massage – Active Wellness Blog

Get the Benefits of Winter Sports without Injuries

Published on January 16, 2020January 9, 2020 by Nikken

Winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, ice hockey and sledding are invigorating ways to experience the great outdoors during the cold months of the year. They’re high speed and therefore can also be perilous, causing many common injuries. These include fractures, sprains, strains, concussions and dislocations. Snowboarders tend to have more wrist injuries as well as tailbone contusions and concussions whereas skiers have more knee injuries.¹

Take care of yourselves and properly prepare children for outdoor winter activities. Here are a dozen precautions to take when participating in winter sports:

Wear the appropriate protective gear such as helmets, goggles, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads, as well as sunscreen. Check out Nikken KenkoTherm® Wraps for comfortable support for muscles, ligaments and joints.
Make sure all equipment is in good working order.
Wear layers of clothing that include a breathable base layer, one or two insulating layers and a water- and windproof outer layer to help you stay warm and dry. Layering helps accommodate your body’s changing temperature.
Wear comfortable footwear for warmth, dryness and ankle support. If you have weak ankles to begin with, try wrapping them with KenkoTherm DUK® Tape for extra support before putting on your Nikken Sport Socks.
Stay hydrated. Breathing cold air can be dehydrating, so bring along a good size water bottle and sip steadily. Convenient and giving you the bonus of ultra high-tech filtration, the eco-friendly PiMag® Sport Bottle is a must-have carry-along. Orthopedists recommend drinking a pint before exercising and another pint after you’re done, with sipping every 20 minutes or so in between.³
Warm up. Cold muscles, tendons and ligaments are more injury-prone.
After warming up, stretch. Hold each stretch for 10 to 20 seconds, then slowly and carefully release it. Inhale before each stretch and exhale as you release. Do each stretch once, always with control and never bounce on a fully stretched muscle.²
Learn how to fall. Shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries can result from trying to brace a fall. According to the Canadian Ski Patrol, the harder you try to stay upright, the harder it is on the knees and the more risk of ligament breaks, strains or tears.⁴
Do not ice skate on frozen lakes, rivers or ponds unless you are absolutely sure they have not started to thaw. The safest way is to ice skate on frozen water masses only where posted signs indicate it’s safe.
If snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, be sure to bring a map and a compass. Also be constantly vigilant of changing weather conditions.
Never participate alone in a winter sport. If you must go alone, be sure to inform friends and family of your location and expected time of return.
Know your limitations and those of your children. Unless you are an athlete training under supervision, rest when tired, and choose slopes and maneuvers that match your skill level.

One of the most enjoyable parts of winter sports is the rest and relaxation afterwards! Why not revive yourself with a hot cup of Kenzen Ten4® Energy Drink Mix and treat yourself to a gentle massage with KenkoTouch®?

1 https://www.chop.edu/news/health-tip/perfect-10-winter-sports-safety-tips

2, 3 https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries/

4 https://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/fitness/9-safety-tips-for-winter-sports/

Take Massage into Your Own Hands with Patented DynaFlux® Magnetic Technology

Published on October 24, 2016November 21, 2019 by Nikken

Can magnetic energy help your well-being? Yes. Magnetic energy is part of the natural environment for all living things. Earth’s magnetic field is also recognized as a protective barrier against dangerous radiation from space.

Clinical studies have indicated that magnets hold promise in the development of new, scientific approaches to many of the challenges of modern life. The body of knowledge continues to increase regarding this basic form of energy, and magnets are already used in various applications to improve the quality of life.

The most recent development in magnetic innovation is represented by Nikken patented DynaFlux® Magnetic Technology (U.S. Patent No. 9,265,966). DynaFlux features a series of individual magnets within an organized structure that places them in polar opposition at several points. Positive or negative poles face each other. Interlocking construction holds these components in place to overcome the repulsion generated by this arrangement.

Placing separate magnetic fields in opposition produces a multiplier effect with two notable results:

One result is that the magnetic field is intensified in each of these areas, providing 100 percent magnetic coverage of a complex field within a flat surface.
The other is a magnetic field that extends farther from the surface and increases the depth of penetration. This equates to increased gauss strength.

Patented DynaFlux® Magnetic Technology is at the foundation of the KenkoTouch™ handheld device that takes magnetic massage to a new level. The KenkoTouch™ delivers pulsating magnetic wave therapy to help relieve soreness and tightness in muscle tissue. The massaging effect leverages the mechanical motion of strategically placed moving nodules that produce a firm, slightly yielding sensation.

The KenkoTouch™ also incorporates specialized reflective fibers to help alleviate tension with gentle, consistent warming. It’s self-regulating, to prevent heat buildup and keep you comfortable. The result is an overall feeling of well being.

A heightened magnetic massage experience with KenkoTouch™—exclusively from Nikken.

Massage is an Accepted Part of Alternative Medicine

Published on October 24, 2016November 21, 2019 by Nikken

Massage is a general term for pressing, rubbing and manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage may range from light stroking to deep pressure. Some common types include:

Swedish— gentle with long strokes and deep circular movements
Deep—slow forceful strokes to target deep layers of muscle and connective tissue
Sports—similar to Swedish but geared toward athletes to help loosen muscles and to prevent or treat sport injuries
Acupressure or trigger point—focuses on areas of tight muscle fibers that also converge with nerves

Offered more and more often as a standard treatment for a wide range of muscular conditions and situations, massage has proven to be effective for reducing and managing stress, for soothing aches and pains and for decreasing muscle tension. Practitioners have also found massage to be helpful in dealing with anxiety, digestive disorders, headaches, insomnia related to stress, soft tissue injuries and aching joints.

As soothing and relaxing a massage can be, another person is generally required. You go to a spa or a massage therapist and have a “hands on” experience. The human touch of another often has a therapeutic result, because it gives a feeling of connectedness and warmth.

But what if you don’t have the time, energy or resources to go to a massage therapist? What if you desire immediate relief?

Nikken has numerous products that provide a massaging effect.
1. Permanent magnets generally work slowly and gently. They are especially appropriate for long-term self-administration. Fixed magnetic therapy is usually applied for longer periods to be optimally effective. Permanent magnets come in great variety. There are small adhesive magnets, magnetic jewelry, sleeping pads and pillows—Nikken offers all of these rest and relaxation products and more.

2. Pulsating magnets work by mimicking the kneading sensation produced by human fingers. Nikken produces pulsating magnets with DynaFlux® technology so that you feel the sensations that are similar to a regular massage, while reaping the benefits of magnetic penetration.