26 Dec 09 Massage Chairs Relieve Lower Back Misery

As we get older, we have to be more and more careful of lower back problems. Most low back problems occur from injuries or strains to the soft tissue areas of the spine. These are commonly known as musculoskeletal disorder of the lower back. Strains for instance, over extends the soft tissues, ligaments or muscles beyond their stretching point. Healing and restoring elasticity to these areas may involve a variety of treatments. One of the more popular therapies for low back pain relief is the use of massage chairs.

Most people at one point or another in their life will experience some level of low back pain. It may be caused by certain disorders of the lower back, injury or just plain over usage. Some of these causes can be prevented where others may occur as symptoms from other diseases.

Some low back problems come from Spinal stenosis, Scheuermanns disorder, Ulcers, Pancreatitis, Pagets disease, Pelvic inflammatory disease, and Ankylosing spondylitis. These conditions may require surgery or precription medication and must be treated by a doctor. Physical therapy is usually involved to restore the spine back to health.

The most unfortunate aspect of low back pain is that most conditions can be prevented. Injuries or strains may happen because of poor posture or not lifting an object correctly. Another common issue is not warming up well before an activity.

The common motion causing low back pain that can be prevented is how the body is used. From an anatomical point of view, the weight being put on the spine tends to be concentrated on a few muscles, ligaments and tendons in the lower back. This concentration of force tends to tire out these muscles causing them to become stiff and more brittle. If the force continues to be applied, then these soft tissues can become further fatigued causing them damage.

Massage chairs are being adopted as a natural remedy to help the healing process of the spine and for pain relief. Many medical and chiropractic offices are now equipped with these mechanical wonders. They are used to help restore flexibility and elasticity to the muscle and soft tissue areas by providing a variety of treatments.

A typical treatment that may be given for a patient suffering from low back pain with a massage chair is a rolling massage. The rollers are located in the chair back. The are set to roll up and down the spine with the patient in a fully reclined position. As the rollers move up or down the spine they perform a traction function. Traction stretches the muscles and ligaments to restore elasticity.

Massage chairs are used to deliver full body heat. These massage recliners have heating elements located throughout the chair. They can be used individually to target specific areas or used for the full body. Heat is commonly used to reduce the instance of swelling and help with the flow of blood in the area.

One common treatment to help heal the spine is the application of traction. Massage chairs come equipped with 3 traction methods. There are lower body tractions which stretch the legs. There are arm and shoulder tractions which stretch the arms. There are traction for the discs of the spine using the rollers in the chair back.

If you are getting a massage, you might as well relax. Massage chairs incorporate MP3 Players where you can play soft soothing music. Music helps the mind to relax and to let go. This letting go releases the tension in the muscles that the mind is holding. This provides an important environment of relaxation in what may normally be a busy location in offices today.

Low back pain can be particularly agitating because we depend so much on our spine for mobility. Take the precautionary advice here and adapt your lifting techniques and correct your posture. Give your back a fighting chance to avoid injury. Warm up before activities. A massage chair can be used in these pro-active ways as well. You can use the stretching functions and massage treatments to help warm the body up or after to warm down. If you have other stress and tension, then massage chairs are excellent assets to help you care for your back.

Begin your research into Massage Chairs and discover the best brands like Panasonic, Omega and Sanyo. These manufacturers deliver invigorating and soothing massage therapy to help you feel your best. View Massage Chair Reviews to compare the features that are most appropriate for you.

Tags: health and fitness