Massage Techniques by Massage Chairs

By Will Edison

There is a wide range of massage techniques that massage chairs are designed to perform. Before buying a chair it is important to know what the different massage techniques are, how they feel, and how each technique functions in the chairs. Different chairs offer different varieties, some basic chairs might offer only one or two and that might be enough for some people. Some of the most important techniques are kneading, rolling, percussions and tapping.

Rolling massages stretch the spine to relieve pressure in your back. It's a basic technique used to loosen the muscles before a deeper massage. It is the feeling of someone pressing firmly on one side of your spine to the other. In massage chairs, larger rollers can work a greater area on your back and the more total area that is worked, the more effective in promoting blood circulation.

Kneading relaxes and invigorates the body by gently applying pressure to an acupoint and holding it until the tension is transferred from the body to the roller. Then the roller retracts at the same time the tension pressure is released. The kneading motion feels like two thumbs pressing firmly in a circular motion on both sides of the spine to lift and stretch the muscles deeper than the roller.

Popular in sports medicine, percussions or tapping is the rapid tapping of the back muscles. It feels like fists or the edge of hands and this motion flexes spinal joints to relieve pressure and invigorate the entire back. Some chairs refer to the technique as percussion while others use the term tapping.

The Shiatsu massage technique feels like fingers applying pressure directly on specific points of the body. This is a deep tissue technique focused on special acupoints that directly correlate to the different organs or glands in the body. The massage function stimulates specific points to reduce stress, increase the energy flow, and to promote overall health throughout the body.

Acupressure is sometimes called compression depending on the manufacturer but refers to the same technique. It is the function of squeezing the muscles alongside your spine together, inward toward the spine with the heels of the hands. It is used to warm up and loosen muscles for deeper massages since it has a softening affect on the muscles.

The Swedish technique is a very relaxing technique of pressuring muscles and rubbing them in the direction of blood flow to the heart. It is a combination of other techniques to produce the loosening and relaxing other muscles as well as increasing blood flood. It is what most people would consider a normal massage and has become the standard massage.

Massage chairs also offer the air massage. This is the use of air bags inflating and deflating to squeeze and release the back, seat, and legs. It is great at applying pressure to and relaxing sore muscles.

There is no perfect technique as each has its benefits and it is up to the individual to determine what the most important functions are. The good news is that many massage chairs come with a variety of techniques and can be programmed to perform such a wide range of combinations that anyone can find the ultimate massage experience from their ideal massage chair.

Massage Chairs Review is designed to help you learn everything you need to know about massage chairs. When buying a chair we want you to be able to select the right chair and make you aware of the different types of massage chairs and feature available.