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Get the massage
Some people enjoy the prospect of getting a massage and can’t wait to be vigorously pounded by a stranger. Others, like me, carry their tension with them as they silently curse their own inhibitions. The contactless massage offered by Alvica reLounge, therefore, is my savior. An extraordinary piece of medical grade kit (certified by the US FDA), offering heat therapy, EMS (muscle stimulation) and TENS (electrical nerve stimulation) to our poor overworked backs. The reLounge, which is already installed in spas, private clinics and hotels (including the Burj Al Arab in Dubai), is now launching in the UK with pre-trial trials available at the Royal Exchange in the City of London. Its objective is to reduce the incidence of back pain and its various side effects, both personal and social.
Your job, mainly, is to put on a kimono or towel, lightly spray your back with water, and lean back on this powerful piece of furniture, all oak, leather, and soft LED lighting. Its shape is designed to elevate the legs (to promote blood circulation) and put the entire back in contact with the 24-segment mat located in the center of the lounger, the part that provides the electric magic along with touch screen control . panel. It begins with a scan that evaluates how the upper and lower back muscles contract when stimulated and identifies strengths and weaknesses. That scan (color-coded in red, yellow and green) is then displayed, stored on the device and used to recommend personalized treatments.
In total, there are 55 such treatments available, categorized into dynamic massage, muscle therapy (more of a gym-style workout), and pain therapy (for a list of specific conditions). Once you’re up and running, there’s no need to fiddle with the screen; An external remote control allows you to raise and lower the intensity and stop it if you wish. But it’s unlikely you’ll want to stop; The different pressure patterns moving up and down your back feel completely therapeutic, the experience is quiet and calming, and the result is a feeling of satisfaction fueled by endorphins.
good sport
Garmin has hit a sweet spot between form and function with this sports-focused smartwatch; It’s packed with features (including GPS tracking, which its predecessor lacked), but without the bulk that characterizes many devices in its class. The touchscreen is smooth monochrome, the interface (with two side buttons) is easy to navigate, but pulls a lot of data to the Garmin Connect app. Along with standard 24/7 health measurements (heart rate, steps, heart rate variation during sleep), you can record specific metrics for a wide range of activities, from yoga to skiing and golf. Phone notifications appear reliably (unless you turn them off, like I did), and thanks to its NFC chip, you can make contactless payments without having to pick up your phone.
deep sleep
The battle to produce the perfect pair of sleep headphones just intensified. Ozlo, having purchased Bose’s Sleepbud brand, launched its first product, and it’s a side sleeper’s dream unit: comfortable to wear, stable operation, and sound that rivals any headphone, whether for sleeping or not. Unusually, much of the smart work is done by the case, which forms an audio bridge between the headphones and the phone while also monitoring sound, light and temperature. Fall asleep listening to whatever you want; Once the biometric sensors inside the buds detect that you’ve fallen asleep, the soundtrack automatically switches to consistent, relaxing sounds designed to keep you asleep peacefully. The impending firmware updates promise a set of tools designed to track and address noise interruptions.
And breathe…
Of all the muscles we might consider exercising, those that help supply air to the lungs (diaphragm and intercostals) rank pretty low. But IMT (inspiratory muscle training) can improve the endurance of athletes, wind musicians and singers, as well as help with a variety of health conditions. Powerbreathe Plus is a wearable IMT device with adjustable resistance that inhales deeply; A training session consists of 30 breaths, which takes me about three minutes. The optional smart adapter, located between the mouthpiece and the device, sends data to a smartphone app that accurately tracks your developing aerobic capacity. As a lapsed bassoonist, I hope I can eliminate the solo at the beginning of The Rite Of Spring once and for all.
An emerging treatment to consider…
Strong claims are made about red light therapy (photobiomodulation), particularly its ability to treat pain and stimulate muscle healing. Photobiomodulation has been studied as a clinical tool since the 1960s and is recommended by NICE for use in patients whose lining of the mouth has been damaged by chemotherapy and radiation. Regarding the effectiveness of home-use photobiomodulation devices, a recent review of studies reported that they had seen “mostly positive results,” but that “a conclusive assessment of their effectiveness [would require] additional randomized controlled studies. The Move+ Pro consists of three small, thick modules, each containing a combination of infrared lasers and deep red LEDs. These modules, once charged (via a USB-C cable to a charging case), fit neatly into a harness, which you can configure appropriately to wrap around your shoulder, knee, ankle, etc. The modules are linked, so one of their power buttons powers all three; Holding it down allows you to select five, 10, or 15 minutes of therapy. (Thankfully) I don’t have any pain to deal with, so I can’t personally vouch for its effectiveness, but the design and build quality cannot be faulted.