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.

The rolling technique is a basic way to stretch your back and spine. This loosens up the area for deeper massages to follow. This massage is performed by a large roller in the back rest of the massage chair and works a large area of the back to increase circulation.

Kneading massages work to lift and stretch muscles alongside the spine and is a deeper massage than the rolling technique. This function feels much like two thumbs pressing both sides of the spine and rubbing in a circular motion. It helps to relax and invigorate the back and body.

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.

Shiatsu massage refers to the style of massage that works to use pressure on acupoints to stimulate energy flow and overall health of the body. It is based on the science that different acupoints correlate directly to certain organs of the body and stimulating those points will in turn stimulate those organs or glands. It is a deep tissue massage that feels like fingers applying pressure to points all over 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.

Air massage is a special function offered by massage chairs. It is only available with high end chairs and uses a series of air bags to massage areas of the lower back, the arms, and the legs by inflating and deflating. This squeezes and relaxes the 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 combination that anyone can find the ultimate massage experience from their ideal massage chair.

Massage chairs are built to perform a wide variety of massage techniques. More expensive chairs will offer a greater range of massage techniques as well as speeds and intensities whereas basic massage chairs will offer fewer options in terms of massage functions. Still, kneading, rolling, and percussion or tapping are some basic functions that are most important and come standard with most chairs.

The rolling technique is a basic way to stretch your back and spine. This loosens up the area for deeper massages to follow. This massage is performed by a large roller in the back rest of the massage chair and works a large area of the back to increase circulation.

Kneading massages feels like two thumbs rubbing both sides of the spine in a circular motion. It lifts and stretches the muscles along the spine and works deeper into the tissue than the rolling massage. The purpose of the kneading massage is to relax the muscles and invigorate the body by transferring tension from acupoints to a broader area. It works in sequence with the roller.

Percussions, otherwise known as tapping, feels like the edge of hands tapping your back muscles in a very fast and rhythmic motion. This is popular in sports medicine as it relieves spinal joints of pressure and works the entire back.

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 massage of the back that squeezes and releases the muscles along the spine. The technique is designed to soften up and loosen the muscles for deeper massages by pressing the muscles together inward toward the spine and feels like someone using the heel of their hands.

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.

One function that massage chairs offer that can’t be duplicated by any human massage therapist is the air massage. This is a feature of some high end chairs that use the inflating and deflating of air bags to squeeze parts of the back, arms, and legs of the user.

Each technique offered by the massage chair serves its own specific purpose and it is up to the consumer to decide what functions are most important. There is a huge selection of brands and models to choose from and pretty much any combination of functions are available.