Chi Machine

"Chi Machine" is a passive exercise device invented by a Japanese engineer, Keiichi Ohashi, in 1988. Ohashi's invention was granted a patent by the Japanese Patent Office in 1990. The concept derives from a form of exercise for the pelvic region which is done while lying down, and which is known in Japan as "goldfish exercise".

Method

The idea of providing a machine to swing the feet, and thus to impart the sideways oscillation of the pelvis which is characteristic of goldfish exercise, is said to have been the idea of a Japanese scientist Dr. Shizuo Inoue. He claimed that lack of oxygen in the body is a primary cause of diseases. Although this theory is not accepted by modern medicine, Dr. Stephen Levine, a renowned molecular biologist, stated in his book "Oxygen Deficiency: A Concomitant to All Degenerative Illness", that "In all serious disease states we find a concomitant low oxygen state... Low oxygen in the body tissues is a sure indicator for disease... Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen in the tissues, is the fundamental cause for all degenerative disease."

The machine is a box-like device with an "ankle cradle" that moves from side to side at approximately 140 oscillations per minute. The user is instructed to lie down flat on the floor and rest their legs on top of the ankle cradle.

Marketing

The original chi machine was manufactured in Japan by Skylite Corporation, but is promoted outside Japan by a group of network marketing companies owned by Hsin Ten of Taiwan (HTE) who have trade marked the term 'The Chi Machine. It holds US FDA approval as a Class 1 Medical Device Regulation #890.5660 . It is claimed to oxygenate the body via "passive aerobic exercise", which the manufacturer claims stimulates the lymphatic System, and supposedly enables detoxification.

In June 2000, HTE Australia, a subsidiary of a manufacturer of the device, contracted with Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia to conduct clinical trials on the impact of the Sun Ancon Chi Machine on the lymphatic system. Led by Professor Neil Piller the clinical trials focused on patients with venous œdema and secondary lymphoedema. Results showed loss of fluid and a reduction in pain and swelling [1].

Other products adopting the same principle have been developed over the last 20 years. There is some controversy about the comparison between these products and the original Sun Ancon Chi Machine which is marketed by Hsin Ten Enterprise Co. Ltd of Taiwan throughout the world except for Japan. Hsin Ten's distributors claim that any variance from the unique specification of their machine will result in an unsatisfactory swinging movement that negatively affects efficacy or can even be harmful.

Studies

Some studies on use of the Surge of Chi Exerciser, a later model marketed by Energy for Health Ltd. of UK which has a variable speed of 80 to 160 oscillations per minute, were reported in Positive Health magazine in 2006 "Benefits of the Chi Exerciser: Practitioner Trials" and 2007 "Clinical Relief with Use of Chi Exerciser" . One of the conclusions of the trials undertaken by more than 200 healthcare practitioners in these studies on the Surge of Chi was that they "... underlined the importance of providing users with a wide range of speeds and other programming possibilities, so that they can experiment and find the speed and comfort levels that best suit their age, fitness level and general state of health."

References

Moseley AL, Piller N, Esterman A, Carati C (2004). "The Sun Ancon Chi Machine Aerobic Exerciser: a new patient focused, home based therapy for people with chronic secondary leg lymphedema". Lymphology. 37 (2): 53–61. PMID 15328757. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)

Moseley AL, Piller N, Carati C (2002). "Combined opto-electronic perometry and bioimpedance to measure objectively the effectiveness of a new treatment intervention for chronic secondary leg lymphedema". Lymphology. 35 (4): 136–43. PMID 12570322. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)

Bernas M, Witte MH (2004). "Alternative/complementary treatment in lymphology: trying the untried and testing the untested". Lymphology. 37 (2): 43–4. PMID 15328754. 

McDonald H (2006). Benefits of the Chi Exerciser: Practitioner Trials "Benefits of the Chi Exerciser: Practitioner Trials". Positive Health (125): 43–47. 

External links

• Flinders University Trial Initial Conclusions
• Flinders University bio on Piller
• Flinders University bio on Carati
• Positive Health Magazine. Benefits of the Chi Exerciser: Practitioner Trials
• Positive Health Magazine. Clinical Relief with Use of Chi Exerciser
• Chi Machine Story: information on relevant patents and designs