Foot Massage

Description

Foot massage is the application of pressure onto particular areas of the soles of the feet. A reflex action in another part of the body is stimulated by the manipulation of each specific area. Foot reflexology massage uses hands, fingers, thumbs, knuckles, and a rounded wooden stick with lotion or oil.

Styles & Technique

Foot massages generally involve acts like rubbing, pressing, stroking and manipulating muscles in a specific manner using fingers. This is a deep massaging where you use your thumb to apply pressure along specific lines of the entire foot. This method involves the application of pressure by the practitioner’s thumb, finger, palm or elbow. Read More

Preparations

Foot massage has been practiced in many cultures for many centuries. It has been effectively used over the centuries to promote good health and well-being. In today’s world, it is actually considered a complementary and alternative medicine by millions of people to help reduce anxiety and stress, and relieve pain. In addition, it also helps in rehabilitating injuries and boosting general health. Thai foot massage uses the ancient art of Thai reflexology to provide an enjoyable, relaxing, and rejuvenating experience that heals the mind, body, and soul. Thai foot massage techniques detoxify and purify the body, helping relieve stress and tension, decrease fatigue, foster good health and mental serenity, and restore balance. During a Thai foot massage, also known as Thai foot reflexology, pressure is applies to specific areas of the soles of the feet. In turn, a reflex reaction occurs in another part of the body, which is stimulated by the manipulation of a specific part of the foot.

Oil Uses

There are several massage oils for Swedish massage in the market today. Most of the oils rely on the oil’s aroma for therapeutic effects in order to achieve optimum calming effects. It is no wonder most oils come as herbal oils rather than generics.

Benefits

Foot Massage is a massage of the feet and also lower legs. foot massage is both invigorating and deeply relaxing and involves hands on massage, stretching and acupressure to stimulate reflex points. It has elements of Shiatsu, Reflexology, and Chinese massage, incorporated into the treatment.

Foot massage is one of the most common alternative treatments to relieve pain. A study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of foot reflexology on fatigue, pain, and sleep has revealed that foot reflexology is a very useful nursing intervention that relieves fatigue and promotes good sleep. Foot massages coupled with regular foot exercises can cure chronic heel pain. Foot health and posture have been proven to be associated with back pain. The edge of the foot has pain-points that are associated with back pain. While massaging these points the pain and stiffness in the spineare relieved There exists a spine line between the big toe and the heel of the foot. Massaging this line from the front to the back of the toe by applying pressure can be very effective in back pain relief. A study conducted by the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research has revealed that the nurses who suffered from a backache greatly benefited from a foot massage

Sedentary lifestyle might make one unaccustomed to using feet muscles regularly and they hardly get any kind of exercise. Foot massages stimulate nerve functions, eiminate toxins and improve circulation. A study conducted among dementia patients revealed that foot massage reduced blood pressure, improved their moods and lessened their anxiety levels

Various studies have reported a correlation between foot reflexology and improvement in symptoms of certain ailments such as cancer, symptomatic idiopathic detrusor over-activity, diabetes, sleep disorders, multiple sclerosis, migraine, depression, and dementia. Therapeutic massage reduces symptoms, improves symptom control and promotes general wellness. A foot massage also helps alleviate symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) such as irritability, mood swings, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, unhappiness, and fatigue. Likewise, it can also minimize symptoms of menopause.

Pregnant women commonly experience fluid retention in their feet and ankles that causes swelling. Foot massages performed on a daily basis along with plenty of rest and a proper diet can help combat this condition.