Shiatsu massage originates in Japan and so does the massage chair. However, this technology has spread throughout the world and is no longer just a Japanese phenomenon. There are a handful of companies that make the best shiatsu massage chairs today. These companies have studied the techniques and have developed extraordinary technology to replicate these subtle techniques. We present the best shiatsu massage chairs on the market.

The best shiatsu massage chairs are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. They are a long term investment in your health and stress management. The massage recliners that we will perform the best shiatsu massages will range between $4,000 and $5,000 in price. These provide full body massage capabilities for many years to come.

The shiatsu massage techniques use a variety of specialized hand movements to provide its therapeutic relief. Additionally, it makes use of the body’s natural trigger points based on acupuncture. Shiatsu stimulates these trigger points to help induce total body relaxation. Applying advanced technology and software programs has been the only successful way to realistically replicate these techniques and their corresponding benefits.

When you think of massage chairs, you think of luxury, comfort and relaxation. People do not normally think of saving money when buying a massage chair. However, certain conditions may be effectively relieved with massage chairs. The cost of treatments or spa services are on the rise, as is health care in general. Ultimately, massage therapy is a result. You are seeking relaxation, pain relief, or perhaps feeling good. Obtaining this result is actually more cost effective with a massage chair.

Let us take an example. We go to get our massage at the day spa. First, we need to call them and schedule a time. We are going to have travel time to go and come back from the massage. There is also the total time involved. Massage time is the bonus time the rest of the time can be considered the cost involved. The massage is not free, so we must pay for the time of the massage and a gratuity. If we go 3 times every month, by the end of the year we are spending thousands.

It may seem like a contradiction. How do you save money when you have to spend money? Most people look at massage chairs as luxury items. They certainly are luxury items if you really do not need the massage therapy that they can provide. On the other hand, if you do need the massage therapy that they then massage chairs can save you a significant amount of money. Many people suffer from back pain or other conditions that require medical or chiropractic treatment. We all know that health care costs continue to rise. How do you save money buying a massage chair?

If you are already receiving massage therapy, then you know that there is a lot of expense involved. You have to make an appointment. You need to drive to and from the office of the massage therapist. You need to take the time from work or other activities. You need to pay per hour of massage therapist time plus their tip. If you go to a massage therapist a few times a month, the bill could be hundreds of dollars per month. This is thousands of dollars per year.

When you think of massage chairs, you think of luxury, comfort and relaxation. People do not normally think of saving money when buying a massage chair. However, certain conditions may be effectively relieved with massage chairs. The cost of treatments or spa services are on the rise, as is health care in general. Ultimately, massage therapy is a result. You are seeking relaxation, pain relief, or perhaps feeling good. Obtaining this result is actually more cost effective with a massage chair.

If you are already receiving massage therapy, then you know that there is a lot of expense involved. You have to make an appointment. You need to drive to and from the office of the massage therapist. You need to take the time from work or other activities. You need to pay per hour of massage therapist time plus their tip. If you go to a massage therapist a few times a month, the bill could be hundreds of dollars per month. This is thousands of dollars per year.

One of the most pleasurable and relaxing experiences is getting a whole body massage. All the built up tensions, anxieties and stresses start to melt away as the massage is performed. When people think of massages, they think of a massage therapist working them over little by little to calm and relaxing music. There is something very special about a massage from a trained specialist. Another effective alternative to a massage therapist is a massage chair.

If you get a massage treatment, you expect the massage therapist to work your neck, back, legs, feet, arms and hands. This would be a full body massage. The more advanced massage chair brands have this same capability. Various technologies are used to deliver effective massage therapy to all of these regions. Additionally, some massage chairs have heat, music, traction and can accurately identify areas to target. These whole body massage recliners can provide the full treatment.

Take for example, the Panasonic Real Pro Ultra. Their model EP30004 can massage your whole body and not just your back. Besides having hundreds of massage options for your back, it also can massage your arms, hands, hips, buttocks, calves and feet. The Real Pro Ultra uses an air compression massage system for the lower body which delivers a soothing and relieving lower body massage.

Reviews can play an important in the research phase of any product. To be helpful, reviews need to present a variety of facts to aid in the selection process for a consumer. We have developed a five category system to help compare different massage chairs. This system weighs the 5 categories equally allowing each one to earn 20 points. The score of each category is then summed to give a total score for that massage chair. This is by no means a perfect system, but it provides a more systematic approach to the evaluation process. The 5 categories we use for the review include: Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. We hope you find this approach helpful for your research. This review is of the Panasonic Real Ultra EP30004. This shiatsu massage chair is in the $4,000 to $5,000 range.

Warranty & Customer Service: With any electronic equipment or big ticket item, warranty protection is critical. Although, most massage chairs are built well, there are occasional problems. In this case, you want to make sure you have adequate protection. The EP 30004 comes with a 3 year parts and 1 year labor warranty from the manufacturer. We find this as fairly short and recommend you consider purchasing an extended warranty if it is offered. Customer service is dependent on the retailer the chair is purchased and is thus highly variable. Panasonic earns a 15 in this category.