Degenerative disc disease affects close to 30% of the US population between the ages of 30 to 50 years old. The bones or cervical discs that make up the spinal column can begin to degenerate for a variety of reasons. This condition is known as degenerative disc disease. When the discs degenerate, they begin to come into closer proximity of each other. This can cause pain and discomfort and is mainly concentrated in the lower back. Chiropractors are utilizing massage chairs to loosen up the muscles of the lower back and to provide relief from the discomfort.

Why does the pain occur? Let us look at the structure of the spinal column. The spinal column is a vertical row of small round bones that are interconnected. The interconnection provides the ability for the spine to articulate or bend. Down the middle these round bones or vertebrae runs the spinal cord.

In the middle of the spinal column runs the spinal cord. The spinal cord connects the nerves from the base of the brain to the entire body. The bones of the spinal column protect the spinal cord and provides the flexibility that we enjoy. The structure of the spinal column consists of the small bones and between the small bones are soft discs. The soft discs provide a shock absorbing function to keep the small bones separate.

Certain activities such as wear and tear, aging and misuse such as smoking can cause degenerative changes to the spinal column. The intervertebral discs are one structure that is susceptible to degenerative changes. The challenge is early detection of these changes. Biochemical and structural changes may occur long before direct visible detection via imaging can be discerned.

As you can see, there are many possible causes that can cause the soft tissues between the discs to deteriorate or lose their vitality. Massage chair therapy is becoming a popular natural treatment to both elongate the soft tissues to help restore flexibility but also for relief of the discomfort with the disease. Often times spinal adjustments are also needed to rebalance the spine and correct its alignment. This along with massage chair treatments help restore the spine.

Sufferers of degenerative disc disease experience stiffness, tightness and sometimes sharp pain in the low back. What is occurring is equivalent to a chain. The chain is only as strong as the weakest link. In the case of the spine, the weak link also takes the majority of your weight due to misalignment of the spinal column. This puts even more stress on the soft tissues areas causing them to tire.

The role of the massage chair is two fold. There are treatments for stretching the muscles to restore flexibility and to soothe the muscle to reduce pain. A finger press massage moves slowly up and down the spine flexing each disc. This subtle traction helps to stretch the soft tissues between the discs. For the relief of pain and discomfort, kneading and chopping massages are used to loosen the major back muscles and take pressure off the spine.

Chopping massage chair treatments are also performed where the shoulders and back muscles are targeted. A rapid chopping motion is used to invigorate larger muscles of the back and shoulders. This helps improve blood flow and to release tension that has built up over time. These muscles must take up any slack from the spine, so when degeneration occurs these muscles are also affected. Release of the tension from these areas also helps to restore the balance with the spinal column.

Massage chairs perform a kneading massage treatment to loosen larger muscles. The kneading is a side to side motion. The area of massage is set and the massage chairs will knead the muscles and soft tissues in the assigned area. The speed of the kneading can be varied or an automatic program can be initiated to relax and soothe these major muscle areas.

Degenerative discs disease has many causes and also many therapies to restore the health of the spine. Massage chairs have been found to be a reliable, consistent and convenient method to relieve pain and to help restore flexibility to the soft tissues of the back and shoulders. Check with your medical doctor as to what is appropriate for your situation. Discuss your thoughts about the treatments that can be provided by a massage chairs for periodic relief.

If you suffer from low back pain, then a massage chair may be just what the doctor ordered. The tremendous convenience of massage chairs is unprecedented. Imagine just sitting back and hitting a button and relief begins. Let the massage chair work over those tired, fatigued and stressed muscles. A massage chair will loosen up those tight areas, flex them to restore flexibility and soothe them with invigorating massage chair therapy.

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