One of the oldest forms of Chinese medicine is acupuncture. The Chinese discovered that the body responded to healing itself when certain trigger points were activated. One branch of this is the use of acupressure in place of needles. Acupressure uses gentle pressure to stimulate the energy flow throughout the body. The most advanced massage chairs have now incorporated many new technologies based on these ancient forms of Chinese medicine.
There are different types of acupressure based on the traditional trigger points in the body. The differences between the types are the rhythms, techniques and pressures used. For instance, Shiatsu is a subset of acupressure massage and is its most famous form. Other techniques involve applying firm pressure for 3 to 5 seconds on trigger points. Another technique involves using a pressing pressure with an intermittent tapping action. Yet another technique involves slow pressure on the trigger points to induce whole body relaxation.
We are now seeing technology being developed by some of the top manufacturers in the world for Acupressure. Companies like Panasonic, Sanyo and Omega have integrated methodologies to perform acupressure massage therapy. The massage chairs built by these companies have tremendous technology that can identify your unique trigger points. The technology identifies your points and then it targets specific areas for relief.
The massage chair performs the scan of the individual and then depending on the acupressure program, the massage will target the trigger points on the back. Some chairs use slow kneading in combination with firm pressure. Other chairs use gentle pressure with light, quick tapping. The programs in different chair models can vary as well as between manufacturers. The best is to try some different massage chairs to find out which ones are right for you.
To help you relax some massage chairs incorporate other features to compliment the acupressure massage. Most spas have soft meditative music to help the mind to relax and get away from thinking about the stresses of the day. Some massage chairs have MP3 players built in with headphones to help you to relax. You can also find heat therapy, where there are heating elements constructed into the chair. Heat helps to reduce swelling and increase blood flow.
The utilization of acupressure improves lymph flow. The lymph system is the cleaner of last resort. What the blood does not clean is left for the lymph system. Acupressure helps to flush more toxins from the system. You may not know that acupressure also provides these benefits:
Increases in alertness; Higher levels of energy; Lower anxiety; Decreases in Toxins
The ancient Chinese pioneered the use of acupressure massage. They discovered that your trigger points are correlated to greater healing and longevity. These treatments were effective if done on a recurring basis. This is perhaps the greatest challenge of massage is getting it done frequently. Now, with massage chairs, one can have affordable access to these important therapies. Getting recurring massage from an economic perspective is much cheaper with a massage recliner.
