Many traditional forms of medicine are only now starting to be empirically validated by Western Science. Now many of the Eastern forms of healing are starting to go more mainstream in the health care industry. Take acupressure which derived from acupuncture. Acupressure uses the application of firm pressure to help manipulate the energy flow in the body. Now massage chair recliners have built technologies that integrated the use of acupressure.

Acupressure massage is based on sets of meridian lines that run through the body. These meridian lines have certain junctions called trigger points. The trigger points can enhance or hinder the energy flow in the body. Acupressure utilizes certain methods to stimulate these trigger points to control and regulate the energy flow in the body. There are a number of definitive techniques that help to control the energy flow and to restore balance back to the body.

We are now seeing technology being developed by some of the top manufacturers in the world for Acupressure. Companies like Panasonic, Sanyo and Omega have integrated methodologies to perform acupressure massage therapy. The massage chairs built by these companies have tremendous technology that can identify your unique trigger points. The technology identifies your points and then it targets specific areas for relief.

These massage recliners take a reading of your back as the acupressure massage is activated. The computer in the chair takes in all the information. It will then, processes it and then create a program just for you. The recliner knows how to manipulate the most critical trigger points and knows the precise location of your points. The massage recliner runs a customized massage just like a massage therapist. These acupressure massages are very effective in revitalizing your body and spirit.

To help you relax some massage chairs incorporate other features to compliment the acupressure massage. Most spas have soft meditative music to help the mind to relax and get away from thinking about the stresses of the day. Some massage chairs have MP3 players built in with headphones to help you to relax. You can also find heat therapy, where there are heating elements constructed into the chair. Heat helps to reduce swelling and increase blood flow.

The utilization of acupressure improves lymph flow. The lymph system is the cleaner of last resort. What the blood does not clean is left for the lymph system. Acupressure helps to flush more toxins from the system. You may not know that acupressure also provides these benefits:

Less muscle discomfort; Increases in joint mobility; Improved flexibility; More positive outlook

Acupressure massage has been used for centuries in many ancient societies. Now technology has made acupressure massage both cost effective and accessible to everyone with massage chairs. Massage chairs are actually a very cost effective means to obtain acupressure massage. The real benefits of acupressure massage come with receiving it on a periodic basis. Just like any health related treatment, it must be performed through time. Having a massage chair recliner in your home provides you with access and a low cost means of obtaining acupressure massage on a routine basis.

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With health care costs on the rise, everyone is looking to save money. Health care is looking to automation to help offset expenses. Most industries transition from labor intensive to capital intensive. Now we are seeing the potential of massage therapy transitioning to capital intensive or the use of machines/equipment. With the rise of massage chairs, many massage techniques can be delivered effectively with these chairs. How is money actually saved in this situation?

Have you ever gotten a massage at a day spa? If so, then you know that a time needs to be set with the massage therapist. We also need to go to and come back from the day spa. The massage therapist works for a fee. We need to pay the masseuse by the hour and also give a tip. Let us assume we go to the spa once a week for a year, then the massage therapy bill will be thousands of dollars.

Maybe you see a chiropractor. A chiropractor may adjust you and then put you through various therapies to stimulate and relax your muscles. You may need to do stretching and other activities to help you heal. Health insurance may cover some of these costs or if you are lucky all of these costs. The effectiveness of chiropractor visits is in the beginning. The chiropractor sets you on a course to recovery. In time, the effectiveness of the visits will start to diminish, but the cost is still the same or rising. Again, these bills can run you hundreds of dollars per month which turns into thousands of dollars per year.

Traditional massage therapy has been delivered by humans for centuries. Certainly this is a fantastic method to receive massage therapy. However, massage chairs now provide an alternative that delivers effective massage therapy. These therapeutic recliners range in price from $1,000 to $7,000.

People like to look at sticker prices and judge massage chairs as expensive. Of course anything that costs over a thousand dollars is expensive. On the other hand, they see seventy five dollars per hour for a masseuse and think that is cheap. But let us dig into the real economics of a masseuse versus a massage chair. If we pay $75 with a gratuity of ten dollars then each hours runs us $85.00. Now a good midrange massage chair runs $3,000. Let us suppose we get a weekly massage. How many weeks until we pay for the massage chair? It will take 35 weeks. The thirty five weeks means we received 35 hours of massage therapy.

If we look over the longer run, we find that paying for the massage by the hour will buy the massage chair after 48 sessions. OK, now let us look at this from the massage chair perspective. A $3,000 massage chair is designed to last 1,000 hours. How much do we need to pay per hour of massage therapy. Let us divide $3,000 by the 1,000 machine hours and we get $3.00. That is right, with a massage chair we are paying $3.00 for an hour of massage therapy. Compare that to the $85.00 we are paying our massage therapist!

The real economics of the massage recliner is that it is a vastly superior value to traditional massage therapy. Obviously, getting a massage from a masseuse has its advantages beyond just the economics. But massage chairs also have some major advantages of availability and accessibility. Not to mention the overwhelming economic advantage. There certainly is tremendous value over the long run with a massage chair.

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This review evaluates the Panasonic EP-1273KL shiatsu massage chair. Panasonic offers a full range of massage chairs and is known for its electronics division. Panasonic is known for its quality and its solid state electronics. The Panasonic EP-1273KL is a midrange model in the $2,000 to $3,000 price range. This review will point out some of the advanced features of this shiatsu massage chair.

Massage chair companies are a diverse group. Panasonic obviously has a solid name and reputation. You can buy with confidence and be assured your warranty will be covered. Just a note of precaution if you are considering other brands: Just make sure any chair brand you buy sells to retail clients. If they do not, then be cautious about how they will back their warranty later. Saving a few hundred dollars now may translate into many more times that to fix a chair later.

How good is the warranty of the Panasonic EP-1273KL massage chair? Panasonic provides just an average warranty directly from the manufacturer. The standard Panasonic manufacturing warranty covers 1 year parts, 1 year labor, 1 year shipping and 1 year in-home service. Panasonic provides an average warranty protection for the customer. The warranty coverage can be extended by purchasing an extended warranty through the retailer. The larger electronics companies follow the extended warranty model which is no doubt a carry over from their electronics divisions. Coverage on the extended warranties vary by retailer, so check out what the coverage and cost for the Panasonic EP-1273KL.

Almost everyone's favorite subject about massage chairs is how they look. The Panasonic does OK in this regard, but it looks a bit sterile for the general public. At least that is the comment we get a lot. This massage chair seems targeted to health professionals with its neo-industrial design aesthetics. Not to take away from the chair, but just make sure you like the look of this chair. We actively encourage our suppliers to make chairs that fit in any room.

The Panasonics Swede-Atsu massage replicates the hands of a master masseuse. The sophisticated movements of fingers, thumbs and palm have been imitated in the Panasonic arsenal of massage chairs. Choose from 8 massage techniques which include Hawaiian, Shiatsu and Swedish to find the relief that is right for you. 3 manual courses let you choose specific target areas in your back. 15 minute timed auto programs include the following: Deep, Gentle, Shiatsu and Refresh

Air compression technology is advancing and Panasonic has included a calf air massage in the EP-1273. Target both the calf muscle and the feet. Gentle air pressure will squeeze, hold and release those areas. Get stretched out with the automatic leg rest with this massage chair recliner. Lower body muscles can be extended with the leg rest. The stretching function is built into the auto programs.

The EP-1273KL massage chair by Panasonic is a good value for its class. It provides a strong and thorough back massage and has a tension relieving lower body massage. One of the nice features of the Panasonic EP-1273KL is the dual-use ottoman with the built in stretch system. For this price range, there is not a massage chair that will have more than one position of stretch. Only drawback with the ottoman is there is no foot well. The user must bend their knees to position their feet to get a foot massage. Other than that the Panasonic EP-1273KL is a strong contender for shiatsu massage chairs in this mid-range class.

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This is a review of the mid range massage chair produced by Sanyo. This model is the SA 5000. There are so many massage chairs on the market and we hope this review will help to guide those looking for a quality massage chair recliner. We will cover some of the salient features and the warranty coverage of the SA 5000 by Sanyo.

Sanyo has made some changes to its warranty for the benefit of the consumer. Sanyo covers the roller mechanism for 3 years, provides 1 year on the other parts and 1 year labor. They have started in home technician service and will cover the first year. This is a great step forward, because before you needed to take your chair to a service center. This was not much fun for anyone who had to do it. Also, Sanyo has a national call center which is open 24/7. This has allowed them to centralize control over parts logistics and improve service levels.

This mid range Sanyo has a remote control as well as a wired sub remote. The main remote control has 4 automatic programs and a selection of manual programs. It has one button automatic programs which initiate the massage at the touch of a button. The manual massages come with manual massage courses. The manual massage courses enable the user to target particular areas to focus the massage. You can target the upper back and the massage will be confined to this area only. The control takes a little investment in time to get to know, but overall is fairly intuitive to use and learn.

One of the interesting features in the SA-5000 is the sensor contained in the wired sub remote. This sub remote has a pulse and perspiration sensor. It monitors your pulse and perspiration to determine areas that are need of further attention during the massage. For this to work, you must grip the sensor throughout the massage. The chair will actually adjust the massage based on feedback obtained from the sensor. Sanyo has also included some chair controls on the sub remote. You can adjust chair back and the foot rest with the sub remote. They also included a repeat button. This enables you to repeat a massage that just occurred. This is nice if you want further attention in a given area that the chair just covered.

This mid range massage chair has four massage treatments. You can choose from Stiffness, Recovery, Relax and Fine. Stiffness is a Shiatsu style massage for the back, neck, shoulders and legs. Recovery targets stiff and tight muscles. Relax is more tranquil and is focused on full body relaxation. Fine helps to increase circulation of blood and lymph. Each of these massages can be used in conjunction with the 3 stretching functions. These stretching functions work in conjunction with the full body massages.

The manual massage techniques include the following: Grip, Shiatsu, Kneading, Tapping, and Combination. Grip makes use of the exclusive GK Rollers specially designed by Sanyo. The GK roller system can extend further outward than most roller systems. This makes gripping or grasping over the tops of the shoulders or around the neck possible. This is effective to provide relief in this area. Shiatsu is a combination of chopping and kneading actions. The kneading massage is a side to side pinching action which is very relieving. Tapping is a rapid succession of soft blows to loosen stiff muscle areas. Combination is using kneading and tapping simultaneous.

The Sanyo SA-5000 also has an effective lower body massage. The lower body massage is an air compression system which utilizes airbags to give a compression massage. The airbags are located to target the thighs, calves and feet. There are specially designed shiatsu pressure point nodes in some of the airbags to hit your trigger points. These trigger points are based on acupressure massage and help induce full body relaxation. The air bags provide an effective squeeze to loosen and invigorate tight muscles of the thighs, calves and feet. Sanyo has also included a heater element in the foot wells to warm the soles of your feet.

We like the SA 5000 massage recliner from Sanyo. It has some great integrated technology like the pulse and perspiration sensor and the GK roller system. These are innovations you would expect from a large electronics company. We are less impressed with the look of the chair as it is a bit industrial in design. The warranty is fair and the 1 year in home service is an added benefit. You should really look at an extended warranty if it is offered for additional protection. If you are looking for a mid range massage chair, then this one should be on your short list.

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This is a review of the luxury massage chair by Omega Massage. The Omega M-5000DLX massage chair is the subject of this product review. Omega is known for its striking aesthetics, advanced technology and effective massage therapy. The M 5000DLX is in the $3,000 to $4,000 price range. We will evaluate the major features, functions and warranty of the DLX.

The warranty helps to offset the risk the consumer is taking in purchasing a manufactured product. Machines are made by humans and humans make mistakes. You want to get sufficient warranty coverage to protect your investment down the road.

Let us take a look at the warranty coverage provide by Omega Massage. The DLX comes with 5 year warranty coverage on the frame of the chair. You also get 3 years coverage on parts and also on labor. Omega also gives you 90 days of in home technician service. They also cover 1 year of shipping for parts. This is the most comprehensive warranty coverage of the major massage chair manufacturers.

Let's go through some of the important features of the M-5000. This massage chair comes with 5 automatic programs, 4 manual massages, and 4 manual massage back courses. The automatic massage functions include full back, neck and shoulders and lower back. The manual massage functions include finger press, kneading, tapping and combination kneading/tapping. The manual massages can also be adjusted to three levels of intensity to find the rate level of penetration to suit your needs.

The automatic massage functions are very effective in the DLX. This is perhaps one of the strongest massage chairs on the market. In fact, Omega includes an extra removable back pad (and more if needed) to soften the massage for those more sensitive. The neck and shoulders massage is very effective. The programming of the sequences of the massage techniques and variations is soothing, penetrating and relieving. We have not found a better upper back massage and we have tried many, many chairs.

For your full body pleasure, the DLX comes fully equipped to massage your buttocks, thighs, calves and feet. The M5000 has an air massage system to cover the lower body with soothing compression massages. The airbags are specifically designed to target each region of the body. The gentle or firm squeeze, hold and release helps release those aches and pains. The footwells contain reflexology nodes to penetrate into the feet relieving tension throughout the body and inducing total relaxation and balance.

The M 5000 comes with many designer touches to enhance the appeal of this massage recliner. Omega uses top grain ox hide leather for all the upholstery. The armrests come with highly varnished real wood. The remote control has advanced features like the back lit LCD. There are 5 auto programs that start with the touch of one button. The manual controls are tucked away in a concealed side panel.

Omega understands and caters to total body relaxation. They include a foot reflexology massage to relax your major organs. They also include an MP3 player for your favorite music. Just download your favorite tranquil music onto the provided USB stick and slip on the headphones for your relaxing pleasure.

The M-5000 DLX delivers all that a massage chair is about. It has full body capabilities including head to toe reach. Enjoy an excellent neck and shoulder rub down while your feet unwind to a soothing reflexology massage and your mind drifts off into more creative endeavors. You get peace of mind with the best warranty coverage from Omega. This is certainly one of the top massage chairs on the market today.

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We will present the luxury massage chair by Omega which is the Montage Elite in this review. The Montage Elite was designed for the American market and can accommodate users up to 6' 6" and up to 300 lbs. We will also point out the most important features of this massage recliner and the warranty coverage. We now present the Montage Elite massage recliner.

One of the first things to check out about any massage chair is the warranty coverage. A massage chair has many moving parts, a computer and other electrical components. Although the quality of these chairs is outstanding, sometimes problems do occur. You want to make sure that your relaxation does not become frustration, because you did not get sufficient warranty coverage.

The Montage Elite has a good, comprehensive warranty out of the gate. You get 5 years coverage on the frame, 3 years coverage on parts, 3 years coverage on labor, 1 year coverage on parts shipping expense and 90 days in home service. This is excellent coverage and exceeds the other top brands in the luxury massage chair category. You can get matching coverage from other top brands, but you must purchase the extended warranty.

Automatic programs are pre-programmed massages designed by the manufacturer to maximize the functions of the massage chair. The Montage Elite comes with five different automatic programs. Each of the five automatic programs is developed around a theme and includes the following: Activation, Relaxation, Vitality, Night and Morning. Activation and Vitality are more vigorous programs providing deeper massage therapy. Vitality is somewhat in the middle. Morning and Night are similar to warming up for Morning and warming down for Night.

With the Omega Montage Elite massage chair there are four manual massage techniques. The techniques include kneading, tapping, finger press and shiatsu. The kneading is great for loosening tight muscles. The tapping helps to invigorate the muscles and increase blood flow. Finger press is a rolling type massage that helps to relieve pressure on the cervical discs. Shiatsu is great for relieving and soothing tight muscles.

For the lower body, the Montage Elite uses an air system. The air massage system utilizes a series of airbags strategically placed throughout the chair. The air system targets your calves, feet, hips and buttocks with a compression style massage. One superb feature of the air massage is the Footflex reflexology massage for the feet. The Footflex technology soothes your feet while relaxing your entire body.

How about a nice stretch of the lower body? The Montage Elite delivers. The lower body traction system will stretch out your lower body. The stretch is activated which will raise the leg rest to a horizontal position. The leg rest then lowers to 3 different successively lower positions. This extends out your hips, thighs, knees and ankles. This helps improve your range of motion.

The Montage Elite also comes with full body heat. Heat is excellent to reduce swelling and increase blood flow. You can set the heat for the chair back, seat or leg rest and control them individually. Do you want to relax your mind? The Elite has a built in MP3 player to listen to your favorite music. Headphones are included to help you tune out the world and relax. You can even synchronize the massage movements to the rhythm of the music. This massage chair recliner has it all!

The Montage Elite has an attractive, contemporary design. It comes in black, dark brown and ivory. The arm rests actually lift up and allows for wheelchair access. This is an outstanding luxury class massage recliner. It comes with one of the best warranties in its class. There is a full range of massage therapy capabilities and complimentary features. If you are looking at a higher end massage chair, you owe it to yourself to check out the Omega Montage Elite massage chair.

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We will present a systematic review of the Sanyo DR-6700 massage chair recliner. This is one of the higher end Sanyo massage chairs. Sanyo is known for integrating many advanced features into their recliners. This review will cover five main categories ranging from warranty coverage to massage therapy. See how this high end massage chair is rated.

Warranty & Customer Service: Warranty is your protection from defects due to materials and workmanship. However, these warranties vary substantially from manufacturer and also by model. Here is the breakdown for the HEC-DR6700K massage chair: 3 years on the roller mechanism. The rollers give you the massage in the chair back. 1 year parts. 1 year labor. 1 year technician field service. We like the 1 year field service, but the parts and labor is rather short. Customer service is pretty good for Sanyo. Overall, the DR 6700 earns an 18.

Comfort & Ergonomics: Believe it or not some massage chairs are only comfortable to sit in when they are running. A massage chair needs to double as a recliner in our humble opinion. The DR-6700 cradles the body when you sit in it. The padding makes for a plush seat. The adjustable head pillow can be positioned to support your head well. The main functions of the chair are ran from the remote and it is in an accessible location. We give the DR6700 an 18 for comfort and ergonomics.

Ease of Use: One concern we have with the massage chairs is that the dramatic increase in functions could cause the chair to be difficult to use. The manufacturer must innovate with new features, but balance it with a simple and easy to use chair. We like the use of one touch buttons for the automatic programs. When selecting the manual techniques, there are more things to remember to get the chair to do what you want. We do like the layout of the control and the use of LED to show incremental settings. We give it a 17.

Key Features: There are two electronic features integrated into the DR-6700 that are both worth pointing out. These are the physical shape sensor and the stiffness detector. The physical shape sensor memorizes the position of your body. If you move in the massage chair, then the sensor detect such movement. It then adjusts the massage program to your new position. The stiffness detector is based on Sanyo's lie detector technology. It works by measuring your pulse rate and your level of perspiration. From there correlations have been made to areas of your body originating this increased stress and the chair will then target those areas. We rate these interesting features an 18.

Massage Therapy: You get a choice of 9 massage treatments in the HEC-DR6700. Choose from the five manual massage techniques. These manual techniques include Kneading, Tapping, Kneading/Tapping Combo, Shiatsu and Grip. After selecting the manual massage technique, you can select an area of focus. There are 4 back massage courses that target different areas of your back. You can also run the entire chair with the one-touch automatic programs. The four automatic programs have a particular theme and they range from Fine, Stiffness, Recovery and Relax. The Sanyo 6700 massage chair does a fantastic job and gets a 19 for massage therapy.

We rate this massage chair recliner 90 points out of 100. Sanyo has integrated some unique electronic functions into the DR-6700. The physical shape sensor and the stiffness detector are unique to Sanyo. We are somewhat concerned with the warranty coverage only having 1 year parts and labor for a high end massage chair. The massage therapy programs are well designed and effective. This is a very good massage chair and the DR6700 should be one for you to check into further.

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This review will take a look at one of the Panasonic Real Pro Ultra series of massage chairs. The Real Pro Ultra is the current massage recliner series rolled out by Panasonic. We will look at the EP 30004 model. Some say this is the best ergonomic chair on the market for the price. This chair will be reviewed in 5 key categories. Each category can earn up to 20 points for a total possible score of 100 points. We will evaluate the recliner in each of the following categories: Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. Let us see how this massage chair rates..

Warranty & Customer Service: With any electronic equipment or big ticket item, warranty protection is critical. Although, most massage chairs are built well, there are occasional problems. In this case, you want to make sure you have adequate protection. The EP 30004 comes with a 3 year parts and 1 year labor warranty from the manufacturer. We find this as fairly short and recommend you consider purchasing an extended warranty if it is offered. Customer service is dependent on the retailer the chair is purchased and is thus highly variable. Panasonic earns a 15 in this category.

Comfort & Ergonomics: To provide relaxation, a massage chair needs to be comfortable to sit in. Also, the design of the chair must be ergonomic, so you do not have to struggle to make adjustments with the chair. The Real Pro Ultra has soft padded armrests. The head pillow can be adjusted for each user and is also detachable. The chair back and seat are plush when seated. The leg ottoman can be adjusted up to 5 inches of additional extension. The controls are located in easy and accessible areas. The EP-30004 is well designed for comfort and ergonomics. We rate this recliner an 18 in this category.

Ease of Use: We are seeing an increasing amount to features being built into massage chairs. This is a very positive and beneficial development. The other side of this is being able to keep the control simple and easy to use. Panasonic has a good understanding of this dilemma and includes a voice guidance system built into the remote. If you need help with running a certain aspect of the chair, then the voice guidance is there to walk you through the steps. Otherwise, the controller comes with one touch automatic programs. It has an LCD showing what massage functions are running in the chair. There are a myriad of manual programming options which are fairly simple to use. We like this controller and its layout. We rate this chair a 19 for ease of use.

Key Features: The important features of the Panasonic EP-30004 are the Junetsu massage and the shoulder/arm stretch. Panasonic has developed the Junetsu style massage in the Real Pro Ultra. The Junetsu is an ultra fine kneading massage. This uses small circular motions that penetrate deeply through the muscles for a soothing massage therapy. Panasonic has developed a novel shoulder stretch in the EP 30004. The arm rest has padded covers that lift up, where the hands and arms can be placed inside. The airbags then activate to which hold the arms. The chair back then reclines slightly to extend the arms and shoulders. This slow, gradual stretch helps to elongate the muscles of the arms and shoulders. This stretch helps to remove tension from the muscles and increase the range of motion. Overall Rating for the Panasonic Real Pro Ultra for features is 19.

Massage Therapy: This massage chair comes with five automatic courses. It includes a Body Scan which is also customizable. Ultra-fine kneading or Junetsu has been introduced to the full complement of Quad-style massage techniques, including Shiatsu, Swedish, fist kneading, and grasping. Between the automatic and the manual functions there are up to 372 combinations of techniques available in this recliner. There are reflexology pads built into the foot wells that pinpoint areas that will instantly increase blood flow and energy throughout your body. These plates are adjustable and removable. You also have both a lower body stretch and the shoulder stretch. This chair has a virtual arsenal of massage techniques to cater to your every need. We score the massage therapy of this chair a 19.

We score the overall rating of the EP 30004 as a 90/100. This Real Pro Ultra series lounger is a solid and well built massage recliner. It has some new and innovative features such as the shoulder stretch and the Junetsu massage. It provides comprehensive and thorough full body massage capability. We have to say we are still disappointed with Panasonic's lack of design aesthetics. The chair just has a very industrial look which unfortunately continues to be their trademark look. The warranty is a bit light and an extended warranty should be considered for adequate protection. This is definitely one of the best massage chairs in its class and if you are looking for one, then check this one out.

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