When you first get your massage chair you will notice that it can perform many different massage techniques.
You will find these in both the auto programs and the manual programs.
And if you are like I was, I had no idea what most of them were.
- What were the different massage techniques?
- How were these massages done?
- How did the massage chair recreate the therapist’s technique?
- What were the benefits of each type?
All of these techniques have many health benefits. In this article, we will look at some of the more popular massage techniques that massage chairs offer and try to answer some of your questions.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a technique based on Chinese medicine.
The Chinese believe that there is a vital energy, called qi (pronounced chi) that flows through the body. Stress can block this energy flow.
This imbalance can result in illness.
Many believe that pressure placed on specific areas of the foot promotes well-being in the correlating body area.
The belief is that this helps to help restore the flow of qi and stimulate the body to release endorphins, the body’s natural stress and pain reliever.
Massage therapists will rub, squeeze, and knead pressure points on your feet to improve the flow of energy.
This result is due to the stimulation of nerves and the improved blood flow.
In the footrest of the massage chair ottoman are specialized rollers designed to stimulate those special pressure points to provide healing and relaxation
Benefits
Some of the benefits of reflexology include:
- Relaxation – Reflexology is known to open neural pathways and flood the nervous system with neuron activity which puts the body in a more relaxed state.
- Increased circulation – helps with faster healing and re-growth of damaged cells. Also more efficient removal of toxins.
- Fewer headaches – by reducing tension in the muscles, the severity of migraines and headaches can be reduced or eliminated.
- Increased Energy – improved functionality of many organs in the body increases metabolism which helps create more energy in the body.
Swedish Massage
Of the many different massage techniques, Swedish massage is one of the most common. This technique will be found on most massage chairs.
This technique can help to energize the body and improve overall health. It can give you more energy and may help to heal after an injury.
The technique involves long, soft, kneading strokes with vibration in the direction of blood returning to the heart.
It utilizes light rhythmic tapping on the topmost layers of the muscles.
This helps to warm the muscle and help to release tension and break up knots.
A massage therapist uses four common techniques:
- Effleurage – smooth, gliding strokes to relax the tissue
- Petrissage – squeezing, rolling, or kneading
- Friction – deep circular movements to increase blood flow and break down scar tissue
- Tapotement – a tapping motion with the hand or fingers
In the massage chair, rollers move in a circular direction to simulate the kneading action. This will also create friction.
They roll up and down the back to simulate the gliding strokes. And the rollers will move in and out to recreate the tapping motion.
In a NY Times article, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles found decreases in cortisol (a stress hormone) and an increase in lymphocytes (part of the immune system) resulting from participants receiving Swedish massage.
Benefits
The benefits of a Swedish massage include;
- better circulation – the long gentle strokes in the direction of the heart leads to more efficient blood flow. This will help to increase levels of oxygen and nutrients getting to the muscles. It will also help to more efficiently remove toxins from the body.
- headache relief – as many headaches are due to stress and/or poor circulation, the Swedish massage can help reduce or even eliminate painful headaches.
- improved mood – Studies show that massage can increase serotonin and dopamine levels and reduce cortisol levels in the blood. This can lead to less stress and a better attitude.
- improved joint comfort/flexibility – Swedish Massage can elongate the muscles, which can allow better lubrication of the joints and decreased swelling, which can improve movement and increase flexibility.
By incorporating stretching techniques, Swedish-style massages can also increase a more fluid range of motion.
Deep Tissue Massage
Similar to Swedish massage, this technique targets deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue.
It uses more forceful pressure with slow strokes.
Good for athletes, runners, and those with injuries, it helps to flush lactic acid out of the tissues.
It can also help with persistent pain, like fibromyalgia and lower back pain.
The massage therapist will use their fists, knuckles, and elbows to apply sustained pressure to the muscles.
They usually start with lighter pressure to warm up the muscles first.
In the massage chair, rollers push out further to push deeper into muscles.
This can help to break up scar tissue and break down knots and adhesions.
Some of the benefits of deep massage include:
Benefits
- Encouraging better circulation around damaged muscles and tissue.
- Stress relief – deep massage has been shown to lower cortisol levels.
- Reducing pain – helps to loosen up tight tissue clusters which cause pain.
- Reduce blood pressure – reduced stress and tension can help to lower blood pressure.
- Increase flexibility – helps to break up scar tissue, which can cause pain and stiffness.
Shiatsu Massage
Based on Chinese medicine, Shiatsu (meaning finger pressure) massage originated in Japan.
The Chinese believe that a vital energy, called qi (pronounced chi), flows through the body and is blocked when stressed.
Shiatsu is designed to help the body heal itself.
The Shiatsu Society says it is a physical therapy using a combination of pressure points, gentle manipulation, and stretching to re-energize weak areas and reduce tension in the body.
Shiatsu utilizes the same techniques as acupressure. The therapist will apply sustained pressure with the finger, elbows, or thumbs along certain points in the body.
The goal is to free any blockages or imbalances to the flow of qi and restore energy to the body.
The massage chair mimics the therapist by having the rollers move in small circular motions, as well as up and down the back.
Shiatsu massage has the following benefits:
Benefits
- Improved circulation and reduced constipation – shiatsu massage stimulates circulation, including the digestive system.
- reduced stress and anxiety – shiatsu massage promotes physical calm and relaxation
- help with insomnia – a study from the University of Alberta found shiatsu massage to be an effective solution to insomnia.
- reduction in arthritis symptoms – Adam Hellinger, vice-chair of the Shiatsu Society (UK) says shiatsu is effective at helping the symptoms of arthritis.
Thai Massage
Thai massage originated in India around 2500 years ago. Based on balance, harmony, and energy, this is a healing massage that utilizes similar concepts in Chinese medicine.
The main concept in Chinese medicine is that there is a life energy called qi (chi).
The goal of Thai massage is to allow qi to flow freely in the body.
With Thai massage, the therapist will manipulate your body in certain ways to stimulate organs and improve flexibility.
Also known as Thai yoga, it incorporates stretching and kneading to relax the muscles and help decompress the entire body.
With the massage chair, the Thai massage program will first use the airbags to stabilize you in the chair.
It does this by inflating around your shoulders and calves, which will keep your body from moving.
Next the ottoman will move downward, creating a stretch in your back.
The chair rollers will then move up and down your back to help open up the spaces and help to decompress the spine.
Thai programs are usually stronger than some of the other programs. Some massage chairs may referr to this as a stretch program.
Benefits
According to Healthline.com, here are 6 science-supported benefits of Thai massage:
- Headache Relief – researchers found that Thai massage reduced the intensity of both migraine and tension headaches.
- Reduces back pain – a study in the National Library of Medicine concluded that Thai massage significantly relieves non-specific low back pain.
- Increases flexibility and range of motion – The steady, gentle stretching will improve flexibility over a period of time, which will increase the range of motion
- Eases anxiety – studies have found that people who receive Thai massage test lower on measures of psychological stress following treatment.
- Revive energy – many people report that they leave Thai massage sessions feeling not only relaxed but also rejuvenated.
Conclusion
There are many different massage techniques out there and we have covered a few of the most common types. I hope you now have a better understanding of these techniques.