Abstract:
A massaging apparatus in which a position of a specific portion such as a user's shoulder with respect to the massaging apparatus can be determined automatically and accurately in a simple construction. The massaging apparatus includes a supporting arm having a therapeutic member pivotally supported thereon and freely movable along the user's body. The position of the specific portion of the user with respect to the massaging apparatus is determined from the relation between the vertical position of the supporting arm and the pivotal position of the supporting arm. A pivotal movement detecting system detects that the supporting arm reaches a prescribed range of pivotal movement is provided. The position of the specific portion of the user with respect to the massaging apparatus is determined from the position of the supporting arm at the moment when the pivotal movement of the supporting arm reaches the prescribed range.
Abstract:
An improved massaging apparatus includes a massaging element for performing a massaging action, a drive mechanism for driving the massaging element, diagnostic inquiry means for addressing a diagnostic inquiry to a user, input means for inputting a user's answer to the diagnostic inquiry, judgment means for judging the physical condition of the user based on the user's answer, setting means for setting massaging conditions of a massage operation based on the judgment made by the judgment means, and execution means for causing the drive mechanism to drive the massaging element according to the massaging conditions set by the setting means.