Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Shiatsu Massage Chairs Deliver Raging 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.

Top athletes have been utilizing massage as part of their total athletic regimen. Athletes have a sports massage to prepare their bodies prior to strenuous physical exertion. These massages are not your typical day at the Spa massage. Sports massage techniques are being integrated into many massage chairs. These chairs have specific programs for both professional and amateur 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.

Sports therapy massage for athletes is like nourishment for muscles. It increases circulation, cuts down on pain, and allows for quicker rehabilitation after an injury. Many of the high end massage chairs from Panasonic, Omega and Sanyo are incorporating more features aimed at helping athletes. These shiatsu massage chairs have many massage therapies ranging from Swedish, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Acupressure and Deep Tissue massage.

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 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.

A shiatsu massage chair provides a thorough sports massage therapy. Getting a proper warm up for your muscles increases their flexibility, relieves tension and increases blood flow. A massage chair can be an integral part of your warm up. However, massage chairs are certainly not cheap, but then again, neither is being injured. A proper warm up can help to avoid injury. Is all this warming up really worth it because shiatsu massage chairs are not cheap. How much is that worth? If a massage chair can help reduce the risk of injury and enhancing your performance, then its invaluable. Whether you are a Weekend Warrior or a Professional Athlete, your most valuable player must just be your shiatsu massage chair recliner. - 15485

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