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One-third of American adults have turned to massage for pain relief,often on their physicians' advice, according to the American Massage TherapyAssociation. Baby boomers are particular enthusiasts, averaging seven massagesannually. They're followed closely by adults 18 to 44, who averaged fivemassages in a year's time.
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No matter what age, anyone who has experienced a massage knows the onlyissue is how long to wait before having another -- and that matters mainlybecause prices can easily top $100 for an hour of kneading and squeezing,stretching and compression.
To the rescue comes the massage lover's dream -- and the ideal Father'sDay gift: a 21st-Century version of the classic recliner.
Massage chairs have long been a popular consumer product in Japan, whereabout 15% of homes have them. Americans are just beginning to realize thebenefits of having a massage chair in the home; only about 1% of U.S. homeshave them, but that figure is expected to rise as the population ages.
With many massage chairs now on the market, scouting relative meritsrequires expertise like that of Relax The Back (http://www.RelaxTheBack.com),one of North America's largest specialty retailers of ergonomic and comfortproducts. The nationwide network of retail stores carries the SANYO ZeroGravity Massage Chair (HEC-DR7700), which gives all the benefits of a livemassage.
Equally elegant as furniture or massage chair, the Japanese-made ZeroGravity chair takes its name from the semi-reclining posture astronautsnaturally assume under weightless conditions -- which also happens to be theleast stressful position for astronauts during take-off, as determined in theU.S. space program. Two reclining positions allow the Zero Gravity chair tosupport the back while promoting optimal oxygen flow.
But it's after you're positioned that the real benefits begin. The chair'ssensors identify stiffness and tension to customize a full-body massagetargeting the areas of greatest need. Numerous strategically placed airbags inthe Zero Gravity chair's backrest, seat, and footrest inflate and deflate inpredetermined sequences, working with adjustable rollers to mimic human handsas they gently compress and stretch muscles throughout the back, legs andfeet.
"This chair leaves a recliner in the dust," says Frank Nordt, a Portland,Ore., biochemist who spends long hours before a computer screen. "It'sdefinitely what I'm looking for on Father's Day."
To learn more about the benefits of massage chairs, including the SANYOZero Gravity Massage Chair, visit http://www.relaxtheback.com or stop by yournearest Relax The Back store.
SOURCE SANYO Home Appliances
