CHATSWORTH, Calif., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans are among the hardest-working people on the planet, so it's good news that more of us are learning to savor the stress-dissolving satisfactions of massage.
One-third of American adults have turned to massage for pain relief, often on their physicians' advice, according to the American Massage Therapy Association. Baby boomers are particular enthusiasts, averaging seven massages annually. They're followed closely by adults 18 to 44, who averaged five massages in a year's time.
No matter what age, anyone who has experienced a massage knows the only issue is how long to wait before having another -- and that matters mainly because 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's Day gift: a 21st-Century version of the classic recliner.
Massage chairs have long been a popular consumer product in Japan, where about 15% of homes have them. Americans are just beginning to realize the benefits of having a massage chair in the home; only about 1% of U.S. homes have them, but that figure is expected to rise as the population ages.
With many massage chairs now on the market, scouting relative merits requires expertise like that of Relax The Back (http://www.RelaxTheBack.com), one of North America's largest specialty retailers of ergonomic and comfort products. The nationwide network of retail stores carries the SANYO Zero Gravity Massage Chair (HEC-DR7700), which gives all the benefits of a live massage.
Equally elegant as furniture or massage chair, the Japanese-made Zero Gravity chair takes its name from the semi-reclining posture astronauts naturally assume under weightless conditions -- which also happens to be the least stressful position for astronauts during take-off, as determined in the U.S. space program. Two reclining positions allow the Zero Gravity chair to support the back while promoting optimal oxygen flow.
But it's after you're positioned that the real benefits begin. The chair's sensors identify stiffness and tension to customize a full-body massage targeting the areas of greatest need. Numerous strategically placed airbags in the Zero Gravity chair's backrest, seat, and footrest inflate and deflate in predetermined sequences, working with adjustable rollers to mimic human hands as they gently compress and stretch muscles throughout the back, legs and feet.
"This chair leaves a recliner in the dust," says Frank Nordt, a Portland, Ore., biochemist who spends long hours before a computer screen. "It's definitely what I'm looking for on Father's Day."
To learn more about the benefits of massage chairs, including the SANYO Zero Gravity Massage Chair, visit http://www.relaxtheback.com or stop by your nearest Relax The Back store.
SOURCE SANYO Home Appliances
