is used for warming up the muscles prior to activity. It is also used to reduce swelling for injuries. These chairs provide a more deeply penetrating relief with the addition of heat where you need it.
The acupressure massage helps to encourage the flow of blood and lymph. The increased flow of blood and lymph increase energy and help the body to heal. Additionally, some of the benefits of acupressure massage are the following:
Less muscle discomfort; Increases in joint mobility; Improved flexibility; More positive outlook
The ancient Chinese pioneered the use of acupressure massage. They discovered that your trigger points are correlated to greater healing and longevity. These treatments were effective if done on a recurring basis. This is perhaps the greatest challenge of massage is getting it done frequently. Now, with massage chairs, one can have affordable access to these important therapies. Getting recurring massage from an economic perspective is much cheaper with a massage recliner.