Thursday, October 23, 2008

Shiatsu Massage Chairs Deliver Excellent Sports Massages

By James Knolan

The typical idea of a massage is spending the afternoon taking a good soak in a mud bath, feeling the sauna, and rejuvenating your skin with fresh peels and wraps. This definately sounds relaxing, but what can one do for sports activity? For sports enthusiasts and athletes there is a sports therapy massage. Athletes know how important it is to stretch and warm up muscles. Sports massages are used to help warm up and stretch out muscles and joints before physical sports activity. Don't have time for a masseuse? How about a massage chair? Shiatsu massage chairs are can do a vast array of massage therapies for a variety of needs.

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.

The premier massage chairs from Omega, Sanyo, and Panasonic have many dedicated functions and features just for athletes. These shiatsu massage chairs can perform massage therapies such as Shiatsu, Acupressure Swedish, Reflexology and Deep Tissue massage. Massage Therapy for athletes is as common to serious athletes as cardio-vascular workouts. These athletes through massage can reduce pain due to inury and recover much more quickly after an injury.

Are you a Weekend Warrior or a Professional Athlete? Professional athletes have a daily regimen to keep them in top physical shape. Weekend Warriors by definition play intermittently and therefore, are more at risk to injury. Everyone loves an active sport such as as tennis, golf, basketball, or perhaps softball. Whatever your sport, proper warm up is important. Muscles need to be stretched and warmed up prior to vigorous activity. The Omega Montage Premier massage chair come equiped with a lower body stretch function. This lower body traction functions utilizes air pressure to hold your feet in the footrest. The footrest is first raised. The footrest then goes down to each of 3 lower positions. As it lowers, it stretches and elongates the muscles from the hips down. Proper stretching increases athletic performance and minimizes the chance 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.

What is a great way to get ready before your strenuous activity? A shiatsu massage chair can be a good substitute to a professional masseuse. Even low intensity sports like golf can put stress on the body. Golf consists of swinging mainly on one side of the body repetitively. This simpe swing can cause some muscle groups to over-utilized while others are under-utilized. Did you ever hear of a golfer complain about their back? If I had a quarter for each time I heard this, well...I would retire! It goes to show that simple swinging motion done repetitively can cause muscle and tendon damage. Proper warm up can minimize these effects. Imagine getting an invigorating shiatsu massage before playing golf. It might just improve 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. - 15266

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