Massage therapy is probably one of the oldest methods of healing and rejuvenation. Its roots can be traced back to 2000 BC where it was used by the Romans. It has been used as a method to help ease aches, pains and relieve tension in the body. With the advance of technology, massage chairs are now available which include many massage techniques as well as supplemental treatments for wellness.

Reduce Back Pain: back pain is one of the most commonly reported occupational injuries in the United States. The muscles of the lower back become stiff which leads to discomfort. The flexibility of these muscles needs to be restored to help reduce the incidence of back pain. Massage chairs have a number of techniques which are used to help elongate the muscle and soft tissue areas. This helps to restore their prior flexibility.

Upper Back Massage: stiffness of the shoulders and neck is a common problem that people experience. This can be remedied with a soothing and relaxing massage. The use of a shiatsu massage or kneading can help to relieve the stiffness in the shoulder area. When the muscles become tight, this can result in tension and discomfort. A massage is your best bet to relieve these issues.

Shiatsu: Shiatsu is a technique which originated in Japan. It uses acupoints to help relax the total body. The acupoints are stimulated which relieves tension and other parts of the body. This technique also includes other massage movements to help provide invigoration of the muscles and soft tissue areas.

Reflexology Massage: this is a very interesting massage technique that uses trigger points in the hands and the feet. Pressure is directed at specific trigger points in the feet which correspond to major organs in the body. Massage chairs concentrated the massage on the feet to help relieve tension throughout the body. This is a soothing massage to relieve aching feet as well.

Compression: a compression massage is used for some of the larger muscles contained in the body. This technique uses a squeezing motion to loosen tight muscles and joints. Normally, a massage chair has a specially designed airbags to effectively deliver a compression massage throughout the body.

Stretching systems: there are a few massage chairs that are now offering stretching systems integrated into the recliner. They generally target the lower lobby from the hips to the ankles. If you experience stiffness in the lower body, you can simply activate this function and begin to receive immediate relief.

Applying heat: heat is a great feature to have included in a massage chair. Some manufacturers are now including heaters located throughout the massage recliner. Heat is known to help reduce swelling and increase blood flow.

Music Players: The massage chairs that provide the absolute best massage environements come with built in MP3 players. A USB stick can be plugged into a port in the chair which will play MP3 files. Slip on the headphones and cut out the ambient noise. Let the music take your mind off its worries. This really helps your body to reduce tension and stress.

These are some of the major components that you should consider when looking for a massage chair. These recliners are integrating more therapeutic treatments in order to enhance the overall massage therapy. Make a list of the most important features and make sure that the massage chair you are considering meats your minimum requirements.