5 Things You Should Know Before You Get a Massage Chair
Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 at 7:49 am1. Define Your Needs: There are a great variety of features, functions and technology available in massage chairs. Think of some of the benefits that you expect from purchasing a massage recliner. Are you looking to relieve your back, shoulders, neck, legs, feet or arms? What kind of budget do you have? Is this a long term or short term investment? Most people want 24/7 relief in the comfort and privacy of their home. Think about what you want to get out of your purchase.
2. Back Pain Relief: What are the important areas on your back? Do you need more attention on lower back or is shoulder and neck coverage more important. Some massage chairs have grasping which is good around the shoulder and neck areas. A thorough kneading massage in the lower back relieves muscles. Make sure the massage chair reaches the lower lumbar areas to ensure relief. To relieve pressure off the cervical discs, a finger press massage is very relieving. The finger press massage uses the rollers going up and down adjusting each disc as it goes. These are just a few features in massage chair recliners.
3. Massage Therapy: Massage chairs have many massage therapies available. Choose from Shiatsu, Swedish, Hawaiian, Acu pressure, Reflexology, Deep Tissue and many more. It is important to familiarize yourself with the different types as each provides certain benefits. Also, massages can be light and gentle to more invigorating depending on your needs and comfort. Most massage chair recliners offer multiple massage therapies, so make sure the most important ones are covered.
4. Lower Body Massage: Do you enjoy having your feet massaged? The premier massage chair brands deliver reflexology foot massages. The footrest has built in reflexology nodes that gently push up into your reflexology points inducing full body relaxation. Ease those tired feet with the gentle squeeze, hold and release of the reflexology foot massage. If you sit a lot, then get a buttocks massage. The massage chair cycles through massaging both hemispheres and also provides vibration therapy to enhance blood circulation. How about a little stretch? Massage chairs have lower body stretching capability. The footrest holds your feet and then extends out to more positions to stretch your lower back, hips, thighs, knees and ankles. Massage chairs have rapidly advanced the technology and effectiveness of lower body massages. Most massage chair concentrated really on the back, neck and shoulders. This was accomplished using rollers to imitate human hands. The lower body presents more challenges. These companies have developed a mechanical paddle system and air massage using air compression. Some chairs are mixed with both, but the best massage chairs use one or the other. The paddle system is limited to the calf areas. Air massage is much more flexible since the massage is delivered via air bags. These chairs have air bags for the arms, hands, feet, calves, thighs, hips, buttocks providing superior coverage.
5. Warranty Coverage: Warranty is your future protection, so it makes sense to know enough to get the coverage you require. Massage chair warranties include parts, labor, in home service vs. service center, and shipping expenses. Parts are what areas of the chair are covered and for how long. Labor is when technician time is involved, how much does the factory cover and how long? In home service is having a technician come to your house and repair the product. Finally, more companies are adding this service; make sure the manufacturer covers in home service. Also, shipping expenses for parts or for the entire chair is another factor to evaluate. Some companies are really strict and the chair must be in the original packaging or else you can buy the packaging from them! These are the main warranties areas to know about. Make sure you go with a known brand of massage chairs. I would hate to tell you the stories we have gotten from people who bought a fly by night outfit. One good test is if the massage chair company has retail accounts. If they do not, then who has leverage to make sure the warranty is honored? Most warranties cover parts, labor, in home service vs. service center, and shipping expenses. The difference is what they cover and for how long. Fortune 500 companies make you buy an massage chair industry. Compare warranties and costs and find the right protection for you.
It is an exciting time to be looking for a massage chair. The technology is so advanced and the features are very effective. Research into the various massage therapies and find the ones that will most effectively work for you. When you start to find some models, check around for others that match what you want in a chair. The best is always to try the massage recliner, and then you can test its effectiveness directly. Shop around to find the best deal; do not forget to factor in taxes and shipping. Most of all, find a massage chair to meet your needs today and tomorrow.
