Massage chair and regeneration for athletes

It's no secret that sport is a key factor in adding a health-promoting component to our everyday lives. The world of work, but also often the way we spend our leisure time, means that our bodies are crying out for exercise. Sport is undoubtedly healthy, but it is still a strain on the body that needs to be dealt with properly. Sore muscles and tension are often the order of the day for athletes and active people, which is why sports massages and massage chairs for athletes are becoming increasingly important.

Mehmet Geleri is a fitness trainer and nutritionist. In an interview with us, he reveals why massage chairs are becoming established in sport, why regeneration is such an important factor for athletes and how some models with specially tailored functionalities can easily compete with the alternative of a masseur in terms of quality and price in the long term.

Reading tip: In our article "From head to toe: where massages can help" you can find everything you need to know about the different areas in which massages can be used.

 

Mehmet, how important do you think regeneration is in sport?

It has long been known from professional sport and studies carried out there that recovery time has a major influence on training progress. The less time my body and the trained muscles have to recover, the sooner I can start the next training session. Studies in this context have shown that massages can shorten the recovery time by up to 50 percent - a huge advantage for exercisers.

 

Massages should be much more accessible for athletes

As a personal trainer, I know the situation of my clients extremely well and very often see that massages are used far less than recommended. This is primarily due to their availability and accessibility. Either massages are difficult to integrate into the daily routine or appointments are difficult to arrange. Massage therapists can also often charge between EUR 60 and EUR 120 per hour. A sensible but expensive investment in the long term.

Professional massage chairs for athletes overcome these two hurdles with ease. On the one hand, it is always available exactly when I need it and over a medium to long period of use it also pays for itself very quickly financially. This is why it is being used more and more frequently and special models are being developed specifically for the target group of active sportspeople.

 

Which parts of the body must pay special attention to a massage chair for athletes?

The body is, of course, a complex mechanism consisting of numerous muscles, tendons and bones. Tension in one area quickly affects other areas and in turn triggers unwanted discomfort there. If we look at the body against the backdrop of a massage chair, we can see very clearly the places where it acts. These coincide perfectly with key points of the musculoskeletal system.

Foot and leg massages

The basis of our mobility are of course our feet and legs. This applies not only to athletes, but to everyone, because even a long walk can make some of us feel a little pulling, pressing or pinching in the evening. A massage chair for active athletes should therefore not make any deductions in the foot area. Foot rollers on the underside provide a foot reflex massage, while airbags perform recurring compressions. Relaxation and blood flow are thus favored and a supply of important oxygen as well as nutrients from the blood is increased.

The calf also tends to shorten and cramp in many athletes. Regular stretching and compression massage by additional airbags in the calf area also support regeneration in this area.

Massage of thigh and hip

The thigh muscle is one of the strongest muscles in the human body. In massage chairs, such as the Allrounder MSW16003HH, the massage rollers are guided from the back area over the lower back and under the buttocks to the thigh. There, a large-area and pleasant massage is performed in a muscle group that is heavily used and important for mobility.
In addition, lateral air bags in this area provide good compression and relaxation. A slight rotation is stimulated in the hip area. The hip is a key area for greater mobility in everyday life.

Back relaxation

Experience shows that this is one of the most common problem areas in people - especially the lower back. This is due on the one hand to a lack of or incorrect movement and posture in everyday life, but also to underdeveloped muscle areas in the trunk. It is from here that many ailments and mobility restrictions emanate, which is why this area should be particularly well trained and, accordingly, also regularly relaxed and loosened. For athletes, this is a key area for greater stability and security in movement sequences.

The massage rollers along the back simulate massages both longitudinally, transversely and into the depth of the back. The intensity can be adjusted using the keys of the 4D function, depending on personal well-being.

Reading tip: You can find more information on possible causes and relief of back pain in our article.

Massage for neck and shoulders

In addition to the back, one also very often hears about neck pain and severe tension in this area. The problem here is that these can very quickly lead to headaches and other complaints. Especially the massage chair Allrounder offers several massage techniques for optimal muscle relaxation.

Hands and forearms

The full body massage is completed by airbags in the area of the hands and forearms. Variable intensity can also cause improved lymph flow and loosening.

In total, the most important areas of the body can be massaged by the all-rounder and according to personal requirements for intensity and duration. Without the need for an appointment and travel, a massage chair offers an excellent alternative to cost-intensive masseurs.

Especially athletes and very active people who need frequent regeneration phases, I can only recommend to test some models to find out for yourself how easy relaxation is possible with the right massage chair. They support the training progress, promote recovery and blood circulation and are ready for use at any time. The techniques are very sophisticated and long comparable with conventional massages, from my point of view, a hot tip.

Many thanks to Mehmet for talking to us about regeneration and massage chairs in the field of sports, as well as your expertise.