Most massage chairs come with automatic programs, ranging anywhere from 5 or 6 to 30 or 40, depending on the brand and model. One of the most popular programs is the stretch program.

A stretch program uses a combination of airbags, rollers, and chair positioning to create a stretch effect on the spine. There are three main types of stretch programs, and each works a little differently.

1. Full Body Extension Stretch

This is found on S-track chairs (where the rollers follow the S-curve of the spine) and split-track chairs (which allow the upper and lower body to recline independently).

With a full body extension stretch, your body fully reclines and you’re essentially lying flat. Your:

• arms are secured in the arm airbags,

• feet and calves are held in the foot and leg airbags, and

• rollers move up and down your spine while the chair extends.

This type of stretch is very powerful.
Some of the strongest examples include:

• The Infinity IT-8500 (S-track)

• The Daiwa Supreme Hybrid (split track)

• The Osaki Solis (split track)

These chairs offer some of the best, most intense stretch programs on the market.

2. Hip Distraction Stretch (SL-Track Stretch)

Traditional SL-track chairs follow the S-curve of the spine and then continue under the seat to the glutes and hamstrings. Because of that design, the chair cannot flatten out completely — the metal track doesn’t allow it.

So while SL chairs still:

• compress the arms, shoulders, legs, and feet with airbags,

• recline and extend, and

• move the rollers up and down your back,

your body remains in a seated L-shaped position.

Because you can’t lie flat, the chair can’t generate the same kind of full-body traction. Instead, the pull is concentrated mostly in the hips, which is why we call this a hip distraction stretch.

It’s still a good stretch — just not as intense as a true full body extension stretch.

3. Segmental Stretches (Regional Stretching)

This type is typically found in Japanese-made chairs, especially from brands like Panasonic and Synca.

These chairs offer targeted, regional stretches, including:

• a neck stretch, where airbags lift the head while rollers move up the neck

• a back stretch, with airbags elevating or shifting sections of the spine

• a hip stretch, focusing on the lower back and pelvis

You don’t get a full-body traction stretch, but the neck and shoulder stretches are particularly effective and feel fantastic.

Final Thoughts

Most massage chairs include some type of stretch program — it’s rare to find one that doesn’t.

• Full body extension stretches (S-track or split track) are the strongest and most effective.

• Segmental stretches are excellent for focused relief, especially in the neck and shoulders.

• SL-track stretches are good, but they can’t match the intensity of the other two due to the fixed L-shaped design.

I hope you found this video helpful.
I’m Dr. Alan Weidner from Massage Chair Relief, and I’ll see you in the next video.

Bye-bye.