Rec and Sports

Massage Chairs Are Prevalent in Chiropractor Offices

Chiropractors are certified professionals in holistic health of the spine and back. By utilizing natural treatments, they help induce the spine to restore it back to health. This requires an understanding of the spine, the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. A variety of therapies are used depending on the patient’s situation. As massage therapy is being used extensively, massage chairs have automated some aspects of patient care in chiropractor’s offices around the country.

Did you know the word chiropractor originates from Greek? This is a combination of “cheir” and “praxis” from the ancient Greek language. Together they mean a treatment done by hand. Technology has come a long way since the Greeks. I am sure the ancient Greek chiropractors would be enthralled with today’s high tech massage chairs.

Chiropractors receive three main types of conditions. People that have overstressed or injured their spine. Conditions where the parts of the spine are degenerating or wearing down. The third condition is certain pre-conditions of insufficient health from the beginning. They are trained by a college accredited by the Council on chiropractic education. To become a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic medicine, they must earn a D.C. degree and be licensed from the state.

Chiropractic medicine is finally going mainstream after almost 5,000 years since being started in ancient Egypt. Big Government has started to cover chiropractic treatments with the inclusion in Medicaid/Medicare. Also, many state workers compensation programs also include chiropractor therapies. Big Government has now upped the ante for Big Medicine to do likewise. Big Medicine has been adding chiropractor coverage to some of its HMO and private medical plans.

Chiropractors work with patients to determine the root cause of conditions related to the back, neck and shoulders. Most of these conditions are related to the spinal column. This also includes the soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments that connect the bones of the spinal column.

Most people have heard of a spinal adjustment. This seems to be the most known treatment by the general public. Most of us picture the chiropractor holding them, aligning their spine and then making an adjustment. The adjustment usually is accompanied by a crack or pop sound.

Chiropractors use massage therapy to warm up the muscles and soft tissue areas around the spine prior to making an adjustment to a patient. Massage chairs are increasingly used to perform massage therapy for chiropractic patients. A massage chair helps to loosen tight muscles, ligaments and tendons. This helps the spine to adjust more freely.

We really have to appreciate the spine which allows us to walk on two feet. The spine is designed to distribute the weight over the length of the spine. This keeps everything in balance. However, certain conditions can cause a shift in the balance. This can cause a large portion of the body weight to be put on some very small areas.

Your spine is particularly sensitive to not being in balance. The spine has to work together to take the weight of the body plus whatever you are carrying. If one area has problems, the spine becomes more sensitive in this problem area. The weight of the body can shift which can also cause further injury.

Massage chairs are being used extensively to deliver a variety of massage therapies in chiropractor offices around the nation. Massage chairs also provide the application of heat, traction for the legs and arms, air compression massage, music therapy, and vibration. The spine has many soft tissues like muscle, tendons and ligaments that need to maintain their flexibility. They become stiff and hurt. Massage chair therapy helps to reduce stiffness, while helping to restore flexibility and pliability.