Underwater massage and various devices - massagers

There are two very useful techniques in massage techniques - tapping and chopping. Effleurage causes a reflex contraction of muscles, increases muscle tone and improves their blood supply; it is done with fingers or fists. Chopping is done with the edge of the palm...

Both of these techniques are simulated by a device called: "fist massager" (Fig. 1).

1. Cam body massager
2. Vibromassage and devices for vibromassage
3. Devices of the class: “Underwater massage shower”

Cam body massager

The rotation of the engine is transmitted through the rocker mechanism to two massaging cams, which perform alternating swinging movements - like chopping the ribs of a massage therapist's palms. The person being massaged stands on the stand with his face or back to the massaging fists and presses against them with any part of the body. By holding the control handle with your hand, you can freely move the working part of the device up and down and left and right, i.e. massage the entire surface.

^{Device structure: 1 - frame; 2 — stand with fastening unit; 3 — rack axis; 4 - electric motor; 5 — rocker drive; 6 — working bodies (cams); 7 - handle for moving the cams.}

Vibromassage and devices for vibromassage

Vibromassage can be combined with an exercise bike, receiving two wellness treatments at once. For this purpose, the so-called “Goff bicycle trab” is used. The exerciser, while rotating the pedals, also rotates the flywheel with an eccentric, the vibration from which is transmitted to the seat of the bike and then to the whole body.

In Fig. 2 shown vibration massage couch. She

is divided into 3-4 parts, each of which has its own

electric drive and can vibrate at a given frequency. As a rule, one frequency is set for the legs and thighs, another for the arms, and a third for the torso. Vibromassage can be dosed according to the duration of exposure.

In addition to the above-mentioned specimens, the arsenal of modern sports medicine also has a number of miniature, manual vacuum massage devices, which you can get acquainted with in more detail; we will not dwell on them in detail, because there are simply a huge number of them. Well, later in this article we will look at devices using water...

The so-called “underwater shower massage” in health centers is implemented in special pools measuring 2X1X0.8 m. The pool bath is filled with water at a temperature of 34-38°C.

Underwater massage is carried out using special attachments with internal diameters ranging from 7-11 mm. Moreover, the smaller the diameter of the nozzle, the correspondingly stronger the impact of the jet. The level of impact force can also be varied by two more methods: increasing or decreasing the gap between the nozzle and the body; changing the angle at which the jet affects the area being massaged.

For underwater massage, the patient is usually placed on a rubber hammock, pre-stretched inside the bathtub. The design of such a hammock was proposed by L. A. Kunichev.

It is made from a thickened (thick-walled) rubber hose with a diameter of 18-20 mm. This hose is threaded through metal rings, which are then placed on hooks (5 pieces on each side of the bath). The hooks are built into the sides of the bathtub in use at a level of 10-30 cm from its bottom.

It is easy for a patient lying in a hammock to relax, his body is fixed and does not float to the side under the pressure of a powerful jet, as happens without the use of a hammock. The patient's position on the underwater hammock is shown in Fig. 3, the arrows show the directions in which the massaging jet should move.

In addition to nozzles with one hole, various nozzles similar to showers with multiple holes are used. The “shower-comb” type nozzle is very effective (Fig. 4).

In general, the devices of physical culture and health equipment can be very diverse, and the future will undoubtedly open up new opportunities in this area.