KUALA LUMPUR, 14 May 2021:
Massages have been one of the most sought-after tools to induce relaxation and release stress for many years now – which used to be only available in luxury spas and high-end health clubs.
But Ogawa Malaysia has gone one step further to evaluate the efficiency of a massage chair therapy and to examine the potential improvement of blood circulation and sleep quality for health benefits.
The study conducted with Universiti Malaya found 100% of the participants showed a significant improvement in blood circulation: 81.32% by using the Ogawa Master Drive AI 2.0 M6 Deep Tissue program and 43.48% through the Blood Circulation program, while 100% of the participants recorded an increase in sleep quality, and up to 88.73% progressed in sleep efficiency through the Sweet Dream program.
Faculty of Engineering dean Prof Dr Saad Mekhilef said the university was keen to be a part of the research to not only contribute their knowledge to this significant study that may be useful for future studies, but to aid in improving the overall wellness of the nation and potentially increase the life expectancies of Malaysians.
“Well-being does not only incorporate healthy diets and consistent workouts, but regular massages can contribute much more to the human soul – from correcting postural stress to boosting immunity.
“Through this study, we want to convey the major health benefits attached to having regular massages and how it should be considered vital for our overall health – be it to relieve sore muscles, reduce stress or even boost your immune system, massages will leave a positive impact on your everyday life.”
Ogawa Malaysia executive director and chief executive officer Datuk Lim Mee Ling, said: “In a world of rising health care costs and increasing health care needs, the management of health care is more vital than ever. We believe that the health and fitness market have a strong development potential.
“Through this Joint Research Hub, we hope the studies being carried out can provide deeper insights that will further improve our product development process, at the same time we are able to educate the general public in regards to the health benefits that Ogawa’s massage chair is able to provide.”
Since Ogawa Malaysia was established in 1996, she said there has been renewed focus by the firm on the cumulative effects of sleep loss and sleep disorders – which are causing increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and stroke.
“According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey, the number of Malaysians with depression and anxiety disorder rose from 12% in 2011 to 29% in 2017.”