Relieving pain with massage chairs: interview with pain therapist Simon Gilljohann

Complicated everyday life, restrictions in movement, psychological strain due to a decline in quality of life; the effects of pain are often more far-reaching than they seem at first glance. Whether chronic or acute, sufferers are usually quick to seek help and are confronted with a wide variety of treatment methods. Pain therapists like Simon Gilljohann are a professional source of pain relief. In an interview with us, the expert reveals how he uses - quite unconventionally - massage chairs as a supplement to pain therapy and thus provides relief for his patients. 

In this article, we have summarized which pain patterns can be treated with physical treatments, how massages can specifically help to alleviate them and what he, as an expert, looked for when choosing suitable massage chairs for pain therapy. 

 

Reading tip: From head to toe: This is how massages help

Pain therapy - The path from analysis to relief

Pain therapist Simon Gilljohann is a trained alternative practitioner and has been running a center for pain therapy in Leichlingen between Cologne and Düsseldorf. As an expert in the field of pain treatment, it is his task to support patients in alleviating their pain.

He combines his expertise as an alternative practitioner and physiotherapist for effective pain management. This means analyzing individual pain patterns and selecting suitable forms of treatment. Holism is of great importance at every stage of treatment, because this is one of the things that his patients - whether new or long-standing - value most.

 

Chronic pain: A permanent burden for body and psyche

A study of the SIP (Societal Impact of Pain) found that almost 20 percent of all people in Europe struggle with chronic pain. Of these, 35 percent say that they can only be treated ineffectively with medication.

Pain is usually referred to as "chronic" if it persists for a period of at least six months. According to the SIP studies, people who suffer from chronic pain regularly experience an additional psychological burden in their everyday lives. 

The causes of the suffering could hardly be more varied and must be examined in detail on a case-by-case basis in order to find a remedy. As a pain therapist, Gilljohann has a wide range of treatment options for pain management at his disposal. And on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Gilljohann's pain center, these treatment options are now being expanded to include two massage chairs, which are regularly used as an adjunct. 

 

Massages as pain relieving measures

In pain therapy, there are various forms of treatment that aim to reduce pain and improve the patient's quality of life. Massages -play an important role as a soothing measure. They can relieve muscle tension, improve blood circulation and demonstrably reduce inflammation. 

Likewise, massages can also reduce corresponding psychological stress and increase the general well-being. In some cases, massages can even be used as a complementary measure or substitute for medications, which, however, requires an unconditional clarification with the treating physicians in advance.

 

Useful addition: integrated lymphatic drainage in the massage chair

"I had a specific function actually not first on my radar when I flirted with purchasing the massage chairs - lymphatic drainage," Gilljohann says with amazement. This special form of massage can help reduce swelling and improve lymphatic circulation.

By applying targeted pressure to the forearms or calves via airbags, the massage chair can stimulate the lymphatic channels and support the removal of tissue fluid. This can provide relief from pain and swelling. The feedback from patients has been particularly positive, says Gilljohann, who is delighted that the new massage chairs in his practice have this function as a separate automatic program.

 

Physiotherapy massages

Especially in physiotherapy, massages are a proven means of promoting the rehabilitation process. In chronic pain disorders, active physiotherapeutic measures and individually adapted exercise programs play a decisive role. This measure is also generally taken during rehabilitation as a result of an injury or an operation.

Reading Tip: Massage chair for sporty active people

The massages aim to optimize movement behavior, reduce fears of movement and restore abilities for everyday and occupational activities. "In addition, we give affected individuals instructions on how they can independently help improve their physical function," says Gilljohann.

Strength and endurance training are also part of this. Regeneration is therefore also an important topic here and can help to loosen muscles through regular massages and also supply them with nutrients through better blood circulation. As a companion in physiotherapy, therefore, quite reasonable, provided there are no objections from a medical point of view. 

The difference between manual massage therapy and massage chair

Of course, a massage chair cannot replace a professional or medical masseur in all areas. Especially when "feeling up" tense or painful parts of the body, feedback between the treating masseur and patient is definitely an important component. "Still, there are many advantages to getting a massage chair as an addition to your practice," Gilljohann tells us.

These include the flexibility of time and the frequency of treatments. Here, conventional massage appointments often cannot be combined with everyday life to the same extent or can also be significantly more expensive financially. Gilljohann therefore sees the two massage chairs as a relief for both sides: "Personally, I see our two massage chairs as valuable, accompanying measures in my daily work that benefit my team and me and our patients."

 

What matters when using massage chairs in pain therapy

The requirements for a massage chair in pain therapy and especially at Gilljohann's practice are somewhat higher than is often the case in the private sector. This is not only about the functionalities themselves, but also about the physical requirements on the part of the patient.

For example, Gilljohann wanted a model that covered as wide a range as possible in terms of height and weight, since patients differ in their physical stature.  

Infusions are also a big topic in pain therapy. Massage chairs, such as the one Gilljohann has in his practice, can be excellently combined with this, as the patient:inside can easily be connected to infusions during the massage - this is often not possible or only with difficulty in the body position of a manual massage. 

"We really wanted the system to be easy to use. It was also a requirement to have absolute freedom in choosing the intensity of the treatments, as pain patients can naturally be very sensitive to pressure in the affected areas," Gilljohann explains. For other patients, harder, deep-seated tensions need to be relieved. In summary, the two devices are intended to cover as many eventualities as possible.

 

Relieve pain and relax - massage chair as a perfect complement

Pain therapy is a complex specialty that often includes a mental component. The aim is, of course, to relieve pain, but the associated stress and quality of life must also be regained step by step. Gilljohann comments: "Massage chairs round off pain therapy perfectly for us for several reasons at once": 

• They reduce mental stress caused by reduced well-being as a result of pain
• They release tensions that may have developed due to incorrect movement patterns caused by pain.
• They loosen the muscles accompanying physiotherapeutic measures
• They promote blood circulation and thus the supply of nutrients to affected areas of the body
• They offer the possibility of automated lymphatic drainage within the practice 

"In this respect, investing in two models at once was an absolute win for us - especially for our patients," adds the long-time pain therapist. "At this point, of course, we would also like to thank Massagesessel Welt, which provided great advice directly in the nearby showroom and significantly supported our decision-making process. 

Thank you Simon Gilljohann for the interesting insights into the field of pain therapy and how massage chairs can play an important role in it. We wish you continued success and of course all the best for you and your patients.