Physical therapy starts with an expert therapist. Much like a trainer, the physical therapist will design a program to increase the flexibility and strength of the injured areas. The therapist must understand your situation. They must know the procedures you went through if you had surgery. They also must know the physiology of your body and its related mechanics. Most of the programs require stretching and massage for flexibility and exercise for strength. They use specialized equipment in order to target specific areas or individual muscles. Massage chairs are particularly effective in loosening tight areas and enhancing blood circulation.

One of the first things you will do in physical therapy is to sit down with your therapist. You will go over in detail your physique and injured areas. The therapist understands surgeries and there affect on your muscle and skeletal systems. They will design a specific program with you. You will be put through a regimen of stretching. They will want you to gain more strength. You may need to do exercises or use specialized exercise equipment. They may rub down or massage certain areas of your injuries. They may have you receive massage therapy in a massage chair recliner. All these therapies are designed to help your recover fully.

One of the key areas when you start is to make your muscles more pliable. When an injury occurs, the body immobilizes the affected area. Your body has redundant systems for most everything. If your leg is injured, it will want the other leg to take over. The body does not want the injured leg used and tries to shut it down to heal it. This is good, but your muscles become stiff and tight. They actually hurt when you start to bend them. Stretching is an important part of the physical therapy routine to build back flexibility.

Exercises are important to help rebuild strength. When we have an injury, we tend to protect that area. Protecting that area is usually to isolate and immobilize it. In other words, we tend not to use the injured area. This helps to prevent further injury, but at the expense of strength and conditioning. To help rebuild the body, exercises help to build up strength, endurance and agility. Physical therapy clinics have a wide array of exercise equipment from treadmills, stationary bikes, weights and more. These help you focus building up a particular set of muscles.

Some of the problems encountered in the physical recovery process are scar tissue. Scar tissue forms harder than the original tissue. This needs recurring kneading and pressing massage to restore flexibility. The muscle tissue breaks down into shorter lengths when physically stressed. The muscles tissues need the fibers to be elongated to restore further flexibility. Massage therapy targets these two important areas. Some physical therapy clinics use massage therapists and may also use massage chairs. In either case, the focus is on increasing the longer term flexibility. Massage therapy is effective in loosening the muscles and scar tissue while increasing the blood and nutrient flow accelerate the healing process.

If you push your limits, you may sometimes go too far and suffer an injury. Or they may just happen. Either way, you just want to be fully recovered. The physical therapies being offered utilize top notch technology and methodologies. From massage chair recliners to treadmills, you will be exposed to a range of treatments designed for your full recovery.

Hopefully needed not require Physical Therapy, but if needed then research what massage therapy most benefits you. A massage chair can be an excellent investment in your health. Massage Chair Therapy offers many techniques

If you are looking for an extraordinary recliner that will beautify your home or office, then the Serenity massage chair is one you have to check out. It has a beautiful wood chair back. The chair back wraps around the sides of the chair giving it its beautiful lines.

The Serenity recliner is not your ordinary recliner. It comes with a powered recline for the chair back and also the leg rest. Simply push the button in the control panel and recline back to a comfortable and relaxing position.

Settle back into the zero gravity position. The zero gravity position was found to better distribute the weight of your back. This helps to relieve tension building in concentrated parts of your spine.

It's easy to relax in the Serenity massage chair. It comes with an MP3 player and headphones. You can download your music onto the included USB stick and plug that into the remote panel. Slip on the headphones and let chair relaxation begin.

Do you like to just cuddle up and read a book? The Serenity you recliner is perfect for this. Just recline back and activate the built-in heaters to warm your body as you read and relax in this wonderful recliner.

The Serenity massage chair also has a number of soothing and relaxing massages. There are seven air bags located in different parts of the Serenity. The airbags are driven by an air compressor which provides a gentle squeezing action to relieve tight areas of the body.

The Serenity has vibration massage programs. There are three automatic programs to provide deep relief of the lower body. These vibration motors are located in the lower half of the chair to provide invigorating and stimulating relief of your tension.

The swivel base is made of wood. It also matches the chair back. The chair back is one piece of wood. Both of these are in a cherry red color. The grain is very well done on these chairs and stands out very prominently.

The Serenity massage chair has beautiful lines and will complement your home or office. It is available in black, white and brown. This is a massage chair which fits in any room in your house.

Unlike most massage chairs, the Serenity massage chair is truly an outstanding design. It does not look like a massage chair. It is thin and has beautiful lines. Most massage chairs look big and bulky, but not the slim looking Serenity massage chair. This is a great new direction as many massage chair designs get relegated to the garage or gym.

The Serenity massage chair by Omega massage is a one-of-a-kind recliner. Omega has certainly broken the mold for what massage chairs look like. The Serenity massage chair is a conversation piece which also provides you with a number of therapeutic in relieving treatments. Get the best of both worlds with the Serenity massage chair.

Check into the Serenity Relaxation Chair and peruse its arsenal of excellent features. We carry other models from Omega Massage including the Montage Premier and Orion

What is Lordosis?

Lordosis is an abnormal excessive front-to-back curvature of the lower back Lumbar Spine. It is also known as Hyperlordosis or Swayback or Saddleback. Lower Back Pain is a common symptom of Lordosis, and is a correctable condition if addressed properly before any permanent damage is dome to the Lumbar Spine.

What is the cause of Lordosis?

If the pelvis rotates forward as a result of some kind of condition, the center of gravity of the body will move forward as well. The upper torso will then move backward to reposition the center of gravity so that it is vertically balanced. An excessive front-to-back lumbar curve is the end result given other names such as Hyperlordosis, Swayback, or Saddleback. This Postural Dysfunction of the lower back Lumbar Spine causes muscular imbalances as well as incorrect Lumbar Spine positioning. Hyperlordosis doesn't happen overnight, but develops over a period of time, and is fundamentally a postural and developmental problem.

How is Lordosis associated with Foot Positioning?

Lordosis is caused by anything that positions the heels of the feet higher than the balls of the feet. Wearing high heeled shoes results in postural dysfunction of the lower back, and that is a primary cause of Lordosis. Muscular imbalances are then caused by the postural dysfunction where there are corresponding anterior and posterior hypertonic muscle groups in opposition to weak and inhibited muscle groups in the pelvis and lower torso. Lower Crossed Syndrome is a condition that is commonly caused by the result of those imbalances.

What Muscle Groups corresponding with Lower Crossed Syndrome are Hypertonic (Excessively Tight)?

The anterior hypertonic muscle groups directly related to Hyperlordosis Lower Crossed Syndrome are the Hip Flexors (Psoas Muscles) and the upper anterior thigh muscles (Rectus Femoris and Sartorius). The posterior hypertonic muscle groups directly related to Hyperlordosis Lower Crossed Syndrome are the muscles of the Lumbar Spine (Erector Spinae, Multifidi, Quadratus Lumborum, Rotatores).

What are the Weak and Inhibited Muscle Groups that correspond with Lower Crossed Syndrome?

The anterior weak and inhibited muscle group directly related to Hyperlordosis is the abdominal Muscles (Rectus Abdominus). The posterior weak and inhibited muscle groups directly related to Lordosis is the buttocks muscles (Gluteus Maximus) and the posterior upper leg muscles (also known as the Hamstrings or Biceps Femoris).

How does Hyperlordosis cause Lower Back Pain?

With the spine positioned in an excessive lordotic curve, a primary dysfunctional source of pain and a secondary dysfunctional source of pain is created. The primary source of pain is the improperly positioned lumbar spine. The secondary source of pain is the abnormal tissue hypertonicity that is created.

How is Lower Back Pain caused by an improperly positioned Spine?

The improperly positioned lumbar spine due to Hyperlordosis results in unbalanced, uneven, and abnormal weight bearing loads upon the Lumbar Vertebrae and the Intervertebral Discs, which could result in nerve impingement and/or Sciatica. The excessive curve also results in incorrect Lumbar Facet Joint movement i.e. reduced Lumbar Facet Joint movement and /or Lumbar Facet Joint Compression which can turn into Lumbar Facet Syndrome. That Facet Syndrome could be a stuck open or closed Facet Joint or a Facet Joint that sticks or binds. This could also cause Facet Arthritis.

So what kind of Pain Symptoms are experienced directly as a result of the Improperly Positioned Spine?

Facet Syndrome Pain Symptoms due to the improperly Hyperextended Lumbar Spine are the result of Facet Joint Compression, decreased Facet Joint movement, and irritation caused within the limited Facet ROM-Range of Motion in a Hyperextended state. The development of Osteophytes (Bone Spurs) and degeneration of Intervertebral Discs would result in additional pain symptoms over time, and would have an effect upon nerve roots in the Lumbar area. Pain could be localized, radiating, or Radicular-nerve root pain in nature.

How does Tissue Hypertonicity cause Lower Back Pain?

Excessive soft tissue loading, compression and reduced circulation occur due to Lordosis. The tissues become hypertonic due to the compressive state. This in turn causes reduced circulation, resulting in the inability to move waste products out of the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissue, as well as causing an impediment to the flow of nutrients into cell structures. This multiple cause and effect issue then results in significantly reduced circulation that causes lower back pain, and results in Ischemia (lack of Blood Flow), Myofascial Pain Syndrome or Trigger Points.

What can be done about Lordosis?

The first thing that should be done is to alleviate as much as possible any condition that positions the heels higher than the balls of the feet while standing. The best Hyperlordosis approach to treatment is a Diagnostic Pain Assessment conducted by a skilled Medical Massage Therapist or other Healthcare Professional prior to Hyperlordosis Treatment. Comprehensive compilation of information based upon Postural Analysis, Range of Motion Testing and other Special Tests will be used in the Assessment to formulate the most effective treatment plan for this condition.

Amateur and professional athletes alike both know that injury comes hand in hand with sports. Sports by its very nature are geared to push the limits of individuals to remain competitive. As boundaries are pushed, limits will be crossed. This is when injuries happen. However, the body is very resilient and with the help of the physical therapy programs recovery times are minimal. These advanced therapy programs build a regimen of activities to restore health and vitality to the affected areas. Many programs require the use of exercise equipment, massage chairs and stretching elements.

If you start a physical therapy program, then you will be assigned a physical therapist. The therapist is a trained professional to help restore your strength, motion and activity. The therapist understands the mechanics of your body and will help design a treatment program for you. You will learn specific stretches, exercises and other specialized techniques to help your body recover. You may also use specific equipment that can address particular issues. Massage therapy has become an important tool in the recovery arsenal and many clinics are making use of massage chair recliners.

Your therapist is trained in different surgeries, treatments and rehabilitation techniques and goals. The therapist will design a recovery treatment targeting the areas of your body that needs greater flexibility or strength. If you are recovering from surgery, then the therapist will be knowledgeable about different surgical procedures. The therapist will help in setting goals as you work through the initial limitations of your physique. Some of the important physical therapy tools are stretching, exercises and massage therapy.

Stretching is important to help regain lost flexibility. The muscles may be tight, the joints stiff and you may have scar tissue. These reduce your range of motion and decrease flexibility. Stretching helps to elongate the muscles. This helps to stretch the muscles helping their elasticity. A frequent and continuous regimen of daily stretching helps to speed recovery. Your therapist will design a stretching routine which will help focus on restoring the range of motion.

Exercises are important to help rebuild strength. When we have an injury, we tend to protect that area. Protecting that area is usually to isolate and immobilize it. In other words, we tend not to use the injured area. This helps to prevent further injury, but at the expense of strength and conditioning. To help rebuild the body, exercises help to build up strength, endurance and agility. Physical therapy clinics have a wide array of exercise equipment from treadmills, stationary bikes, weights and more. These help you focus building up a particular set of muscles.

When you are recovering from surgery most likely you will have new scar tissue. Scar tissue needs to be made more pliable through time. This will enhance the flexibility of the affected area. The mobility of the muscle and also the skin is at stake here. Massage therapy has been shown to increase the flexibility of muscles. Your muscles when injured may also have the muscle fibers break into short units. This reduces their flexibility. The muscles need to be more pliable by elongating the muscle fibers. Massage chairs use kneading and pressing massage techniques to relieve tight muscles and elongate the muscle fibers to restore their flexibility.

Whether you are a professional tennis player or a beginner skier, injuries can happen to anyone. If you do find yourself in physical therapy, work on setting goals to recover. Find yourself an excellent physical therapy clinic. Make sure they have qualified people, proper exercise equipment and massage therapy. And if you need massage therapy, make sure a massage chair is part of your recovery plans.

Why pay to have your back rubbed, is it a waste of money? Or are there real benefits from having a massage. The art of massage is much more than just a back rub. The benefits are very similar regardless of the type of massage given, although certain types of massage are better for sports and muscle injuries.

Well, what are these benefits? and is a massage worth the money? Although massage therapy was used for thousands of years by the Greeks, Egyptians, Romans and Chinese as part of their healing tradition, in the Western world it is fairly new. This therapy has only been used for a couple of hundred years in Europe, and for the majority of that time was only available to wealthy people.

In traditional healing, medicines would have been given, as well as advise on diet and exercise, and often massage with oils was also reccommended. Sometimes massage was given as a stand alone therapy and a variety of oils would have been prescribed.

In the West a variety of massage techniques are used incorporating the traditional techniques of the Middle and Far East. Over the last couple of centuries western massage has evolved and some new techniques have been incorporated into more traditional massage therapies. Gradually scientists proved the efficiency of massage and over the years main stream medicine has become more accepting of its benefits.

Massage is great for relaxing you, but it does far more than that, the benefits can be felt throughout the whole body. Each different type of massage will bring its own unique benefits, and all of the different types will give some benefits that are common to all of them.

It is important to get used to listening to your body, we are all individuals and are changing all of the time. Maybe you have tried massage and thought that it was ok but didn't find any real benefit, then maybe it was the wrong type of massage for you at the moment.

If you are a fan of meditation then you know how to relax, for most of us relaxation is a big problem. Although our ancestors led stressful lives, their stress was in short bursts and not for the prolonged length of time that we in the modern world live with. Maybe you wake up stressed and go to bed stressed, and spend all of the time inbetween rushing around trying to get things done.

Today's stressful world causes you a great deal of harm, there is a hectic pace of life, where you may feel you must be doing something all the time, this takes a toll on you both mentally and physically. You may often feel exhausted, but feel you have to carry on for fear of loosing your job to someone else.

Unless you live in some remote mountain top, you live with air pollution, chemicals in your food and water, and so much stress you may wonder how you will cope. The result of all of this is toxins in your body and tense tight muscles. One way to combat all of this pressure on your body is to have a regular massage. The first thing you will notice is the you feel more relaxed and more able to cope with the everyday hassles of life. More subtle is the removal of excess toxins which will benefit your health now and in the future.

On the physical level a good massage will leave you feeling invigorated, when you have finished your massage you may feel as if you are walking on air.

A good massage will increase the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid through the muscles, assisting in the removal of any accumulated toxins. These toxins can interfere with cells working properly, the toxic load of the body can build up to such high levels that great health is not possible. One of the ways to help the body is to have a massage.

The physical manipulation of muscles can increase mobility and reduce stiffness, especially of the large muscle groups. This additional mobility and toning can help prevent injury, especially if you work out, but only if you use massage therapy as part of your regular training, the odd massage will not help very much.

Many scientific studies confirm that massage therapy can:

Reduce heart rate.

Lower blood pressure (if high).

Increase blood circulation and lymphatic flow.

Stiffened and tense muscles are relaxed, and weak and inactive muscles due to lack of movement when you have an illness or an injury are stimulated.

Increases endorphins.

There is a reduction in anxiety and tension.

Although this list looks impressive there is still a lot of research needed to find out what else can be helped by massage therapy.

The type of treatment offered by skilled masseur combines healing techniques which will work with the natural healing powers of your body to bring about wholeness to your mind, body and spirit.

Of course, it is recommended that anyone with any severe condition or chronic pain should consult with a licensed medical professional before embarking on a massage. Also any well trained massage therapist will be able to tell you if it is wise for you to have a massage or not.

Have you ever gotten a massage at one of your local spas? Memories of relaxing, and having your worries melt away is just too good to forget. The quiet time and calming music is a thing of beauty. I am getting more relaxed just thinking about it. Trouble is where did all my time go? I certainly enjoy getting a nice soothing massage, but I just not finding the time like I used to. One way I still get some great massage therapy and save time also is with my massage chair.

Massage chairs have really come a long way over the last few years. They now offer full body massage capability. Sure they cannot give you a facial or a peel yet, but they certainly can give you a satisfying massage. The premier massage chair recliners offer a huge diversity of massage therapies. For instance, the Panasonic Real Pro Ultra has massage therapies like Shiatsu, Hawaiian, Swedish, deep tissue, compression, kneading and many more. These massage techniques are dispensed at the touch of a button and for as long as you like.

The convenience of having a massage chair at home is phenomenal. You do not need to make an appointment. It is available 24/7, when you most need a massage. You do not have to go out of your way to get a massage. You can get a quick warm up or a long warm down massage. You can continue the day spa treatment in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Now that really is convenient.

Day spas have some wonderful massage therapies. Do you enjoy having your feet massaged? The Montage Premier by Omega Massage sports a reflexology massage for your feet. Sit back and let the Montage Premier apply gentle pressure to hold your feet. The arch airbag then stretch your foot by elongating the muscles and tendons. The heal airbag then stretches the area around your heal. You feet are the gateway to relaxing your whole body. Omega does a great job in delivering a terrific foot massage.

One of the nice elements of a day spa is the atmosphere. When you get a massage, the lights are low, there is soft music playing in the background. It is a very relaxing environment and then of course, there is the massage. 50 minutes of having the kinks, knots and soreness worked out of your body. Interestingly, massage chairs have made strides in this area as well. Some massage chairs come with an MP3 music player where you can load in your relaxing music. You can put on the headphones, activate the music-massage synchronization button and the chair will massage you to the rhythm of the music. It is so easy to drift off and let the massage chair melt away your worries.

Some of the best massage chair brands are Panasonic, Omega and Human Touch. These manufacturers study massage therapy and now how to deliver a total massage experience. Of course, a masseuse at the day spa and the whole experience is certainly wonderful, but it may not always be an option. Massage chairs, on the other hand, have made some great strides with their technology. It is an interesting option with some major advantages. Try out some shiatsu massage chairs and see how they compare.

Are you looking around for a massage chair? Then you will want to see the 5 most important features in the massage chairs of today. There is a tremendous variety of features, options and choices with these massage recliners. You want to investigate what will benefit you the most. Your choice of chairs and features is a long term investment. Check out these 5 features.

Kneading Massage: The kneading function in a massage chair recliner is the most important. The kneading massage is a gentle or firm squeezing movement. The rollers must move sideways across your back to perform a kneading massage. Make sure that the massage chair you purchase has a motor that is dedicated just to the kneading massage. This is ensures that the kneading will have sufficient torque from the motor to perform flawlessly.

Air Massage System: The lower body massage is more effectively covered with an air massage system. An air massage system uses airbags to perform squeezing and holding movements. Air bags can be designed in any shape and size. They are used for the feet, calves, thighs, hips, buttocks, arms and hands. Since they are very flexible, they can be used throughout the massage chair recliner. Air systems use a compressor and a manifold to regulate the air flow to the various airbags. For effective relief for the body extremities an air massage system is the way to go.

Auto Programs: Most massage chairs come with automatic programs. Just press a button and the massage chair takes over and delivers the massage. The auto programs follow pre-set programs as designed by the manufacturers. The auto programs are set to control the various massage techniques, locations, massage systems and durations. All auto programs are not created equal. You want to make sure that the auto programs will perform massage therapies that you want. If you have lower back pain, then you want to make sure the program can adequately cover that area.

Footrest Extension: This is a rather simple feature, but since massage chairs originated in Japan, they have always been small for the American market. To accommodate taller users (i.e. the average American), a footrest extension is critical. Most foot rest extensions allow the foot rest to go out an extra 3 to 4 inches. This doesn?t seem like a lot, but it is the difference between fitting in the massage chair and not. If you are five foot ten or over, you definitely want to investigate this further.

Wireless Sub Remote: It is amazing how many massage chairs are coming out with 2 remote controls. However, most 2nd remotes or sub remotes are tethered by a wire to the chair. The idea of a remote control is well to use it remotely--not tied to the chair. There is finally a wireless sub remote available. You can sit all the way back in the chair and operate most every function. This is important, because you do not want to have to get up to make adjustments to the massage. Sit back, relax and just click on the wireless sub remote.

Here are the 5 most critical features you may want to consider for your massage chair. Massage chair companies are always adding and upgrading their features. There are many innovative and effective features in the recliners of today. Take your time and find out what features are right for you. A massage chair is an important long term health decision. Understand what benefits you want out of a chair and make sure that your find the best massage chair for your needs.

Do you come home tired or perhaps a little stressed? Maybe after one of those long days at work? Relaxing would be nice option. Or even better, I could use a massage. Where is my personal masseuse when I need her? Well, that would be a nice option. But wait, there is another option: A shiatsu massage chair. If I had one at home, I would not have to make an appointment. I could just come home, sit down, lean it back, bring my feet up and push start. Oh yes, my worries are melting away.

With the advance of electronics and mechanical systems and our increased knowledge of massage therapy has culminated into the massage chair of today. Certainly, shiatsu massage chairs have come a long way. There are robotic chairs that are capable of massaging almost all parts of your body. These shiatsu loungers can massage your back, shoulders, neck, buttocks, thighs, calves, feet, arms and hands. You can massage techniques ranging from a Shiatsu massage, Swedish massage or even a Deep Tissue massage. The premier massage chairs have advanced technology to replicate the most beneficial massage techniques performed by masseuses. Many massage therapy techniques have specific applications to improve your health and wellness.

For a truly techological marvel, the Montage Elite massage chair by Omega Massage, Inc. is an amazing machine. The Montage Elite brings sophisticated luxury with advanced technology giving you the healing benefits of a full body massage. The Montage Elite is equipped with full body heat. One can individually control the heat for the chair back, the seat and the footrest. Music is a great way to relax and the Montage has an MP3 player and headphones. There is a massage sychronization button that synchronizes the massage movements to the tempo of your music. Need a great foot massage? Look no further, the Montage Elite has a reflexology foot massage built into the footrest. Need to get stretched out a bit? Omega even included a lower body traction function that will stretch and elongate your lower body from the hips down.

The massage chair industry and has electronics companies such as Panasonic and Sanyo. Sanyo has the HEC-DR7700K which has lie detector technology which is used to find your stress points in your back. The HEC-DR7700K has a new roller concept introduced by Sanyo called GK roller system. The GK roller system extends out and around your shoulders and neck. It is like they reach out from the chair back. The GK roller system provides an invigorating neck and shoulder massage. The Sanyo shiatsu massage chair certainly delivers a thorough massage therapy.

Panasonic introduced its EP-3222 shiatsu recliner. The EP-3222 utilizes the Swede-Atsu massage system developed by Panasonic. The Swede-Atsu combines aspects of both Swedish and Shiatsu massage therapies. Panasonic incorporates an air compression massage system to provide a full body massage. The air compression massage system has airbags built into the seat and footrest to massage the lowe body. The rollers of the EP-3222 simulates the motions of an expert masseuse. The EP-3222 shiatsu lounger memorizes the settings for 3 different users. Technology that can learn what I like, now that is a plus.

These shiatsu massage chairs gets more realistic with each technology advance to simulating a human masseuse. The best massage chairs have integrated multiple capabilities to satisfy your most demanding needs. These chairs come with advanced remote controls which allow you to manually control almost all aspects of the massage functions. You can concentrate in a given area or let it give you a full body massage.

Of course, with such tremendous variety of choices, you have to educate yourself as to what is most beneficial to you. You will want to be careful to choose the right massage chair that fits the type of massage you want. It is important to find a chair that is comfortable and has the types of massage therapies that will give you the results you are seeking. The best method is to try out different massage chairs from different manufacturers. You can see what fits you comfortably, what features do you value and then make an informed choice. It is better you take a little extra time upfront and find the right shiatsu massage chair. Then you can come home, sit back and enjoy your massage therapy in the comfort and relaxation of home.