Things to Know Before Buying a Massage Chair

Massage chairs have evolved far beyond their humble beginnings as lounge chairs with built in vibrators. The improvements have made the chairs truly wonderful therapeutic devices. The physical and psychological benefits are very real for anyone of almost any age. But as the complexity of massage chairs has increased so also has the need for the consumer to know what they are getting into when they buy one. So if you plan to buy one here are a few things you should know before hand.

Most modern massage chairs have several different types of massage motions and it is recommended that you try to get one that has the following three massage techniques. The first type of massage is commonly called Shiatsu. This is a massage method that kneads your back muscles horizontally from side to side on either side of your backbone. Real Shiatsu is much more complicated than this but that is the basic idea. There are also several different types of Shiatsu massage so make sure you understand as much as you can about what the Shiatsu mechanism in the chair is doing to your back. The second type of motion is a gentle thumping or tapping up and down your back like little chops or a shower massage. The third motion is a roller motion up and down on either side of your spine. This lengthens and relaxes the spine and back muscles. Most chairs combine these motions into automatic programs. Some automatic programs vary the intensity of the massage and others vary the type of massage so understand the differences between the different programs as best you can.

Many of the best massage chairs now offer leg and foot massage. These generally do an excellent job and are highly recommended. Some have arm massage mechanisms but these have not proven to be as effective as the back, leg and foot massage. Most massage chairs recline to improve the massage. If you can get one that reclines a full 180 degrees you maximize your weight on the massage mechanism and enhance the benefits of the massage.

You may think that the best massage chairs are made with leather but they are actually made of vinyl and other synthetic materials. Many of the top massage chairs have build in heaters and leather simply will dry out and crack if subjected to a lot of temperature changes. In the same manner leather will not stand up to the constant motion of the back rollers. The synthetic material used in a good quality massage chair is designed to handle the constant motion of massage whereas leather would crack and deteriorate. Some companies will promote the leather in their massage chairs as a sales gimmick but the truth is you are better off with a good quality synthetic or vinyl chair.

You will want to make sure you understand the warranty policy on the chair. Modern massage chairs have lots of motors, controls and electronics in them so if your chair breaks for some reason you want to know before you buy it how it will get repaired. Most massage chairs will never break but if the main massage motors stop working after one week you don't want to have to put the chair in a shipping container and pay to send it half way around the world to get it repaired. Ideally it would be nice if someone locally came to your house to fix it if needed but the idea is to know before you buy what you are getting into as far as warranty and repairs are concerned.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Massage Chair

Optimize Your Massage with the iJoy Massage Chair

Treat Yourself Today with an i-Joy Massage Chair. Enjoy all four primary massage techniques recommended by the American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists: therapeutic compression, rolling, sdeep kneading and tapping. Human Touch Technology actually simulates the movements of a trained, massage therapist. These i-Joy massage chairs feature three automatic programs: full massage over your entire back, upper back or lower back. You can also customize your massage to exactly where you need it most. Every Feature of the i-Joy Chair is geared toward increasing comfort.

The iJoy user is presented with a futuristic control panel built flush into the curved, padded armrest. Press a button and, in Auto mode, you'll experience a blend of all four massage therapies in one continuous 15-minute program that travels all up and down your spine, in full, or can be focused on the Upper or Lower back. In the customizing Manual mode, you can position the rollers to apply the exact kind of massage desired on the exact spot you want.

The i-Joy chair's backrest reclines from 110 to 155 degrees. And include a wired remote controller and feature an adjustable pillow and massage softening pad for a gentler massage. This i-Joy massage chair weighs 86 lbs. and can easily be moved on rear wheels. It features a child safety lock, with chair made of easy-care brushed velour and nylon.

It is the highly recommended and most popular massage chair today. The i-Joy Massage Chair like our other massage chair models is manufactured by the world's largest massage robotics company. Its quadrant of "Human Touch" robotic massage rollers accurately replicates the four primary techniques used by therapists and chiropractic professionals: smooth Rolling, deep Kneading, Percussion tapping and therapeutic Compression. The same robotic massage preferred by the prestigious American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists.

So many types of iJoy massage chairs are already developed, with various features and amenities. So, along with listening to music through the speakers in the headrest and powered subwoofer in the base, you also get a massage from the Human Touch Technology Robotic Massage, with Rolling, deep Kneading, tapping Percussion and therapeutic Compression. Heaven.

Teri has written amazing articles on massage. Read these articles and find out everything that you need to know about different massage techniques, massage therapy, and a lot more.

You can read more of Teri's articles about massage at http://www.massage-county.com

Buy A Massage Chair - 7 Things To Consider When You Buy A Massage Chair

Whether you suffer from chronic back or neck pain, want to prevent injuries and discomfort, or are just looking for a really comfortable chair, a massage chair is a great way to go. Massage chairs and recliners relax, rejuvenate, and help prevent even the most stubborn pain and discomfort.

When you buy a massage chair there are a few important features to evaluate. Below are some of the most important features you should consider:

Types Of Massage - A high quality massage chair should deliver different types of massage. Calf massage is administered by mechanical or air devices in a 3-dimensional massage. Compression is a type of massage that combines strokes pushed firmly on the muscles along the spine and inward towards the spine. Full body stretch is when the calf massage mechanism gently holds the legs in place as the chair reclines to arch and stretch the back. Kneading is a circular movement that applies and releases pressure to the spine and neck. Percussion/tapping is when rapid movements are delivered up and down the spine. Usually the quicker the taps, the better the result. Reflexology is when pressure similar to thumb pressure is applied to the feet. Rolling is when build-in rollers in the chair move up and down the spine to help stretch back muscles and relieve pressure on spinal discs. Rolling is often used to help prepare back muscles for deeper massage.

 

Massage Delivery Mechanism - Massage chairs deliver massage in different ways. Some chairs use air pressure, vibration, and discs to administer massage. The highest quality chairs use flexible rollers. And generally the larger the roller, the more targeted the massage.

 

Personalization To Body Size And Shape - A good massage chair will adjust the height/width setting of the chair's massage devices to suite personal preferences. Usually this is controlled by a joystick or remote control. Some chairs even have scanning systems that map your body to determine areas where massage therapy is most needed.

 

Zero Gravity Recline - This is a technique that was developed by NASA to minimize force exerted on astronauts' spines during takeoff. In an upright position, either standing or sitting, gravity places pressure on the spine. This causes the discs to compress and muscles to contract to maintain balance. When gravity is neutralized, back muscles rest and the discs return to their normal size and shape. Zero gravity recliners extend the lower legs above the heart to achieve this neutralized gravity effect on the back.

 

Motor - As the number of chair features increases so does the stress placed on a chair's motor. It is important to consider the quality of a massage chair's motor as it can make a significant difference in performance and durability. Some chair have one motor to perform all of the functions the chair provides. Other chairs come with multiple motors, each of which performs specific functions.

 

Warranty - As with any major purchase, consider the warranty that is offered by the manufacturer. A manufacturer's warranty is often a sign of the manufacturer's confidence in their product. Also consider the return policy of the retailer from whom you buy the chair.

 

Design - And finally consider the chair's design. Your massage chair will no doubt be placed in a popular room in your home and you will want it to complement the existing decor. You will also want to ensure that the size and shape of the chair work with the layout of your room. Some chairs come with space saving features that allow for more options when deciding where to place the chair in your home.

http://back-support-products.shawnmcgeemarketing.com Learn about more features you should consider before buying a massage chair. Shawn McGee provides

10 Things You Absolutely Must Consider Before Buying Your Massage Chair (Part II)

In Part I of this article, I discussed the many features you should consider when buying a massage chair, as well as the durability aspect of your new massage chair. Let’s get on with the remaining 7 “Absolute Musts” to consider when looking into a new massage chair recliner.

#3. Ease of Repair – because of the weight and bulk of a massage chair, simple repairs become a real bother when you have to ship an entire chair back to the manufacturer just to repair something as simple as a tear in the material. For this reason, I suggest looking into a chair that is constructed with a modular design. This makes repair cheap and easy. If a part is broken or material is torn, the modular design will allow you to isolate the damaged part and send it off for repair so much easier and cheaper than sending off the whole chair.

#4. Customer Service – As far as I am concerned, this is probably the most important thing of all. If something does happen to your chair or if you are concerned about any function of your chair, it is so great to have a company that is always available to answer your questions. This puts your mind at ease and you can't put a price on that. So, make sure that whatever chair you buy has a good company backing it up. Whether that is the manufacturer, the seller, or both...you want peace of mind right from the start of your relationship with them.

#5. Price – Even the cheapest massage chair still costs hundreds of dollars, at a minimum…they are not cheap. You will need to invest quite a bit of money to get a new chair you can count on. Prices, however, do not need to be sky-high. Depending on the features you want and/or need, prices can range anywhere from $1000 - $6000. Quite a spread, isn't it? Well, you can get a chair with all the necessary massage therapy features for between $2000 - $3000. If you want real leather vs. man-made leather, an MP3 player, a USB port, or headphones, etc., of course you will pay for those extras. But for the basic features of massage therapy, you do not need to overspend. By the way, when you compare the price of your chair to regular visits to a massage therapist or chiropractor, over time the price of the massage chair is far less than what you'd pay out for all those therapy visits.

#6. Money Back Guarantee – Does your retailer back up the sale of your new massage chair with at least a 30 day unconditional money back guarantee? If not, then you need to be a little skeptical. This is a red flag. This goes back to customer service (#4). They MUST stand behind their product. How else can you feel good about your purchase if it's not backed up by the seller? Some companies even offer 60 or 90 day money back guarantees!

By the way, it is standard policy for virtually every massage chair retailer/distributor that you are responsible for shipping and freight back to the seller if you do decide to return your chair. Shipping, by the way, can cost anywhere from $150-$400.00…it isn’t cheap!

#7. Adjustable to Different Body Sizes - I have seen some chair companies that offer "sizing" for a chair. With some product lines that may be necessary, but with a well-manufactured chair, height and width adjustments are standard and can cater to virtually every body type. Some chairs now even come with a detached ottoman so that the chair can cater to a 6’10” person as well as a 5’4” person.

Most chairs will handle up to 300 pounds of body weight. If you are buying your new massage recliner for a very heavy person, make sure that you get the maximum weight allowance for the chair you are interested in.

#8. Remote Control – Virtually every new massage recliner comes with a remote control of some sort to make chair adjustments. Some remotes come with large and fancy displays, but as long as it adjusts the features of the chair, it doesn’t really matter how large or small it is or how high-tech it looks.

#9. Appearance - this might sound goofy or vain, but I want my chair to blend in comfortably and seamlessly with the room décor of my home or office. Don't compromise on looks for price! You're going to have to look at that chair everyday for as long as you've got it. You don't want to be sitting in a chair you think is so ugly that it creates stress. Especially when you are using your new massage recliner for stress relief!

#10. Satisfied Customers - A salesperson will tell you everything you want to hear to get you into his/her chair. What do real and actual clients think about the massage chair you are considering? Are their testimonials for you to hear or read? If you ask him for a list of some folks who have purchased their chair and you get no response...run! I will trust another buyer, just like me, before I'll trust someone trying to sell something to me. Testimonials should be on every seller's website or literature.

Now you have 10 things that should help you make a more educated buying decision when considering your new massage chair.

Dr. Alan Weidner is the owner of http://www.massage-chair-relief.com, a website dedicated to the education and sale of massage chairs by Panasonic, Sanyo, Omega, and Interactive Health. He graduated summa cum laude from Southern California University of Health Sciences in 1991.