Applying pressure to the spine and manipulating the soft tissues during a massage can provide a number of mental and physical health benefits, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. Massage can help to reduce stress, relieve pain and loosen tight muscles. There are a variety of massage techniques, all of which can provide results. A chair massage is one technique that is convenient and is often more available than full-body treatments.
Improved Circulation
A chair massage targets the upper back and shoulders, areas that become tense and sore in people who work at desks all day. Blood and lymphatic fluid flow are impeded after sitting at a desk and computer. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education report that a chair massage can help increase upper body circulation that provides relief to office workers. Desk-bound workers who receive a chair massage during the day feel renewed energy and mental alertness. Additionally, they are less likely to incur other desk-related injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Time Saving
A chair or seated massage typically lasts about 15 to 30 minutes and can be performed anywhere. The massage is given with clothes on and does not require a private room. While a chair massage can be performed while the person is seated in any chair, most massage therapists utilize a specialized chair in which their patients can lean forward and rest their faces in a padded hole. A massage therapist can set up the chair at tradeshows, festivals, shopping malls, athletic events and office buildings. No oils or lotions on used during the procedure and it typically is less expensive, ranging anywhere from $15 to $30 or so, compared to $75 or $100 for a full-body massage.
Pain Management
Researchers at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine report that massage therapy is particularly useful for people suffering from lower back pain. A patient that sits in an ergonomically correct chair designed for chair massage can receive a complete rub down of the entire back. Chair massages can easily be employed in hospital and hospice settings for patients with cancer and other fatal conditions. Massage can help to alleviate pain and elevate moods. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports positive results from people who received massages to treat chronic neck pain.
