A common misconception of receiving a foot massage is that it’s more of a treat for yourself rather than serving a purpose for your health. While this perception is mainly attributed to the fact that the feet don’t seem as important of a body part to experience a massage when compared to the back and legs, quite the opposite is true in reality. Whether you choose to go with the services of a professional massage therapist or provide yourself with a personal foot massager, you’ll be producing several health benefits that go well beyond simply relieving sore feet. Take a look at some of the overlooked health advantages to receiving a foot massage:
“Foot massages have been found to improve circulation and ease tension.”
Researchers Weigh In On Foot Massages
The act of a foot massage has been practiced for thousands of years as an ancient therapeutic technique. One such style of foot massage that has been noted to have been used by the ancient Egyptians is called reflexology, which uses specific finger and hand techniques upon pressure points of the foot without applying lotion or oil. A study conducted by researchers from Michigan State University has found that reflexology may even provide relief for symptoms of cancer. Dr. Gwen Wyatt, a professor at Michigan State University and lead author of the study, weighed in on how her team’s analysis as well as the work of others could help make foot massages a more recognizable treatment for a variety of ailments.
“It’s always been assumed that it’s a nice comfort measure, but to this point we really have not, in a rigorous way, documented the benefits,” Wyatt said in a statement. “This is the first step toward moving a complementary therapy from fringe care to mainstream care.”
Researchers from Harvard University also point out the several health benefitsassociated with receiving a foot massage. They listed foot massages being able to help with everything from stimulating other muscles of the body to improving circulation, easing muscle pain and decreasing overall bodily tension. They also listed that three out of four American adults will experience some variation of a foot ailment at some point in their lives, furthering advocating the importance of receiving a foot massage.
Do-It-Yourself Foot Massage
If you’re going to try out a foot massage on your own, there are a few tips to consider to ensure you’re properly providing your feet with a beneficial technique. For starters, gently rub some skin lotion into your feet, slowly massage the substance into every crevice of your foot. Next, begin to administer a deeper massage by pressing your knuckles into your foot, and slowly, yet firmly, kneading the area out. You can also gently pull your toes apart from each other one by one, lightly rubbing the area in between. This will help expand those muscles that rarely receive any attention.
While there’s nothing wrong with stretching your toes and rubbing your feet with your own hands, there are also more easier, beneficial means to providing yourself with the ultimate foot massage. The Moji 360 Foot Massager is a revolutionary device that makes giving yourself a relieving foot massage easier than ever before. The stationary device uses massage spheres that rotate 360 degrees, which work to stretch and massage your entire foot out in all areas. It’s a one size fits all device, and can be an essential resource for relief when it comes to everything from plantar fasciitis pain in the heel to just trying to relax your sore feet after a rough day.