| In order to receive a therapeutic massage you really | | | | Incredibly for its price there's also a music therapy |
| must buy a shiatsu massage chair. Shiatsu is the | | | | system. The Fujikura 2000 is a very good, feature-rich |
| application of pressure with fingers and thumbs on | | | | chair at a very competitive price. |
| energetic pathways, called meridians to improve the | | | | Talking of music therapy, the OSIM iSymphonic doesn't |
| flow of energy. Many manufacturers claim that their | | | | simply play music along with the massage; the type of |
| robotic massage chairs deliver a shiatsu massage, | | | | music played determines the type of massage you |
| however not all do. Here's a review of some popular | | | | get - automatically. This is a very intelligent piece of |
| models that do and do not offer a genuine shiatsu | | | | software that was first developed by the Japanese |
| massage. | | | | company, Inada. The iSymphonic retails for around |
| A cheap chair simply isn't going to deliver a shiatsu | | | | $3,500 and comes with a host of features such as |
| massage. Brands like HoMedics and iJoy massage | | | | infrared body scanning that determines exact body |
| chairs lack the technology required. Shiatsu is very | | | | shape and acupressure location before each |
| precise and requires the pin-point location of a person's | | | | massage, so you are sure to get a genuine shiatsu |
| pressure points and cheap models lack the technology | | | | massage. It also comes with 5 Healthcare programs, |
| to do this. If you really want a genuine, good shiatsu | | | | plus you can set your own courses, giving you |
| massager you can expect to pay a minimum of | | | | complete control of your personal massage. However, |
| $1,800. | | | | unlike the Fujikura 2000, there are no arm massagers. |
| Another undeniable fact is that the best chairs are | | | | The Sanyo HEC-SA5000K Massage Chair is one of |
| made by Japanese companies. Japan has been the | | | | the best models currently available but it doesn't come |
| most competitive market for many years - some 25% | | | | cheap - it retails for around $4,300. It comes with body |
| of households own one. Competition has meant that | | | | shape sensors and automatic adjustment of the rollers |
| Japanese companies constantly produce chairs that | | | | and it comes with 5 width settings so it can definitely |
| are more technically advanced and with more | | | | cope with larger, American frames. It also comes with |
| features than non-Japanese companies. Every single | | | | a long vertical stroke length of 31" and the Grip |
| new technical feature has come from Japan; | | | | massage mode for the neck and shoulder area is |
| Japanese companies innovative while the rest imitate. | | | | superb. Despite its expensive price tag it doesn't come |
| Fujikura make the most affordable models. The | | | | with arm massagers. |
| Fujikura 2000 retails for around $1,800 and is a | | | | Inada is the World leader in the manufacture of robotic |
| machine that comes with an intelligent roller system | | | | massage chairs and the Inada i.2 (HCP-i.2A), while |
| that conforms to the shape of an individual's spine and | | | | being cheaper than the Sanyo and OSIM at $3,300, it is |
| neck. The 2000 also has other great features like arm | | | | I believe the chair that offers the best value for money |
| massagers and 26 air bags - 20 of which are in the | | | | of those mentioned above. This is the chair I would |
| foot and calf massager. It comes with the massage | | | | buy. It's feature-rich, stylish and incorporates the very |
| modes you'd expect; rolling, kneading, shiatsu results, | | | | latest technology; they don't come any better then the |
| compression and percussion, chop action and flapping. | | | | Inada i.2. |