Foot Massage Benefits and Techniques

After a long day, quite often we feel our feet sore, aching or swollen. We are looking for ways to relieve the discomfort and the massage is one of the best options that you can choose. There are various techniques that you can try at home but in order to get the best results you can visit a specialized salon. 

Our feet do a lot for us but we fail to treat them properly. There are several things that we can do to reduce foot pain and fatigue, which are quite easy to implement. Wearing comfortable shoes, choosing the right insoles, massaging our feet are a few things to mention. 

It is a good idea to turn the care to our feet and legs into a daily routine. Thus, we will avoid long-term adverse effects on our health and we will feel more energized and ready to do our tasks. It is not necessary to be an active athlete to suffer from foot pain or to take professional measures for protecting your feet from discomfort. 

Foot massage is one of the ways to relax and forget the discomfort but it also has other benefits. Therefore, it is good to know a few techniques that we can use and learn which products can help us in this undertaking. 

Benefits of foot massage

Even a short foot massage can have a positive effect on our entire body. We know that it helps us relax, relieves pain and discomfort and helps with swollen feet. You can enjoy having a massage or giving one but does it have any other benefits than that? The answer is yes. Foot massage brings a lot of positives for our entire body, even though we might not be realizing it. Here are just a few to mention:

It is good for bonding

Foot massage is one of the best gifts to give to your significant other. You can set a romantic scene with aroma candles and scented oils, which will help relieve overall stress. Gently rubbing the feet of the person, you love will help you bond even stronger and show that you care.

Foot massage is also an excellent way to spend quality time with your kid and let them relax and fall asleep easier.

You can opt for foot massage only or combine it with a full body massage in order to reduce stress levels to a minimum. 

Reduces depression and anxiety

Since foot massage uses some of the points and techniques of reflexology, it can help bring the person to a state of relaxation, which enables the body to cope more effectively with stress. Some of the long-term effects of regular foot massage include alleviating the effects of depression and anxiety. 

Frequent sessions are recommended for people suffering from depression and anxiety and are even believed to relieve anxiety in people suffering from cancer. While the scientific proof for that is still insufficient, the act will surely calm down the person and bring only positive effects. 

Boost circulation

We have a predominantly sedentary lifestyle and quite often fail to move sufficiently. As a result, our muscles suffer. Our feet muscles, in particular, can be affected by the lack of exercise and their circulation is often compromised because of tight and/or uncomfortable shoes.

To improve blood circulation in our feet, it is necessary to massage them for 10-20 minutes per day. It is good to do it before going to bed as it will improve the positive effect. It is extremely important to boost blood circulation in feet and legs for people who are suffering from diabetes. 

Reduces the risk of high blood pressure

Foot massage turns out to be efficient against one of the main conditions affecting men and women alike – high blood pressure. It can be caused by a series of factors that include an unhealthier diet and stress.

Since foot massage helps us fight stress, it also boosts our mood and results in lowering blood pressure. A 10-minute foot massage twice or thrice in a week can have a notable positive impact on your blood pressure and overall condition. 

Prevents foot and ankle injuries

Our feet often feel sore because of overloading them or as a result of an injury. A good foot massage can alleviate the pain and help us recover easier.

If we combine foot massage with exercises that help strengthen our feet and ankles, we will get even better results. This will speed up our recovery in case we are suffering from a given condition and will also prevent future injuries. 

Having strong and flexible feet and ankles will prevent minor injuries in our everyday activities and ensure that such accidents don’t have a more serious impact. 

Soothes people with flat feet and plantar fasciitis

If you have a collapsed arch or flat feet it is more likely to experience foot pain even after mild physical activity. Deterioration of the plantar fascia (the tissue that supports the arch of the foot) can lead to chronic heel pain and great discomfort. In both cases, a deep foot massage can relieve the symptoms and reduce pain to a minimum or even alleviate it completely.

It is good to combine foot massage with regular foot exercise and wearing proper shoes and insoles such as the plantar fasciitis foam insoles or total support orthotic insoles. 

Fights headaches and migraines

People who suffer from headaches and migraines can also benefit from a good foot massage. Reflexology treatment is known to reduce the symptoms and alleviate pain. Regular reflexology foot massage can substitute medication and if combined with other changes in lifestyle it can even eliminate the symptoms. 

Reduces symptoms of PMS and menopause

Many women suffering from PMS or entering menopause experience symptoms similar to depression. They often feel sad, irritated and suffer from fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and mood swings. A daily foot massage during these days can help alleviate the symptoms. 

Helps pregnant women fight with edema

Edema is swelling of the feet and ankles as a result of fluid retention, which is often experienced by pregnant women in the last trimester. This condition can be successfully combated by a daily foot massage. If combined with lots of rest and an appropriate diet, a foot massage can reduce the symptoms of edema to a minimum. 

Main foot massage techniques you can also use

There is a great variety of foot massage techniques that you can use at home to relieve foot pain and feel better. In general, traditional therapeutic techniques aim to relax the muscles and joints and thus help your feet feel better. Reflexology focuses not only on the feet but uses key massaging point located on the foot to improve internal organ function and help increase your overall body tonus. Acupressure acts upon specific pressure points to improve the energy flow and affect your general health in a positive way, while aromatherapy uses all of your senses to bring you to a state of relaxation. 

It is possible to combine all of these methods at home and enjoy their benefits. You can also simply follow these steps to get great foot therapy:

• Sit comfortably, bend one leg and rest the other foot on your thigh
• Rub a natural massage oil or a suitable cream to your skin and massage the whole foot – heel, arch, pad, and toes
• For a deeper massage you can use the knuckles of your hand and press them to your foot and knead it. The movements resemble kneading a piece of dough
• Hold your foot with both hands and use your thumbs to press into the skin for a muscle massage
• Finish by pulling your toes back and forth as this will stretch the muscles underneath
• Repeat on the other foot

You can implement these steps into your daily routine and soon you will see the benefits. The procedure is so simple that you can even do it in your coffee break and feel instant relief. 

Take as much time as you need. Combine it with relaxing music and scented candles and enjoy the overall positive effect it will have on you. 

Other foot relief options

While foot massage has multiple benefits for our entire body, sometimes we simply do not have the time and energy to include it in our daily routine. While it is up to us to try and visit a licensed therapist at least once in a while, the more often the better, we can also invest in some other products that can help our feet.

We already mentioned that reflexology has a positive effect in alleviating foot and ankle pain and we can take advantage of this technique. There are two products that you can find in our online shop that can help you massage your feet without any efforts and still enjoy the numerous benefits of it offers.

• The health control massage insoles are designed for people who often experience foot, leg or neck pain and would love to have a good relieving massage right there and right now. The insoles use the reflexology points in the feet and massage key pressure points to relieve the pain you feel in your feet, legs, neck or back. They can reduce fatigue and enhance your overall energy. The combination with medical magnets results in a magnet therapy that improves your overall health and helps your body cope easier with the daily activities and eliminate stress. 
• The foot reflexology massage mat is an efficient way to get all the benefits of reflexology therapy at the comfort of your home. It is designed in such a way so that it applies the necessary pressure to all key reflexology points without any efforts on your site. All you need to do is stand on the mat and feel the refreshing energy run through your body. The foot reflexology massaging mat is suitable for people suffering from plantar fasciitis, heel pain, arch pain or just feel tired and have feet that are swollen and aching. The mat gently massages your heel, arch, pad, and toes and thus relieves pain instantly. As it uses reflexology points, it sends signals to all your internal organs and helps them function better. Thus, the mat helps your entire body cope with stress more efficiently while leaving you energized and in a better overall condition.  

As you can see, something as simple as a 10-minute foot massage can give you tons of benefits and help you enjoy life. It is a good idea to apply the techniques above and to combine them with visits to therapists. If you use the right products for your feet, knees, and legs, you will prevent injuries and feel much better. Staying active is also a key to feeling better and living your life to the fullest.