Friday, May 22, 2009

Massage Chairs For Chronic Pain

By Claudine Balsells

Massage therapy has been known to help relax and clear your mind. Massage helps to decrease stress by calm your mind and soothing the muscles of the body. However, what about conditions of chronic pain? New studies are starting to show that massage has a greater impact on relieving conditions such as migraine headaches to lower back pain. Massage chairs are being utilized by many chiropractors for therapies to help people with chronic back pain conditions.

A study conducted in 2001 by the Puget Sound Center for health studies compared the benefits of massage therapy, acupuncture and self-care. This study compared the pain relief received by patients under these different methods. The study concluded that after one year that patients receiving and back pain massage reported last pain than either acupuncture or self-care.

One of the tougher situations is the psychological impact of constant, dull pain. Periodic massage was found to reduce both stress and anxiety due to chronic pain. Massage helps the mind to take its focus off of the pain and helps to relax the mind. Meanwhile, the massage helps to soothe aches and pains in the body.

Many people who are afflicted by arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches and Sciatica can are sufferers of chronic pain. Some of these conditions are a result of stiffening of soft tissues in the body. Soft tissues can include muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. These soft tissues come under stress and panic become fatigued.

People who experience high levels of stress and anxiety typically have a lowered immune system. This can leave them more susceptible to illness and disease. People receiving periodic massage treatments can help to lower their stress and anxiety. Massage chairs are an excellent vehicle to get periodic massage when you need it.

Massage chairs are designed to provide therapeutic benefits. A remote control is built into the massage chair. The remote control allows the user to set automatic programs or manual programs. Massage chairs come equipped with a multitude of massage techniques. Sophisticated software programs replicate many traditional and popular massage techniques.

Massage chairs are designed with additional therapeutic treatments. The application of heat is popular in sports to reduce swelling and to help blood circulation. Designers of massage chairs have included heating elements which can be applied to particular muscle areas.

Stretching has been used in sports to prepare the muscles. Stretching is used to elongate the muscle fibers helping them to become more flexible. This is thought to increase performance and help reduce the chance of injury. Massage chairs incorporate stretching capabilities for the lower body and also for the arms and shoulders.

Massage chairs are designed to provide the same type of environment as you would get a regular massage. Normally, you would expect to listen to soothing music as to get your massage. Massage chairs are equipped with MP3 players and headphones to provide the same type of relaxing environment. Music helps to calm the mine by helping it to remain quiet.

We continue to be amazed at the therapeutic features that continue to be added into today's massage chairs. The software is becoming more sophisticated to provide more effective massages. This provides users with more options and greater targeting for relief of their particular symptoms. For those with chronic pain, it is important to find relief on a continuous and reliable basis. Massage chairs can be your best friend in this respect.

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