It is amazing to think how technology has changed our lives dramatically in just a few short generations. Most people in their 40s and 50s grew up without cell phones, computers and text messaging. We now have such a tremendous variety of products which were unimaginable to our grandparents. We take a look through time at some people who would have loved massage chairs.

Babe Ruth would have loved a massage chair. This big-league slugger could have used some great massage therapy after knocking out a few home runs. You can just imagine Babe getting a nice pregame massage before running off to Yankee Stadium. He takes a couple hard swings and need some relief for his lower back. His massage chair would be waiting for him after the game to provide effective relief.

Winston Churchill would have loved to have a massage recliner at his disposal during the dark times of World War II. He was the Prime Minister of England and was put on the defensive by Adolph Hitler. England was subject to ongoing attacks from the German Air Force.

Imagine the stress of having to maintain a country that was on the defensive. A massage chair would be quite an asset that he could use for stress relief and also for relaxing while smoking on his cigar. He also had the court the Americans to bring them into the war to help him survive the German onslaught.

One of the great conquerors of the world was a Mongolian named Genghis Kahn. He was one of the great nomadic conquerors of across Asia. He united a kingdom which was un-matched at that time. He did it all on horseback.

Now could you imagine having to ride horseback from one end of your kingdom to the other? The wear and tear on your back would be tremendous. Genghis Khan would have loved to have a massage chair to soothe and relieve his back pain after each ride. He might even have conquered even more.

The ingenious inventor Ben Franklin was very practical and innovative. If given a little more time, perhaps he might have invented the massage chair. He was quite an amazing man for his time and developed many different theories and was involved in politics as well.

Benjamin Franklin would have enjoyed having a massage chair in his home. He would give him time to relax and clear his mind between his groundbreaking inventions. Who knows what else he could have achieved by obtaining the relief and relaxation of massage therapy on demand.

Could you imagine flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean on a single engine plane? This was the feet accomplished by Charles Lindbergh. The long hours staring at the controls with only coffee to keep them awake must have been very tough to perform.

After flying for so many hours in the same position, Charles lingered must have had very stiff back and neck muscles. A massage chair would have been a great way to relieve the stiffness he was experiencing. This would have been a great relief after so many hours of concentrating on accomplishing this amazing feat.

Julius Caesar was the greatest emperor of the Roman Empire. He was able to unite under Rome the largest empire in the known world. However, it was also a time of great mistrust and treachery. Many people were vying for his position.

After a long day at the helm of the Roman Empire, a soothing and relaxing Swedish massage delivered by his massage chair would be in order. With all the treachery going on, a massage chair would be a safe haven where true relaxation could occur for the great Julius Caesar.

It\’s hard to imagine that many of the things we take for granted were not available a few short years ago. Many people would have loved the technology we enjoy today. I am sure that many of these people would have enjoyed be relaxing and soothing relief of the massage chairs of today.

There are many types of massage tables and if you\’re looking for one, you have to consider which will be the best for you. Perhaps you\’re new to massage therapy and just starting out. In a case like this you may need a stationary table for your practice or perhaps a portable on is best. The type of massage services you intend to offer will dictate the type of table you\’ll need.

Massage therapy is becoming increasingly popular, meaning that more massage tables are needed because more people are coming to understand all the benefits of massage. A massage table and a pair of hands are the only tools a massage therapist needs. Both you and your clients need a table that is comfortable or you won\’t be able to perform a good massage.

When it comes to choosing massage tables, the most important quality is how strong and stable it is. It\’s for that reason that you should not purchase the cheapest table on the market. A well constructed table is important to the life of your table no matter how often you use it or how heavy your clients may be. Check how much weight the table is able to hold. Be sure you are getting a good warranty in case something goes wrong.

The height of a massage table is essential, especially for tables that aren\’t electric because they can\’t be adjusted. The height of the table is more important to a therapist than the client because it will determine how comfortable you are during your session. This will depend on your own height, as well as your own particular technique. What you want to avoid is having to bend over too much when you\’re working. The additional stress and strain to your back will make it so that you will be the one who needs to get a massage. If you are slightly shorter then this won\’t be the case for you, but, in general, higher tables are considered better options.

When you consider massage tables, you should consider the brand, as it\’s good to get one that has a solid reputation. There are some reputable brands with a history in making top quality tables for professional massage therapists, such as Oakworks, Stronglite and Earthlight. It isn\’t necessary for you to look only at these brands but, at the same time, you should make sure to do a background check on the company making the tables you are thinking of purchasing. If you are going to be investing in a massage table, you need to remember that a good manufacturer will provide you with an excellent warranty, no matter what table you buy.

Besides them being comfortable and fairly long lasting, straight away, spa quality massage tables make you out as a professional with a serious practice. Of course, you can still be a great massage therapist with a less expensive, or possibly portable table, but some people like the image as well as the quality of these heavy duty units. It is contingent on your needs, the sort of practice you have and the amount of money you have.

Depending on the type of massage you generally give, some tables will be more suited to your work than others. For example, massage therapists who do Shiatsu, Reiki and Swedish massage have differing techniques that will play a role in the type of table they need. A Reiki table, for example, will come with an end plate because therapists generally work from a seated position during Reiki sessions and need the additional legroom. Whatever type of massage you practice, make sure the table is wide enough so that client\’s of varying sizes can lie comfortably on them. Remember, though, that you will have to reach further on a wider table.

When it comes to the comfort level of a massage table, the face cradle is extremely important. Your client\’s face will be resting on this component and it will have a significant impact on how relaxed the person is during the session. You have to find a face cradle that fits well with your massage table. Common materials that are used to manufacture face cradles include wood, plastic, aluminum and memory foam. Many face cradles are non-adjustable, but you can also find ones that gives you the ability to adjust it to fit the needs of each client. You need to be especially attentive when getting this accessory because, when people are receiving a massage, the position their neck and face are in are essential.

When you go searching for a massage tables you need to mull over more than just the price tag and how it looks. You need to come across one which will be fitting for your personal needs or practice. For instance, you wouldn\’t want to pick up a stationary table, and then wish you had a transportable one so you could make house calls. That\’s why you should write down all your needs and the features you want before you choose one.

The goal of shopping around for a massage table is to find one that will last for years and years. Your clients\’ needs as well as your own should be met by the massage table you purchase.

Are you looking for the best but do not want to spend a fortune on a massage chair? We come across this situation many times. As a response from many of our customers, we have put together the short list of the best massage chairs in the mid range market. There are so many massage chairs to choose from. If you are looking, here are the best and forget the rest!

Based on our testing and many of our customer’s recommendations, we have assembled the list of the top three mid level massage chairs available today. These massage chairs not only deliver value, but also awesome massage therapy. We also will point out their warranty coverage so you get a complete snapshot of each of the massage chairs.

The top massage chairs that we selected also happened to come from the best massage chair manufacturers. This is no coincidence. The best just keep making the best and they are hard to beat. These manufacturers are Omega, Panasonic and Sanyo. They put a premium on research and provide therapeutic massage chairs built for the long term. They back them with comprehensive warranty coverage. They add exciting extras whether technological or stylistic. So let us start with the best of the best.

Omega OM-510 Prestigio: The Prestigio is the most striking design in massage chairs with its glossy wood armrests and highly varnished designer side table. But looks aside, the OM-510 is a massage therapy machine. This massage recliner provides an invigorating and thorough massage therapy. It provides deep penetration to give you excellent relief.

The Prestigio comes with an air massage system. The air massage system covers your buttocks, thighs, calves and feet. The feet are taken care of with a reflexology massage that helps to provide full body relaxation. You can relax for a long time with the comprehensive warranty on the OM-510. You get 5 years on the frame, 3 years on parts and labor and 90 days in home service. This is an amazing value for a mid range massage recliner.

Sanyo SA 5000: The SA5000 is the mid range model from Sanyo. The SA 5000 has many of the same features as its higher end model the DR7700. This recliner comes with the GK roller system. The GK rollers literally reach out over the shoulders. This unique function helps to provide the shoulder with a thorough and relieving massage.

The SA-5000 also comes with a physical shape sensor. This shape sensor tracks your body as it moves in the chair and adjusts the massage rollers for maximum effectiveness. You also get the stiffness detector, which can determine areas of stress and tension in the body and then focus the massage on those areas automatically. The SA 5000 warranty comes with the following coverage: 3 years on the roller mechanism, 1 year parts and labor and 1 year in home service. This mid range model provides you with an arsenal of automatic features to relieve your tensions.

Panasonic EP30003: Panasonic is known to push the limits of replicating massage therapy techniques. The EP-30003 introduces a new massage therapy called Junetsu. Junetsu means ultra fine kneading. This kneading style massage makes small circular motions that then penetrate deeply in one area at a time. This is an excellent massage to take knots out of your back. This is a deep tissue style massage that is very relieving as it penetrates through the muscle.

One unique function in the mid level massage chairs is the lower body traction system put into the EP 30003 massage chair. The traction system works via the leg rest. The leg rest will grab hold of your feet and then rise horizontally. It then slowly lowers to 3 successively lower positions. This helps to elongate the leg muscles to increase the range of motion of your joints. The EP30003 comes with the following warranty coverage: 3 years parts, 1 year labor and 1 year in home repair service. This is a good, solid chair built by Panasonic massage chairs.

There you have it. These are the best of the best in the midrange massage chair market. These massage chairs provide thorough and effective massage therapy. They are designed with advanced technological features. You get solid warranty coverage which will give you years of soothing massage therapy. These are the massage chair recliners to scout out for the mid range models.

Getting a massage is quite the invigorating experience. Its benefits have been known for thousands of years by various cultures. For example, the Chinese had found that massage could cure many ailments. It was as if it were a wonder drug without actually administering a drug. Much of it is because there are automatically healing qualities in physical touch, but massage involves placing pressure on the muscles and working out the impurities. It also improves blood circulation and circulation can improve a lot of different ailments that can occur.

Benefits of massage

In addition to improving blood flow to heal any physical ailments such as muscle pain, ligament and tendon issues, and so much more, there is also a mental advantage. For example, the way you feel after having a massage makes you feel fantastic mentally. You feel as if you could face the worst situation occurring in the world head on.

But lets say you live in the Toronto area and you want to have a massage. How much would this cost you?

Cost of massage

A massage in Toronto usually goes for around $75 per hour. However, there are several factors that influence the cost. For example, the length of the massage is going to influence the price because youre looking at $75 per hour. If you go for an hour and a half, then youre looking at $112.50 for the entire session. So make sure you are specific about how long you want your session to last, which means you need to be aware of your budget.

The cost also varies from therapist to therapist, spa to spa, and clinic to clinic. Where one may charge $75 per hour, another may charge $50 or $100 per hour. It is entirely up to the therapist you choose and where it is they work. So this means you need to do your research before you commit to a Toronto massage therapist. You must find what works for your particular budget.

You can, however, look into discounts if they are available, but you may not be able to get any discounts if the prices are set. Many massage therapists will say, This is our price, there are no exceptions. In other words, they do not offer coupons or they may not offer senior citizen discounts or discounts if youre a college student. They may offer such items as gift certificates if you want to give a massage as a gift to someone you love.

Another factor that may influence the cost of a massage is if you go to a spa instead of a regular massage therapist. The spa may provide you with many services. You may choose the massage and a facial. Of course, that is going to increase your price. Then again, the spa may be right out more expensive no matter what other services you may choose. You could look at up to $120 per hour at such a facility.

Is it for you?

Everyone should try a massage at least once because of the healing qualities that it possesses. Yes, it may seem a little high in cost, but it is very beneficial. In a lot of cases, it does not cost any more than a doctors appointment when you dont have insurance. If you look at it that way; as a way that benefits your health, then it seems like nothing. Actually, it can seem rather affordable when you think of it that way. And even if you dont think it is affordable, look at it as a well deserved gift to yourself for all of the hard work that you do.

A day at the Day Spa is just a wonderful experience. There are so many treatments to choose from and you know you will be revitalized when you are done. The soothing relaxation and pampering is just what the doctor ordered. The day spa is always something I looked forward to doing, but I am just not finding the time to go as much. With the stress of the new economy upon us, we are all working harder to stay where we are at. Although, I do not make it to the day spa as much, I have found massage chairs to be a very convenient supplement for my massage therapy.

Just as science has advanced, so has the massage recliners produced today. Electronics companies like Panasonic produce massage chairs with tremendous capability. These chairs can massage you from your head to your toes. These massage therapies are very effective. Many of the technologies are designed at replicating hand movements. The Real Pro Ultra uses its Swede-Atsu technology to provide realistic feeling massages.

The convenience of having a massage chair at home is phenomenal. You do not need to make an appointment. It is available 24/7, when you most need a massage. You do not have to go out of your way to get a massage. You can get a quick warm up or a long warm down massage. You can continue the day spa treatment in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Now that really is convenient.

Day spas have some wonderful massage therapies. Do you enjoy having your feet massaged? The Montage Premier by Omega Massage sports a reflexology massage for your feet. Sit back and let the Montage Premier apply gentle pressure to hold your feet. The arch airbag then stretch your foot by elongating the muscles and tendons. The heal airbag then stretches the area around your heal. You feet are the gateway to relaxing your whole body. Omega does a great job in delivering a terrific foot massage.

The experience of getting a massage comes with the environment to relax. Typically, the lights are low. Soft rhythmic music is played in the background. You are encouraged to close your eyes and get in touch with you body. Empty the thoughts from your mind and become one again. Some massage chair companies really understand this and incorporate music therapy. Music helps to get your mind off of the thoughts that make you anxious. So turn the lights low and put on your favorite music to relax and you are back in the spa.

I wish I could snap my fingers and my private massage therapists would appear. Until I figure out how to do that, massage chairs provide an effective and economic alternative. They certainly deliver a thorough and invigorating massage treatment. I can use it as much or as little as I like. I can pinpoint exactly where I need more treatment and I can keep it there to work out all the kinks. I put on the headphones, play some soft music and let my massage chair recliner take me to the heights of relaxation.

With the new labels of CO2 and SCO2 next to the traditional steam and hydro-distillations, solvent-extracted absolutes, and cold-pressed, a little education for the aromatherapy enthusiast is in order. Does one produce a nicer smelling oil, or one with more therapeutic value? Is one process better than another? Essential oil production, similar to the making of fine wines, is an art form as well as a science. The value of each process depends greatly on the experience and care of the distiller. Each method is important, and has it’s place in the making of aromatherapy-grade essential oils.

Steam and Hydro-Distillation

Steam distillation, the most common method of essential oil production, involves the flow of steam into a chamber holding the raw plant material. The steam causes small sacs containing essential oil to burst. The oil is then carried by the steam out of the chamber and into a chilled condenser, where the steam once again becomes water. (Hydro-distillation is a similar process where the plant material is boiled, with the resultant steam being captured and condensed). The oil and water are then separated; the water, referred to as a hydrosol, can be retained as it will have some of the plant essence. Rose hydrosol, for example, is commonly used for it’s mild antiseptic and soothing properties, as well as it’s pleasing floral aroma.

A number of factors determine the final quality of a steam distilled essential oil. Aside from the plant material itself, most important are time, temperature and pressure, and the quality of the distillation equipment. Essential oils are very complex products; each is made up of many, sometimes hundreds, of distinct molecules which come together to form the oil’s aroma and therapeutic properties. Some of these molecules are fairly delicate structures which can be altered or destroyed by adverse environmental conditions. So, much like a fine meal is more flavorful when made with patience, most oils benefit from a long, slow ‘cooking’ process.

The temperature of the extraction chamber should be maintained within a reasonable range, lest some components of the oil be altered or destroyed. This also applies to the chamber pressure. The essential oil of Lavender flowers, for example, should not be processed at over 245 degrees and three pounds per square inch. Tougher conditions will result in a harsh scent – more chemical than floral.

High temperatures and pressures are often used to produces large quantities of oil in a short period of time. The oils are often destined for use in cosmetic and food products, but can sold as essential oils for use in aromatherapy. These oils will be less expensive, though they are of limited therapeutic value.

What are Absolutes?

Some plants, and their flowers cannot be processed through steam distilling. They are too delicate, or their fragrance and therapeutic essences wil not be totally released by water. These oils will be produced as ‘absolutes – and while not technically considered essential oils they can still be of therapeutic value (the technical description of an essential oil is the aromatic compounds of a plant produced by steam distillation). Jasmine oil and Rose oil in particular are delicate flowers who’s oils are often found in absolute form. Jasmine oil is only found as an absolute, whereas rose is available in both a a steam distilled form and as an absolute.

The processing of an absolute first involves the hydrocarbon solvent extraction of a ‘concrete’ from the plant material, a semi-solid mixture of typically 50% wax and 50% volatile oil. The concrete is again processed using ethyl alcohol (the same alcohol found in beer, wine, etc.) in which the wax is only slightly soluble. The volatile plant oil separates into the alcohol and this mixture is removed. The alcohol is then evaporated and the result is an almost pure plant extract – depending on the care taken in the evaporation process, sometimes 2% or less of the ethyl alcohol may remain. The use of solvents in the extraction process notwithstanding, absolutes can have incredibly deep and complex aromas.

CO2′s and SCO2′s – Using Carbon Dioxide as a Solvent

The most modern technologies are Carbon Dioxide and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide distillation. Both methods involve the use of carbon dioxide as the solvent which carries the essential oil away from the raw plant material – though the gas essentially acts as the steam in steam distillation. The only difference between the two are the temperatures and pressures used – though neither uses a temperature greater than 87 degrees. With release of the pressure in either process, the carbon dioxide escapes in its gaseous form, leaving the essential oil behind.

These carbon dioxide methods have noteworthy benefits: Like steam distillation, there are no solvent residues left behind, and the resultant product is quite pure. Like solvent extraction, there is no heat applied to the plant material or essential oil to alter it in any way. The oil produced is very accurate with respect to the original state of the plant. The CO2 methods also are the most efficient, producing the most oil per amount of plant (one of the reasons for the high cost of essential oils is the low yield of oil from most plants – one ton of Rose petals produces less than 1 pound of oil, for example). The efficiency of CO2 extraction is particularly important when rare or endangered plant species are involved, such as Indian Sandalwood oil – less of the precious plant is needed to produce an equivalent amount of oil.

The Simple Cold Press

Cold pressing from the rinds of citrus fruit proudces oils such as Bergamot, Sweet Orange, Lemon, Lime, and the like. This involves the simple pressing of the peels at about 120 degrees. Little, if any, alteration from the oil’s original makup occurs – these oils retain their bright and uplifting aromas, like that of smelling a wonderfully ripe fruit.

Is there a Best Method?

CO2′s, with some obvious advantages, are not always the best choice for a particular need. They still are the most expensive, despite their higher yields. The resultant product differs slightly compared to one produced another way – the oils produced by steam distillation of some plants may sometimes be found to have a more agreeable aroma. Patchouli oil, for example, seems to benefit from the steam distillation process by becoming a little warmer and richer. Many other essential oils are quite effectively produced via steam distillation, with little alteration from the original plant state. Oils from other plant species do seem more ‘complete’ with CO2 processing, with Frankincense oil and most of the ‘spice’ oils being good examples where a little something special is present in the aroma. This likely translates to greater therapeautic properties.

Producing essential oils of aromatherapeutic grade is skill requiring years of experience. It takes the work of a dedicated artesian at every step, from growing and harvesting to fine-tuning the distillation process, to produce a truly fine oil. The making of a fine essential oil relies far more on knowledge and experience than it does on the particular extraction method. There are, however, legitimate reasons to select one distillation method over another – some plants simply require a particular process to produce a fine oil, and the oil needed for a particular application may only be made by one process. In the end, as is often the case in aromatherapy, your own sense of smell can tell you which oil will work best for you.

Back pain at some point will rear its ugly head with most of it. It may be lower back, shoulders or maybe the neck. Either it is the result of injury or it is the more gradual progression. If it is more gradual, then do not wait until it is a problem to get it looked at. If you are injured you go immediately, but when back pain just creeps up, then we do nothing. There are treatment options available. Preventative options are better. Check with your health care professional on a course of action for you. Most likely, massage therapy will be part of the healing process. Professional massage therapy is preferred, but not always convenient. Massage chairs are another alternative with many benefits

There are many possible causes for back pain, but the most common are from lifting, posture, sitting, pregnancy, stress and injury. More traumatic back pain is usually associated with lifting and injury. Usually a sudden sharp pain is felt and the damage is done immediately. Minor back pain, on the other hand, may result from posture, sitting, stress, or even pregnancy. These pains accumulate over a period of time and result in dull, prolonged aches and pains. These can be cumbersome to live with and cause considerable discomfort. Finding out how to help heal these conditions requires a multi-prong approach.

Getting diagnosed is the first step. Your health care professional can chart out a plan of action for you. Following the treatment is important to actually achieve progress in healing your condition. Minor back pain can cause considerable discomfort. These back pains are accumulating and tend to build through time. The result is minor back pain that can be uncomfortable. On the treatment side, unfortunately, treatments require time. The healing process is not overnight. New routines may need to be established. These new routines are to correct the causes to stop the damage.

Usually one needs to takes some form of corrective action to start to correct the problem causing the back pain. In the case of minor back pain, changes in sitting position may be required. Posture may require holding your shoulders back and not slouching. Stress may require more resting and decompression time. In any event, your doctor or chiropractor can help set you on the right course for treatment. Then the healing process needs to get established.

Tension, aches, pains, anxiety and soreness are all symptoms of back pain. Although we start to change our habits, these symptoms may not go away immediately. We may need relief from some of these symptoms. Massage therapy is an effective modulator of these symptoms. Most people think of going to a therapist to get a massage. However, massage chairs have advanced with the ages and provide some amazing full body massages. Massages range from deep tissue to Shiatsu to Hawaiian. Nothing like having a massage therapy machine at your disposal 24/7.

Consult with your doctor or chiropractor and find the best course of action for your particular condition. Do not just continue to live with the pain. Find relief for your back pain. There are many options available today. You owe it to yourself and your family to get the healing process going. Relieving your discomfort can go a long way to changing your outlook on life. Do not wait find out how you can get relief today.

This review covers the entry level massage chair made by Sanyo, which is model HEC-SR1000K. The SR 1000K massage chair recliner has some of the same features as some of Sanyo’s higher end models. Our product review makes an evaluation in 5 separate categories and up to 20 points are awarded in each category. The total points are added up to give an overall rating for the massage chair. Here is our review of the Sanyo SR1000K massage chair recliner.

Warranty Coverage & Customer Service: First let us get the driest part of the review out of the way first-the warranty coverage. OK, we all know that warranty coverage is important in complicated machines like massage chairs. But what kind of coverage do you get from Sanyo? Sanyo provides the same warranty for all its chairs. The good news is that it adds up to good coverage for an entry level chair. You get 3 years of warranty for the roller mechanism, 1 year parts and labor, and 1 year in home service. There is also a call center for issues, should they arise. We give the SR1000 a 19 for its warranty.

Comfort & Ergonomics: The science of ergonomics is the study of things can be designed to fit the human body. In other words, we have natural ranges of motion and buttons, controls, etc. need to be within those ranges. The buttons on the remote are a decent size for most fingers. The main power is located on the side of the chair which is ergonomic but you still have to remember. The leg rest has a foot extension that needs to be flipped by your feet. Sanyo could work these things out a little better in our opinion. We give it a 17 overall.

Ease of Use: With so many features being added to today’s massage chairs, we find some remote controls overly complex. This can be very frustrating to new users. The chair should be simple to use and intuitive to understand. The Sanyo SR-1000 comes with an advanced remote that has many features. It does take some time to get accustomed to it as a series of buttons may be required to get it to do what you want. We do like the light level indicators which helps you see the intensities. We give the ease of use a 16.

Key Features: This massage chair comes with the Sanyo stiffness detector. The stiffness detector uses technology borrowed from lie detectors. The stiffness detector in the SR 1000 can sense tightness in the muscles of the body and other points of stress. The user holds the side of the remote and the chair can detect these areas of stiffness. The chair will then target these areas for relief. The other interesting feature is the shape sensor. The shape sensor takes a measurement of the position of the shoulders. The chair then identifies where the shoulders are at and adjusts the massage accordingly. The rollers width will then become less when it gets to your shoulders and for your neck area. These are some advanced electronic features that are unique to Sanyo. We give a rating of 18 for key features.

Massage Therapy: This is the most important category, since this is what a massage chair is all about. The SR 1000K comes with the following manual massage techniques: massage, tapping, combination, stretch 1 and stretch 2. The massages can be used in combination with the stretch 1 and stretch 2 functions. There are 2 automatic programs which are Relax and Recovery. First you choose the massage and then you can select the region of the body to target. You can select neck/shoulder, upper body, or waist. The SR1000K also comes with a calf and foot massager. The leg rest can be used directly for the calves. You must flip the foot massager out to use the foot massager. The leg rest allows you to target the following regions: calves, back of the knees, soles of the feet and the Achilles tendon/heal. The leg rest roller mechanism provides effective massage to the calves and the back of the knees. We rate the massage therapy of the SR-1000 a 17.

The SR-1000 massage chair by Sanyo earns an 87 out of 100 points in our review. The warranty coverage is very good for an entry level model. The massage therapy is done pretty well and is effective. We would like to have seen more automatic programs to enhance the variety of massage treatments. The advanced electronic features are novel, but may have caused some tradeoff in the massages that were designed in to meet the price point. This is a good chair and if you are looking for something in this range, then it is worth considering.

We will present a review and evaluation of the HT 1650 massage recliner by Human Touch. This is a full size recliner that converts into a massage recliner. This is a luxury massage chair with many therapeutic massage functions. This review will go through the main functions of the chair and also present the warranty coverage for your consideration.

When you are looking at big ticket items like a massage chair, you really need to take the warranty coverage seriously. A massage chair has many moving parts and sophisticated electronics. The warranty coverage is your long term insurance policy, that gives you peace of mind. The other key caveat is to go with a known brand, so that you warranty is actually going to be honored. Just like an insurance company, you want to make sure they have assets to pay you if needed.

Human Touch provides the following warranty coverage for the HT 1650 massage recliner. You get 5 years on the structure, 3 years parts, 1 year labor and 90 days of in field service. Compared to other known brands, this warranty coverage is competitive. We would like to see more coverage for labor which in our opinion should be equal to the parts.

Now let us get to the good stuff: massage therapy. The HT 1650 comes with a variety of massage therapy functions. There are manual massage functions such as rolling, compression, kneading and percussion. You can also select to focus on certain areas of the back. This massage recliner comes with 8 pre-programs. Select from these full body massages which include full body sore muscle relief, sports and back therapy, leg- foot-hip therapy, neck-shoulders relief, after work stretch, morning wake up, night time soothing, and massage demonstration.

The HT-1650 has a built in body scan function. The body scan detects your acupressure points throughout you back. The computer notes the location of each point and identifies the most important for stimulation. The massage is then adjusted to target those acupressure points to help induce full body relaxation. This is particularly important for the shiatsu style massage, which stimulates your acupressure points during the course of the massage.

The most unique aspect of the HT 1650 is that the calf massager can actually be hidden from view. On one side of the leg rest, the calf massager is accessible and your legs fit in the leg well. However, the other side is flat and looks like a normal recliner leg rest. The calf massager actually pivots and can be flipped out for use and flipped back for storage. This is actually a patented feature for this massage chair.

The calf and foot massager is used for providing a compression massage to either the feet or calves. The compression massage utilizes a squeeze, hold and release technique favored by massage therapists around the world. The calf and foot massage uses a compressor to deliver pressurized air to the airbags which perform the compression massage. This massage is very invigorating and relieving for tight calves and for loosening up the feet after a long day.

The massage remote control is thin and has controls on two sides. The main controls are on the front of the remote and the massage comfort, heat and roller position are located on the side. The remote fits into an upholstered pocket on the side panel of the recliner. There is no remote stand which is nice. The concept of the HT 1650 is to have a massage chair hidden inside a normal upholstered recliner. We think Human Touch has very effectively accomplished this goal. Overall, this is a very effective massage recliner with some therapeutic massage therapies in the luxury class of massage chairs.