Before we get into foot massage benefits, understanding what it is about is important. Hence, foot massage is a simple, cheap and effective method to relax your body and mind. It is based on foot reflexology and involves applying pressure on key points in the foot to get benefits.

The practice of foot massage involves applying pressure to specific points on the feet. This in turn affects various parts of the body. There are many benefits you can experience.

Improves circulation through body:

The lifestyle we mostly live results in decreased blood circulation. Lack of exercise and restrictive footwear can also decrease blood circulation. The muscles in the feet get hardly any exercise and circulation. A cause can be wearing tight or uncomfortable shoes to work and other places. A 10–20 minute massage session before going to bed can greatly improve circulation in the lower extremities. Studies have also shown that poor circulation can be improved upon with foot massages

Prevents injuries and helps with recovery:

Massaging your feet can help with joint pain and assist in recovering after an injury.  However, when massage is combined with foot and ankle strengthening exercises and stretching it can prevent future injuries, as well as speed up recovery of existing injuries. Also, like mentioned earlier, it increases circulation to the feet; helping with nourishing the tissues in your feet. This in turn prevents future injuries from lack of circulation.

Helps with mood/depression and anxiety:

Having massage sessions have shown to help with decrease anxiety in cancer patients. Plus, massage in its many forms has been shown to help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, with some research studies showing increases in dopamine being a factor. A foot massage and reflexology performed twice-weekly can help with these issues.

Helps with headaches and migraines:

There are many people throughout the world that suffer from headaches. However, foot reflexology and massages can help reduce the pain. One study conducted in Denmark showed that people suffering from headaches and migraines showed great improvement after receiving reflexology treatments. The test subjects stopped taking their medication, and three months after completing their treatments, 65% had reduced symptoms while a small number had been cured.

Some other benefits include that foot massage reduces effects of edema in pregnant women. It also reduces the effects of depression and anxiety. If you have any further questions, please contact us!