Thursday, September 24, 2009

Sports Massage: Sharpen Recuperation With A Massage Chair

By Randall Fenton

When you think of massage, you think of an afternoon at the spa, being pampered with a mud bath, feeling the heat of the sauna, and rejuvenating your skin with fresh peels and wraps. But there's another side-an increasing trend called sports therapy massage. Massage is a natural choice for warming up muscles prior to physical activity. Massage chairs are being built that can perform many sports related massages. Shiatsu massage chairs are assembling an arsenal of massage therapies into their chairs.

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.

Many doctors recommend sports therapy massage for their athletes before, during and after a game. Sports massage has been shown to minimize injury and speed recoveries from injuries. These sports therapies are used by professional athletes before, during and after competition. Athletes needs sports therapy massages to loosen tight muscles increase their flexibility. Additionally, these massages help to increase circulation which helps the body metabolize fuel faster, leading to greater bursts of energy and enhanced performance. Sports massages, quite simply can help reduce sports-related injuries such as sprains, fractures, spasms and pulled muscles.

Many of the high end massage chairs from Sanyo, Panasonic, and Omega have built in features specifically for athletes. These shiatsu massage chairs come with a variety of massage therapies including Reflexology, Swedish, Shiatsu, Acupressure and Deep Tissue massage. Sports therapy massage for athletes is as integral to a serious sport regimen as lifting weights. Massage increases fluid circulation, reduces pain, and speeds recovery after an injury.

Is your passion tennis, golf, basketball, or softball? Then you know it is important to warm up and stretch your muscles prior to playing. Although professional athletes have trainers and masseuses available to them, what is available for a Weekend Warrior? How about a shiatsu massage chair? Need to warm up, try the Omega Montage Premier. The Montage Premier massage chair has a lower body traction function. Omega uses an air system to hold the feet in the footrest. The footrest then raises to a horizontal position. The footrest is then lowered to 3 positions. As the footrest lowers to each position, it stretches out and elongates your muscles from the hips down. Proper warm up and stretching can help increase performance and also reduce the chances of injury.

Sport Massage Therapy is a combination of two distinct massage techniques: Swedish and Shiatsu. Swedish massage techniques use long, flowing strokes to increase blood circulation and flow. Shiatsu works on two levels. The first level is the stimulation of acupressure points throughout the back. The second level is the application of a gentle squeezing action to particular areas of the body. Shiatsu helps relax the muscles and also to relieve tension. Massage chair recliners use both techniques to provide a full back massage. The lower body is massaged with an air compression system. Panasonic, for instance, uses the air compression system to gently squeeze, hold and release the muscles of the lower body. The Panasonic EP-3222 massage recliner has an incredible 33 airbags in 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.

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