History of Massage & Equipment
The Early History of Massage
The massage itself—and its history—dates back many thousands of years; even the ancient Egyptians depicted it in their hieroglyphs. As early as 3,000 B.C., this soothing massage was known in many parts of the world. It can also be found on ancient Japanese woodblock prints. The oldest recorded tradition comes from China and is, in fact, over 5,000 years old. As early as 2,500 BC, techniques of foot reflexology were depicted on papyri in ancient Egypt. Such drawings were so valuable that they were even incorporated into the tombs of high-ranking Egyptian dignitaries.
People all over the world, independently of one another, recognized the benefits of massage. Whether for relaxation, pain relief, or medical purposes, these soothing treatments were popular and well-known everywhere. Hippocrates, Aristotle, and Socrates also wrote treatises on massage and its benefits. Julius Caesar likewise used massage therapy to relieve the pain caused by his epileptic seizures and to do his body some good.
The First Mechanical Massage Chairs
However, the mechanical massage chair first appeared in the 1950s. Many stories surround the massage chair—now so highly sought after—and its origins. In one of these stories, the “father of the massage chair” was a man named Nobuo Fujimoto. He was from Osaka, Japan. The basic idea of this brush salesman was to place chairs in the changing rooms of public bathhouses for relaxation. After many attempts, he finally constructed the first model out of scrap materials, such as old balls. He founded a company called Fujiiryoki to manufacture and market his invention. In another story, a father designed and built the massage chair for his young daughter. This man’s name was Niichi Kawahara, and he was from Sakai, Japan. To better treat his daughter’s sore shoulders, he invented the chair, which was intended to provide relief.
The massage chair has evolved rapidly from the original model, which had only balls that performed a kneading function and had to be cranked by hand. Robotic massage chairs have become increasingly efficient and sophisticated. Not only can users now adjust various programs, intensities, and speeds, but the design has also changed significantly over the years. Instead of bulky and noisy pieces of furniture, modern massage chairs are both very comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
Overview of Massage Chair Manufacturers
The range of massage chairs, massage sofas, and similar products is steadily growing worldwide. However, some companies and manufacturers have established themselves and are among the industry leaders. These include, among others, AllgäuTech, Alpha Techno, Comtec, Family Inada, iRest, Luraco, Naipo, Panasonic, Primofit, Sanyo, Synca, and Inner Balance.
AllgäuTech
The AllgäuTech GmbH is known for its innovative, high-quality massage chairs and massage tables, which are designed for commercial use and meet the highest standards of quality and safety. Naturally, they are “Made in Germany.”
The company’s mission and vision is to offer its customers innovative products that help prevent the loss of mobility and health, thereby preserving people’s well-being and zest for life. The products are used preventively in care facilities, educational institutions, and businesses.
About the manufacturer:https://www.allgaeutech.com
Alpha Techno
Alpha Techno GmbH has been in business for over thirty years and offers an impressive lineup of more than forty different massage chair models. In Europe, Alpha Techno currently offers what is arguably the most comprehensive selection of massage chairs, recliners, and multifunctional chairs. The company’s headquarters are located in Tauberbischofsheim, and its warehouse and logistics center is based in Boxberg. As a result, the company is currently the market leader in Europe. Alpha Techno GmbH ranks among Europe’s leading companies in both the sales and design of massage chairs.
About the manufacturer:https://www.alpha-techno.com/
Casada
Casada Deutschland GmbH is a growing, dynamic, and goal-oriented company. For over 20 years, the company has focused on helping its ever-growing clientele maintain their health. Our vision is to create a personalized sanctuary for the body, soul, and mind—anytime, anywhere. We contribute to your personal happiness and inner balance and offer you the opportunity to escape from everyday life. Relaxation, relief, and improved blood circulation promote well-being and restore the body to its natural balance.
In a survey conducted by TESTBILD and the market research firm Statista, Casada was voted one of the top brands of 2021 by 8,500 users.
About the manufacturer:https://www.casada.com/de/
COMTEC
COMTECis a brand of Kangtai Industry, a company founded in China in 1984. Since then, the company has been manufacturing massage chairs for the international market. Many well-known and reputable companies have their products manufactured here. These include Fujiiryoki, Panasonic, Osaki, and Bodyfriend, among others. Over time, the company has grown and now employs over 1,100 people. Among them are 120 engineers with college degrees and 80 highly qualified employees responsible for quality assurance. Today, the company is a trendsetter in the industry and can even point to a milestone in its history. In 2008, the company developed a massage robot that operates based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. In addition to numerous other awards, the company was honored in 2017 and designated a 5-star dealer by the Chinese province of Shandong.
The Inada Family
Family Inada is one of the top-grossing and most prominent companies in the massage chair industry. The company’s impressive revenue exceeds 300 million USD. As early as 1962, Nichimu Inada created the company’s first automatic massage chair in Osaka, Japan. In doing so, he founded the industry that is so widespread today and laid the foundation for the modern massage chair industry. This forward-thinking company remains heavily involved in the global market and continues to set the standards there. Family Inada’s massage chairs are developed and manufactured in Japan.
About the manufacturer:http://www.inada-massagechair.com/
Inner Balance
Inner Balanceisalso a brand of the giant JHT (Johnson Health Tech). Just like Synca, Matrix, Horizon, and Vision, it is not a company in its own right, but rather a brand owned by one of these companies. With over 40 years of experience in the market, JHT brings a wealth of expertise to the table. It’s not just the innovative technologies—which draw on traditional massage techniques—that win over the company’s customers. In addition, great care is taken to use only comfortable, high-quality materials for all massage chairs.
iRest
iRest is one of the newer yet successful companies. The company has already established itself as a technological and scientific innovator in over 100 countries. iRest thus has a strong international presence in the healthcare industry. The company continues to evolve through collaboration with several renowned universities. Through partnerships with leading companies such as Toshiba and LG, among others, iRest has paved its way to success. Today, the company is one of the leaders in the field of professional massage chairs. The company operates two industrial parks: the iRest Jiaxing Health Industry Park and the iRest Wenzhou Health Industry Park. Medical expertise and innovative technologies are the hallmarks of this company.
About the manufacturer: https://www.irest.com
LURACO Technologies
Luraco Technologies is a family-owned company based in Texas, USA. More than 10 years ago, the company was originally founded as an engineering firm. It has developed numerous innovative technologies for various projects in the residential, commercial, and even military sectors. Research and development of many products, as well as the promotion of employment opportunities in the United States, are among the main objectives to which Luraco Technologies is dedicated. The company’s designs and engineering are internationally recognized for their exceptional quality. Its robotic massage systems are used in the medical and therapeutic fields. The company has even pioneered, developed, and perfected unique massage technologies. Engineers and scientists are part of the company’s core staff, which designs and manufactures all massage systems in the United States.
About the manufacturer:https://www.luracochair.com
NAIPO
NAIPOis based in the German city of Hamburg and employs over 2,000 people. The Chinese shareholder, Aukey Shenzhen, brought more than 120 engineers to the company. These engineers work on the numerous certified and award-winning massage chairs that Naipo produces and distributes. The company has made a name for itself not only in Germany and China, but also on the international market. Naipo relies on a combination of traditional massage methods and advanced technology. The company was even awarded the “Blue Planet Certificate” by Naturfreund because it prioritizes environmental protection and ensures that its CO₂ emissions are consistently offset. In this way, Naipo keeps pace with the times and makes a valuable contribution to climate protection.
About the manufacturer: https://www.naipo.de
Panasonic
Panasonic is one of the oldest companies in the technology sector. It was founded as early as 1918 by the young Konosuke Matushita. At just 23 years old at the time, he was far ahead of his time and, despite facing opposition, refused to be dissuaded from his idea. Together with his wife, Mumeno, and her brother, Toshio, he set up a workshop on the ground floor of the family home. In fact, all their efforts resulted in two lamp sockets, which laid the foundation for Panasonic, the company known worldwide today. It wasn’t until 1935 that the company turned its attention to massage technology. Panasonic’s electromagnetic massager was considered extremely innovative even back then. In 1969, the company finally introduced its first massage chair. In 2010, Panasonic acquired Sanyo. The merger of these two leading companies in the field has not only increased brand recognition but also expanded the company’s international reach.
About the manufacturer:https://www.panasonic.com/de/consumer/koerperpflege-gesundheit/gesundheit/massagesessel.html
Primofit
Primofit Health Products, the massage chair specialists from Mindelheim.
About the manufacturer:https://www.primofit.de/
SANYO
SANYOwas founded in Japan in 1947. It was one of the leading companies in the fields of electronics, electrical engineering, and electrical appliances. In 2004, however, the company faced financial difficulties due to a severe earthquake. The company never fully recovered from the damage. Eventually, Sanyo was acquired by Panasonic and is now a subsidiary of Panasonic. The merger of the two companies benefited both sides and allowed for the combination of a great deal of expertise.
SYNCA
SYNCAis not a company, but rather a brand owned by a company. Johnson Health Tech, or JHT for short, launched this brand in 2017. Its goal and focus were to develop innovative, modern, and aesthetically sophisticated products for the wellness sector. As early as 2006, JHT established a separate wellness division, which was eventually expanded to include massage chairs. Exceptional craftsmanship and innovative technologies are at the forefront of this company and its Synca brand. Through continuous development and high quality standards, the company has become increasingly well-known. In 2019, Synca even received an award for one of its products. The CirC compact massage chair was named “Best Product of the Year” and received the“Plus X Award.”Since the company merged with Fujiiryoki in 2020, influences from Taiwan and Japan regarding Far Eastern relaxation have also been integrated. As a result, JHT is more committed than ever to the philosophy of Far Eastern relaxation for body and mind.
About the manufacturer:https://www.synca-wellness.eu/
Sources:
https://seniorsmobility.org/living/massage-chairs/who-invented/
https://www.massagechairplanet.com/pages/history-of-the-massage-chair
https://www.massageschoolnotes.com/the-timeline-history-of-massage/
https://www.relaxacare.ca/blogs/news/a-history-of-the-massage-chair
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanyo