What is chair massage ?
Chair massage is a shorter adaptation of a traditional massage therapy treatment. It is most often inspired by Swedish massage, Amma massage or shiatsu. However, any massage therapy technique (or combination of techniques) could be adapted into a chair massage.
One of the main advantages of chair massage is its versatility. Since it requires only an ergonomic chair and a small amount of space, it can be offered in a variety of settings, such as in a business setting or at a sports or corporate event.
What are the benefits of chair massage?
Since it is short, chair massage is more preventive than therapeutic. The objective of the treatment is to reduce tension in the areas worked on, i.e. the back, neck, head and arms, which in turn limits the risk of injury. Chair massage also promotes relaxation and stress relief for the client.
Thus, the benefits of a chair massage are numerous:
- Reduction of the effects of stress
- Relief of muscle and joint tension and pain, especially those related to repetitive motion or work posture
- Improved quality of sleep
- Improved mobility
- Relaxation and release
When offered in a work setting, chair massage is also associated with a number of benefits not only for the employee, but also for the company itself:
- Increased employee productivity
- Decreased absenteeism at work
- Greater sense of belonging to the company
In short, no matter where it is offered, chair massage contributes to improving the quality of life!
Contraindications
As with other massage therapy techniques, chair massage should be avoided in clients with any of the following conditions
- Active infection
- Fever
- Recent surgery
Certain types of chair massage, such as Amma massage, may be contraindicated in pregnant women.
It should be noted that the massage therapist always collects information from the client before beginning the session. This information is used, among other things, to identify contraindications to chair massage. In doing so, the massage therapist may refer the client to the appropriate medical resource or adjust the treatment accordingly to ensure safety.
Course of the session
A chair massage takes place on an ergonomic chair specially designed for this type of treatment. The massage therapist works directly on the clothing and does not use massage oil.
The client may be offered background music in the room. In some circumstances, the massage therapist may also offer headphones or earphones, especially when the treatment is offered in a noisy environment (e.g., convention, sporting event, etc.).
The massage therapist will begin the session by having the client complete a health questionnaire. This document will allow the massage therapist to assess the client’s general condition, identify any contraindications to chair massage and adapt the intervention.
Once the client is settled, the massage therapist will warm up the muscles of the back, neck and arms and target areas of tension. Depending on the massage therapy technique being used, a combination of percussion, pressure, stretching and other manoeuvres will be used to relax the muscles.
A chair massage can last from 5 to 30 minutes (average 15 minutes).