Title: Study on comfortable massage method of massage chair considering professional masseur's technique

Authors: Tetsushi Ogawa, Masaki Nagano, Takashi Yukawa

Addresses: Panasonic Electric Works Analysis Center Co., Ltd., 1048 Kadoma, Osaka 571-8686, Japan. ' Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd., 1048 Kadoma, Osaka 571-8686, Japan. ' Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd., 1048 Kadoma, Osaka 571-8686, Japan

Abstract: We multilaterally looked at differences in massage methods between a masseur and a massage chair from several physical properties. Then we made it clear that massage orbit/massage speed are properties to which subjects give particular priority. In addition, we conducted analysis on differences in preference due to the stiffness attributes of subjects and, as a result, proved that a stiff shoulder group had a good reaction to improvement both in the massage orbit/massage speed, while a relax-conscious group had a good reaction only to improvement in the massage orbit but not to that in the massage speed.

Keywords: massage chair; Kansei engineering; Quantification Type I; massage methods; professional masseurs; massage orbit; massage speed; patient comfort; stiff shoulders; relaxation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2009.024413

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2009 Vol.2 No.3, pp.217 - 233

Published online: 03 Apr 2009 *

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