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.
