Experience a relaxing massage, with your clothes on, in a massage chair. The two main types of massage chairs, mechanical and professional, are not the same. Mechanical massage chairs are expensive, look like a lounge chair and contain mechanisms that massage you in a programmed sequence. Professional massage chairs cost a fraction of the price of mechanical chairs. Commonly utilized by massage therapists to perform massage by the minute, they are lightweight and portable. Professional massage chairs offer the ideal angle to massage the upper body including the neck, upper back, arms and hands.
Standard Massage Chairs
A standard professional massage chair features an ergonomic design, placing the client in an upright position, at a slightly forward-leaning angle. Similarly styled chairs are manufactured by a number of different well-known companies including Custom Craftworks and Oakworks.
The shape and manual mechanics of the chair are beneficial to both the therapist and the client. This angle enables the practitioner to use more pressure on the neck and upper back, requiring less effort, compared to therapy performed on a massage table.
To mount the chair, the client walks forward and bends at the knees to rest her chin on the leg pads. Once in a kneeling position, the client sits down by placing her buttocks in the seat behind her. Have your client place her arms on the armrest in front of the chair and lean forward into the chest plate and face cradle.
Reclining Massage Chairs
Pisces Productions offers therapists a massage chair called the Dolphin II. It offers many of the same features as a standard professional massage chair along with special adjustments that place the client in an adjustable prone position. The unique design of this type of massage chair allows the client to rest comfortably without engaging any postural muscles. It exposes the lower back for treatment as well.
The chest plate and attached head rest of the Dolphin II incrementally collapse forward as a unit. This places your client in a prone position at the height of your choice. Not only is more of the back available for treatment, this design reduces upper body strain for the practitioner. With the client in a lowered position, your body weight does the work for you.
Mechanical Massage Chairs
Some types of massage chairs perform the massage themselves, like a player piano. These automated chairs are as big and comfortable as an easy chair. Much more expensive than a professional massage chair, mechanical chairs cost thousands of dollars.
Rollers massage the entire back side of your body from neck to toe. Deluxe models offer tapotement, rhythmically percussive movements, and vibrating mechanisms along with arm massage. They feature a pre-programmed and programmable digital control panel that allows you to choose your preferred massage sequence.
