If you are looking for a massage chair, then it is important to find unbiased information regarding potential shiatsu massage chair options. Reviews and evaluations can point out the relevant aspects of each product. To assist apotential purchaser researching massage chairs, we evaluate 5 key categories which include Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. Each category is worth up to 20 points. All points are added up to give a total score based on the 5 categories. A disciplined, systematic approach takes out bias and presents facts. We review the Luxury range of $4,000 to $5,000 and feature the Panasonic Real Pro Elite EP-3222 massage chair.

Warranty & Customer Service: First is how the manufacturer rates in both warranty coverage and customer service. The manufacturer needs to stand behind its product. Panasonic gives a 1 year labor, 1 year parts and 1 year in-home service as well as 1 year shipping. Panasonic puts a machine life cap of 1,000 hours of use. Panasonic gives a short warranty combined with the 1,000 hour cap (for heavy users), the warranty rates as ok. The electronics company's such as Panasonic (or Sanyo) like to sell extended warranties. Panasonic offers in-home technician service and will pay for shipping for the first year. Customer service is through your retailer. Service times vary on the service center location. Overall Rating for Panasonic warranty and customer service is 15.

Comfort & Ergonomics: The comfort and fit of a shiatsu massage chair is important. Otherwise, the chair will only be used for massage. The chair back and armrests of the Panasonic Real Pro Elite are comfortable and the upholstery is well padded. The head pillow is soft and the thickness is appropriate. The footrest is comfortable, but cannot be adjusted. If you are 5' 10" or more, then your knees must be bent when the footrest is raised. This is the least ergonomic part of the chair. The average person in the US is taller than in Asia, so the footrest can be an issue. Our rating in this category is 17.

Ease of Use: Massage Chair manufacturers are adding more technology and features into their chairs every year. Users need to be able to quickly, easily and intuitively understand how to use the product. The Panasonic Real Pro Elite has many advanced features as well as manual options. The main remote control has the auto programs in an easy to use location. The manual controls are located inside the side panel of the remote control. Overall, this remote is fairly intuitive. The Panasonic Real Pro Elite comes with Voice Guidance which can be helpful, but usually only in the beginning or for new users. Another good feature is Focus, which enables the user to repeat the massage that just occurred. It is a repeat function, which is great if you have an area that you want to concentrate on. The Panasonic Real Pro Elite is a 17 in Ease of Use.

Key Features: The most prominent features of the Panasonic EP-3222 are the Lower Body Air System and the Swede-Atsu massage system. The lower body air system has 33 airbags covering your hips, thighs, buttocks, calves and feet. There are 3 lower body massages including Grasp, Auto and Squeeze. The Swede-Atsu replicates the stoking of the palms of the hand, pressing by the heal of the hand, and kneading with the thumbs. The Swede-Atsu has rubber massage heads built into the rollers. These mechanisms can replicate the feeling of the palm, thumbs and heal of the hand. The Swede-Atsu is a good massage system. The Panasonic Real Pro Elite shiatsu massage chair is a 19 in Key Features.

Massage Therapy: The massage functions are included in the Real Pro Elite EP-3222 includes Four 14-minute Pre-Programs, One 5-minute Quick Program and One 14-minute Self Program has 4 full body automatic courses, 5 massage speed settings for a total combination of 14 massage courses. The automatic massage functions include the following: Shiatsu, Gentle, Deep and Refresh. Panasonic equips the EP-3222 its exclusive Swede-Atsu massage system providing a thorough and realistic array of massage therapy choices. The lower body has 33 airbags of coverage and three programs to choose from. This shiatsu massage chair provides good tension relief for the lower body and increased lateral coverage on the back. Overall Rating for the Panasonic EP-3222 massage recliner for massage therapy is 19.

How does the Panasonic Real Pro Elite EP-3222 stack up? Overall, our rating of the Panasonic is an 87/100. Panasonic continues to expand the range of capabilities of its massage chairs with greater back coverage, voice guidance and its Swede-Atsu massage system. The massage chair design is very modern, perhaps, too much so, but that is a matter of taste. Panasonic massage chair technology for both the mechanical and pneumatic provide for a thorough, firm overall massage. Panasonic needs to add an extendable footrest to accommodate taller people. Otherwise, the Real Pro Elite is a solid all-around therapeutic massage chair.

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This review is of the Panasonic massage chair model EP 1272. The EP 1272 is part of the Real Pro Elite series of massage recliners. Panasonic is known for its advanced massage techniques and simple electronics. This review will point out the main features, functions and warranty coverage for your perusal.

One of the important aspects of the purchase is your long term protection. The warranty coverage is designed to remove the longer term risk from the purchase. Let us take a look at what Panasonic offers with the EP-1272. This model comes with 3 years parts and 1 year labor. Labor is only available at authorized outlets which is not too convenient. Panasonic now offers in home service, but does not include it with this model. We find this warranty under par for the rest of the industry.

There are some interesting features on the EP 1272. Some of the more important are the 4 one-touch automatic programs, 8 manual massage techniques and the 3 manual back courses. There is also effective lower body coverage to target the feet and calves.

The 4 automatic programs include: shiatsu, Swedish, stretch and quick. Shiatsu provides overall stimulation of the back, neck and shoulders utilizing the soft shiatsu, deep rubbing and tapping actions. Swedish provides overall loosening of the muscles in the back, neck and shoulders using longer strokes, circular motions and rhythmic actions. Stretch provides overall stretching of the back muscles using the rolling, pressing, shiatsu and kneading massages. After just several uses, the Panasonic EP1272 massage chair will quickly become your favorite piece of back stretching equipment. Quick provides loosening of the back, neck and shoulders using rhythmic actions, circular motions, squeezing and tapping.

The 8 manual massage modes include the following massage techniques: kneading, compression, Swedish, Hawaiian, soft shiatsu, tapping, regional rolling and full rolling. Kneading is particularly effective for the neck and shoulders. Compression is recommended for full body relaxation. Swedish loosens up large areas of the back. Hawaiian helps to relieve tension in the lower back. Soft shiatsu is excellent for loosening up knots in the back. Tapping loosens up the finer muscles of the neck or as a finishing massage. Regional rolling provides focused rolling out of the back muscles. Full rolling provides overall stretching of the back muscles.

If you like to have your feet or calves massaged, then the EP 1272 can provide relief for you. The leg rest has built in air bags to provide a soothing and comforting compression massage. Position the area of your leg and let the EP1272 work out those tight calf muscles. Raise the leg rest more horizontal and place your feet in for a relaxing and relieving foot massage. The EP 1272 is a treat for both your calves and feet.

The remote control is well designed. It is both simple and easy to understand and to use. Select from the 4 one touch auto programs for immediate full body massage therapy. The side panel contains the 8 manual massage programs. Just select the technique for you and select a back course and let it work you over until your troubles are gone. There are adjustments for the massage intensity and the width of the rollers. The control also allows you to pinpoint a specific target area in your back for custom relief.

The EP-1272 is a solid contributor to the Real Pro Elite massage chair line by Panasonic. You have such a wide range of manual massage therapies. You would be hard pressed not to find relief with this machine. Although, the massage chair is solidly built, we have to say we are not impressed with the short warranty coverage from Panasonic. They also need to work on the industrial design and make it more aesthetic for the average residence. But on the massage side, the Panasonic EP-1272 massage chair is a solid performer and one of the better values in the mid range massage chair recliner market.

Buy Panasonic EP1272 Massage Chairs Online

Panasonic Real Pro Ultra EP30006 TU Massage Chair Recliner Junetsu Shiatsu    US $2,699.99

Panasonic EP1080K Massage Chair Lounger Leather EP1080 Black Chiro Mode    US $1,099.95

Panasonic EP30004KU Massage Chair w Arm Massage Junetsu    US $2,499.95

Panasonic EP1285KL Massage Chair Leg Ottoman EP1285 Lounger Black    US $1,299.95

Panasonic EP1273 SwedeAtsu Massage Chair Leather Lounger EP1273KL Black    US $999.00

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This review covers the top of the line massage chair from Omega Massage. Their new Montage Premier massage chair is evaluated in this product review. We will cover 5 important areas in reviewing this recliner. We look at warranty, ergonomics, ease of use, key features and massage therapy. We score each category up to 20 points and then provide an overall rating out of a possible 100 points. Here is an in depth look at the Montage Premier massage recliner.

Warranty & Customer Service: For the consumer, the warranty is a form of risk reduction. In any transaction, one party takes on more risk than the other. The warranty is to reduce the risk of the consumer and balance out the transaction. Therefore, warranty is especially important on higher ticket items. The Montage Premier is backed by one of the best warranties available. Omega Massage gives you 5 years on the frame, 3 years on parts, 3 years labor and 90 days in-home service. Omega also covers any parts shipping expense for one year. This is a more comprehensive warranty than any reputable manufacturer. From a customer service standpoint, Omega has a national warranty call center and is responsive and technically competent with minimal turnaround times. The Montage Premier earns a 19 in Warranty & Customer.

Comfort & Ergonomics: The ergonomic design of this chair is well done. The chair comes with a 4 inch leg rest extension. The recliner is wheelchair accessible for users that are physically challenged. The controls are very accessible and this chair comes with the first wireless sub remote. This provides excellent convenience as most of the controls are available on the sub remote. The chair is comfortable to sit in. It can fit individuals who are 6' 6" and has a weight limit of 300 pounds. We score this a 19.

Ease of Use: One thing is for sure, more features and options are being added into massage chairs, which is great. However, as more features are introduced manufacturers need design the products to be easy and intuitive to understand. We have seen our share of complex controllers that only cause frustration with users. The Montage Premier comes equipped with many advanced features and many manual massage options. Omega introduces a wheel button for adjusting the footrest and chair back. The wireless remote is controls virtually 80 percent of the chair functions and is the size of a credit card. Manual controls are still located in the side panel of the main remote, but you have great controls with the convenient sub remote. This is the only chair that you do not have to get up when laid back in the chair to make adjustments. The Montage Elite earns a 19 in Ease of Use.

Key Features: The Montage Premier comes packed full of fantastic features. We will point out two in detail. The lower body traction system and the synchronized music feature. The lower body traction is designed to stretch the lower body from the hips to the ankles. The recliner activates the airbags to hold your ankles and raises the legrest horizontally. It will then recline the legrest to 3 lower positions stretching the lower body as it goes. This is very relieving and helps to increase your flexibility of joints and muscles. The other unique feature is a music synchronization function. When activated, the massage movements actually follow the tempo of the music being played. The Montage Premier comes with an MP3 player and headphones. This is very soothing and helps to induce full body relaxation. We give this recliner a 19 for its key features.

Massage Therapy: There is an arsenal of massage therapy options with this massage recliner. It has 5 automatic full body massage programs. There are 4 manual massage techniques. There are 6 manual massage back courses. The lower body is covered with air compression massage for the hands, arms, feet, calves, thighs, buttocks and hips. You can adjust the speed of the massages to 4 different levels and there are 4 width adjustments for the back rollers. To enhance the massage experience, there is the lower body stretching, music, and full body heat therapy. If you have an ache or pain, this recliner can provide you thorough relief. This is the most complete massage chair on the market today and we give it a full 20 points for massage therapy. Probably the only place you'll get a better massage is from A-Team massage at 'Massage Orlando', don't pass it up on your next visit to Disneyland

This impressive massage chair earns a 96/100 in our evaluation. The Montage Premier Massage Chair Recliner has solid massage therapy. It covers most everywhere to effectively relieve and soothe tired and aching muscles. You get outstanding warranty coverage direct from the factory without the need to purchase an extended warranty. There are the additional treatments of full body heat with individual heating controls for the chair back, seat and leg rest. Get stretched out with the lower body traction system. Relax and drift off with the included headphones to your favorite music. If you are in the market for a massage chair in this range, then this is one of the top contenders.

Buy Montage Massage Chair Recliners Online

Omega Massage ME 1 Montage Elite Massage Chair with MP3 Music Player    US $4,250.00

Omega Montage Premier Massage Therapy Chair Acupressure Relaxation Recliner    US $3,099.99

Omega Montage Elite Massage Therapy Chair Blk Wht Brown Relaxation Recliner    US $2,899.98

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What are the best shiatsu massage chairs available on the planet today? This article will highlight the top three shiatsu massage recliners. Shiatsu evolved through the centuries in Japan as a derivative of acupuncture from ancient China. Massage chairs first started in Japan, but have now been picked up by manufacturers around the world. The technology to replicate the subtle shiatsu techniques is nothing short of extraordinary.

The best shiatsu massage chairs are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. They are a long term investment in your health and stress management. The massage recliners that we will perform the best shiatsu massages will range between $4,000 and $5,000 in price. These provide full body massage capabilities for many years to come.

Shiatsu is a fairly complicated massage technique. It uses a variety of hand movements and it also uses acupressure. Acupressure is a derivative of acupuncture. It uses the body's trigger points to induce relaxation of the major organs and the whole body. Replicating these techniques is not easy and requires software, mechanical movements and electronics to make it all come together.

If you are looking for the best of the best, then you should go with a name brand massage chair like Omega, Sanyo or Panasonic. These companies have solidly manufactured massage chairs and reliable warranty coverage. These companies have developed excellent technology and incorported it into their top chairs. Let us take a look at some of the top models offered by these top firms.

One excellent massage chair being offered by Sanyo is their HEC-DR7700. The DR7700 is the top of the line for Sanyo. It comes with a barrage of fabulous features and functions. One such feature is the GK roller mechanism that can literally "reach out and grab you". This shiatsu technology allows for the massage mechanism to reach over the shoulders to perform a gripping massage. This is a very soothing and relieving massage incorporated into this shiatsu lounger.

Another shiatsu lounger is the Montage Premier by Omega Massage. This high end, luxury recliner is packed full of great massage therapy functions. The Montage Premier comes with a body scan technology that identifies your shiatsu trigger points. The Montage Premier then targets these areas to stimulate to induce full body relaxation. This is a massage chair that comes with other important features such as an MP3 player, full body heat therapy and a lower body traction system.

Panasonic has been a leader in shiatsu massage chairs and with their Real Pro Ultra series they continue this tradition. One of the best models from the Real Pro Ultra series is the EP-30004 shiatsu massage chair. This model has a unique shiatsu massage that performs ultra fine kneading. This is also called Junetsu in Japanese. This massage applies firm pressure while making a circle movement that penetrates deeply through the muscle tissue. This is a very effective massage and wonderful for taking knots out of your muscles.

Shiatsu massage chairs are evolving at an incredible rate, with these top companies pushing the technological limits. These massage chairs are simply amazing in the range of capabilities and the effectiveness of the massage therapies. They perform full body massages from your head to your toes. They can provide so many different types of massages. There is virtually no muscle that they cannot effectively soothe or relieve. These are not your father's massage chairs!

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This review covers the entry level massage chair made by Sanyo, which is model HEC-SR1000K. The SR 1000K massage chair recliner has some of the same features as some of Sanyo's higher end models. Our product review makes an evaluation in 5 separate categories and up to 20 points are awarded in each category. The total points are added up to give an overall rating for the massage chair. Here is our review of the Sanyo SR1000K massage chair recliner.

Warranty Coverage & Customer Service: We know you want to jump right into the features and functions, so we will put this first. The warranty coverage for the SR 1000 is very good for an entry level chair. The reason is Sanyo gives the same warranty for all their chairs. That is positively great for the SR1000. You get the following warranty: 3 years on the roller mechanism, 1 year parts and labor and 1 year of in the field technician service. Customer service is improved with a national call center. We rate this chair a 19 in this category.

Comfort & Ergonomics: Quite simply, a massage chair needs to be comfortable to sit in. We have seen some chairs that could not be used other than when the massage is running. Sanyo has figured this out and the SR1000 is a comfortable chair. The controller is well laid out and easy to figure out. The main power is to the side which takes a short training period to remember. The foot massager takes getting use to flipping out which is somewhat cumbersome. We give this chair a 17 for comfort and ergonomics.

Ease of Use: With so many features being added to today's massage chairs, we find some remote controls overly complex. This can be very frustrating to new users. The chair should be simple to use and intuitive to understand. The Sanyo SR-1000 comes with an advanced remote that has many features. It does take some time to get accustomed to it as a series of buttons may be required to get it to do what you want. We do like the light level indicators which helps you see the intensities. We give the ease of use a 16.

Key Features: This massage chair comes with the Sanyo stiffness detector. The stiffness detector uses technology borrowed from lie detectors. The stiffness detector in the SR 1000 can sense tightness in the muscles of the body and other points of stress. The user holds the side of the remote and the chair can detect these areas of stiffness. The chair will then target these areas for relief. The other interesting feature is the shape sensor. The shape sensor takes a measurement of the position of the shoulders. The chair then identifies where the shoulders are at and adjusts the massage accordingly. The rollers width will then become less when it gets to your shoulders and for your neck area. These are some advanced electronic features that are unique to Sanyo. We give a rating of 18 for key features.

Massage Therapy: The Sanyo SR 1000 massage chair has the capability to massage your back, neck, shoulders, calves and feet. We consider a full body massage chair one that also has a seat massage which the SR1000 lacks. The SR 1000 comes with 2 automatic programs. One is for a more soothing massage and the other targets you after more vigorous activity. There are 3 manual massage techniques and there are 3 manual courses. The manual courses enable you to target a particular area with a massage treatment. You also get your calves and feet via the leg rest. The SR 1000 rates a 17 for massage therapy.

The SR-1000 massage chair by Sanyo earns an 87 out of 100 points in our review. The warranty coverage is very good for an entry level model. The massage therapy is done pretty well and is effective. We would like to have seen more automatic programs to enhance the variety of massage treatments. The advanced electronic features are novel, but may have caused some tradeoff in the massages that were designed in to meet the price point. This is a good chair and if you are looking for something in this range, then it is worth considering.

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If you are looking for a massage chair, then you will see many massage chairs claiming to be a shiatsu massage chair. There is a lot of confusion as to what constitutes a true shiatsu style massage chair. First we need to understand the actual massage therapy technique, then we can better evaluate if a chair really fits into this category.

To trace the origins of shiatsu massage, one has to go back to China. The Chinese healers found the use of acupuncture. These practice identified pressure points in the body that assisted to speed up healing and reduce pain. The Japanese took this basic art and developed acupressure points. By applying firm pressure in these pressure points, the energy of the body could be regulated. hey began to correlate certain pressure points with relief in different parts of the body which formed the basis of shiatsu massage therapy.

Traditional shiatsu massage incorporates both kneading with the thumbs and fingers and chopping action with the sides of the palms. Kneading was found to stretch out tight muslces making them more elastic. This help to restore flexibility and improve the range of motion. Chopping massage was found to invigorate an given area to enhance blood circulation. The chopping action helps to loosen tight muscles which then make it easier to perform the kneading massage. The use of pressure point massage helps the major organs relax while the kneading and chopping work on relaxing the muscles.

Now that we understand the origins of traditional shiatsu massage, we can evaluate if a chair labeled as shiatsu earns the name or not. Some of the most famous shiatsu massage chairs originated in Japan and are made by Sanyo or Panasonic. Other brands like Omega and Human Touch which are American companies have developed shiatsu style massage therapies based on these principals. Here are some of the best shiatsu chair recliners available.

The Panasonic EP30004 Real Pro Ultra creates a virtual map of your back. It takes into consideration the curvature of your spine and shoulder height. This chair also comes with an ultra-fine kneading function called Junetsu. Junetsu uses small circular motions that reverberate to the bone to provide muscle invigoration and relaxation. These massage techniques are particularly effective for the whole back region. The Junetsu is a unique massage only incorporated in the Panasonic chair.

The Sanyo SA 5000 uses a physical shape sensor to measure the users body. This is a high tech gadget to keep the shiatsu massage hitting the right acu pressure points. The interesting feature is that you can move around in the chair and the shape sensor readjusts where your pressure points are located. This is perfect for those who squirm more during the massage. The chair will still zero in on your points and hit them with relieving accuracy. Sanyo has got your back!

Some massage chairs have taken shiatsu massage and elevated into higher dimensions. Take the Montage Premier by Omega. This chair brings in the dimension of sound with the MP3 music player. Put on the headphones and let the music soothe your mind. Meanwhile, add full body heat or individual area heat to reduce swelling and ease aches and pains. Or add some traditional shiatsu lower body stretching. The Montage Premier incorporates a lower body traction that elongates the whole lower body for comprehensive relief.

Of course, there are more massage chairs that provide shiatsu massage therapy, but these are the best of the best. Find out if shiatsu massage is right for you. If so, then you will do very well with any of these chairs. Many companies advertise that they perform certain functions, but they may not actually deliver it. If you stick with the top brands like Sanyo, Omega and Panasonic then you will get years of shiatsu massage therapy from your massage chair.

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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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We are going to evaluate and review the HT-7120 massage recliner from Human Touch. Over the years, we have developed a 5 category review process to provide balance and consistency for our readers. We will review the HT 7120 in the following categories: warranty coverage and customer service, comfort and ergonomics, ease of use, key features and massage therapy. We score each category up to 20 points each and sum them up for an overall possible rating of 100 points. The Human Touch line is extensive and the HT 7120 is in the $2,000 to $3,000 price range.

Warranty Coverage and Customer Service: When purchasing a big ticket item such as a massage chair, you need to make sure you are comfortable with the warranty coverage. There is a wide range of warranty coverage with massage chairs. Human Touch provides you with 3 years for the structure, 1 year for parts and 90 days labor and parts shipping expenses. This is a rather light warranty compared to the industry. Customer service is very good and competent. We give Human Touch a 12 in this category.

Comfort and Ergonomics: With any massage chair design, ergonomics is an important aspect of design for comfort and relaxation. We like the ergonomics of the HT 7120. It has a very contemporary design, yet it fits the body well and is very comfortable to sit in. The controls are laid out well and positioned in good locations. The leg ottoman can be adjusted in the width of the wells, but you are unable to extend the leg ottoman. This recliner earns an 18 in this category.

Ease of Use: The massage chair industry is always adding features into chairs which is outstanding. The counterbalance to many features is ease of use. With so many new features, figuring out how to take advantage of them can be frustrating. The HT 7120 comes with a very well designed remote control. It is slim remote and has controls located on 2 sides of the remote. The remote is descriptive and fairly easy to use. There is no remote stand, so the remote tucks away in a pocket. The only cumbersome operation is flipping the leg ottoman, but other than that we give the HT 7120 a 19 in ease of use.

Key Features: The HT 7120 has some unique and innovative features. The calf massage width adjustment and the compression massage technique are the two key features we will point out. The leg ottoman comes with a width adjustment to better fit the feet or the calves. There are 6 different width settings to tailor to your specific needs. The compression massage emulates a sports type massage with deep tissue pressure. Two types of techniques are used which are alternating strokes and a rocking motion. The stroking spreads and applies pressure to deep muscle tissue. The rocking motion helps to loosen the spinal joints. This can help with overall posture and improve mobility. We give this massage recliner an 18 in key features.

Massage Therapy: You get a virtual arsenal of massage therapies with the HT-7120 recliner. Select from 3 pre-set programs, 5 manual massage techniques and 3 height adjustments for the back. The 3 pre-set programs include sore muscle relief, energy rejuvenate and auto-demo. The 5 manual massage techniques include rolling, kneading, compression, percussion and vibration. The height adjustment enables you to set where you want the massage on your back. Additionally, you can stretch your lower body, or add heat to your lumbar area as well as massage your feet and calves. This recliner gets a 19 in this category.

The overall rating we give the HT 7120 is an 86 points out of 100. We like the contemporary design of this classic massage chair recliner. The massage therapies are thorough and invigorating. We are concerned with the light warranty with this recliner. The HT 7120 comes with some advanced features and has an easy to use remote. If you are shopping for a mid range model, then the HT 7120 is a massage chair recliner worthy of your attention.

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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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