Where our feet help us to stand, walk, run and perform various daily life activities, we surely do not take enough time to relax and pamper them. A body part which is quite literally on its toes. Right from the morning till the time we hit bed. Our feet surely deserve some love, care and pampering. Well if pampering your feet made you think about pedicure you might be on the wrong track because nothing can be more relaxing and satisfying than a nice massage. So without wasting any more time let us take a deep dive into this article and learn about 7 amazing benefits of foot massage and ways in which you can massage your feet using different tools.
Benefits Of Foot Massage
Massage is something that is given to a little one for his/her healthy growth and to an eldely to relieve pain in different body parts. Where these two age groups are not the only ones who can reap the benefits of a nice massage. A massage will help you to relieve stress and relax your body Here are some of the benefits of foot massage that you need to know about-
#1. Helps to reduce the effect of Depression and Anxiety
We all have heard about the mind body connection, but little did we know that this was the connection that people were talking about all our lives. Various researches have suggested that a nice foot massage does not just help you to get relaxed and relieve stress, but has a lot to do with your mental state as well. According to some observations done by these researchers they have found that people who took frequent foot massage sessions have shown a significant reduction in anxiety. Some foot massage techniques can serve as an effective way of dealing with mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
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A foot massage helps in reducing the effect of depression and anxiety by increasing the levels of endorphins in the body. These endorphins are the happy hormones that help in improving mood and help in replacing the sense of discomfort caused due to depression with a sense of relaxation.
#2. Lowers Blood Pressure
In today's world where high blood pressure is one of the most common problems observed in middle aged people, many contributing factors such as stress, anxiety, unhealthy lifestyle habits and dietary habits can result in the occurrence of this situation. Although stress and lifestyle habits are not the only ones to be blamed for the occurrence of high blood pressure as this problem can also emerge due to faulty genes. Some studies have shown that foot massage can help in reducing high blood pressure and is an easy yet effective way to improve a person’s cardiovascular health. Where a foot massage is not a replacement for your blood pressure medicines, but it can surely help in aiding the treatment and provide you relief to some extent.
Also Read: Expert FAQs On Hypertension: 6 Things To Know About High Blood Pressure
A foot massage helps in lowering the blood pressure by increasing the heart rate and hence positive effects in both, blood pressure and the heart health. As the heart rate increases, it helps to expand the size of healthy blood vessels present in the body which eventually results in an increased blood flow. This increased flow helps to keep the blood pressure relatively flexible.
#3. Alleviates the symptoms of PMS
This is a sign for all the women out there to go and get a foot massage. As anxiety, irritability, mood swings, insomnia, fatigue, headache and sadness are the most common symptoms of PMS these can be alleviated with the help of a foot massage in minutes. Not just this but getting a foot massage on the proper pressure points and also help in easing the period pain.
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It is not just PMS and period pain that a foot massage can help you with, but it is also proven to be beneficial for the women in thor menopause. As the symptoms of menopause are quite similar to that of PMS, and has a few additions to it such as depression and hot flashes, a foot massage done on right pressure points can help to relieve that.
#4. Relieves headaches caused due to migraine
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People who suffer from migraine know what actual headache is and the way it can become a hindrance in their daily life activities. Fighting the headache caused due to migraine can be quite difficult but a nice foot massage can help to alleviate the pain to an extent.Some studies have concluded that after receiving foot massages on a regular basis, some people have shown significant improvement in the headache that is caused due to migraine.
#5. Helps with Flat Feet
Commonly known as flat feet, plantar fasciitis is a condition where the arch of the foot is collapsed. This condition can be caused due to a variety of reasons like obesity, genes, pregnancy, injuries or arthritis. People with this condition do not have a normal foot arch due to the ligament laxity. Flat foot is a condition that can affect a person's overall body balance and cause severe pain and discomfort in the affected foot.
Also Read: 5 Simple And Effective Exercises That Can Help You To Relieve The Pain Caused By Flat Foot
A massage and regular exercise can help to alleviate this condition of chronicfoot pain by easing the stress on your muscles and ligaments present in the affected foot.
#6. Reduces the effect of edema
Where pregnancy is something that brings drastic changes in a person’s body and it is not just the belly that increases but the other body parts get affected by it too. With edema being a condition of fluid retention in feet which is most commonly observed in pregnant women in their last trimester. This retention of fluid in feet can lead to pain and swelling in the ankles and heels.
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Massaging feet with some firm strokes can help you to cure the pain and reduce swelling along with providing relaxation to your feet. It helps in boosting up the blood circulation by stimulating the pressure points and hence relieves swelling and pain
#7. Helps to prevent Ankle and Foot injuries
This one is for all the clumsy people who tend to fall or lose their balance while walking and end up in different kinds of ankle and foot injuries. A message will not just help you to get relief from that stabbing pain after a foot injury but will also work as a preventive measure to safeguard you from getting hurt in future.
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Combining massage with some ankle and foot strengthening exercises can help to strengthen this part and also speed up the recovery process. Strengthen the ankles via these massages and exercises can surely help you in preventing injuries in those movements of clumsiness.
Foot Massage With different Tools
Getting someone to massage your feet everytime can be quite difficult, and doing it on your own can be a whole new project rather than a small task. In order to reap the amazing benefits of foot massage and relieving pain, anxiety, depression and lowering the blood pressure, we have got you some massage ideas that you can try out on your own by using some simple things lying around your house.
#1. Ball
Well yes! A golf or tennis ball is not just meant for playing sports but can also help in relieving foot pain caused while playing these sports. Using a golf or tennis ball for a foot massage is an easy yet effective way that will help you to reap various benefits of a foot massage. Catch that ball and get started with a foot massage. Known as the ball roll, this simple technique is generally used to treat flat feet and can also help in providing relief from various kinds of foot pain and stimulate those pressure points.
How to-
- Sit on a small table with a tennis ball under your affected foot.
- Make sure that your spine is straight upright.
- Now move your foot in a circular motion while rolling the ball beneath it.
- Ensure that you are rolling the ball beneath the arch of the foot or the other pressure points you wish to target
- Do this exercise for about 2-3 minutes and relax
#2. Rolling pin
A tool that is present in every Indian household without fail, rolling pin is something that is used to flatten the dough in order to make chapatis or Indian flat bread. A tool that helps you to fill up your stomach can be effective for a foot massage as well. Try placing the rolling pin beneath your foot and follow the given instructions
How to-
- Sit straight on a chair and place the rolling pin on the ground.
- Place your foot on top of the rolling pin and move your foot back and forth so that it is rolling in a circular motion.
- Repeat this exercise for about 2-3 minutes.
#3. Towel
Massaging and exercising your feet with a towel is surely a very unique way of doing so. Although this might sound quite weird but surely is very effective and is used to treat various foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis. Known as towel curls this technique not just helps in working and relaxing those foot muscles but is effective for calf muscles as well. Follow the given steps to reap the maximum benefits from the towel curl technique
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How To-
- Sit on a small table with both your feet flat on the ground.
- Take a small towel and place it on the ground, under your feet.
- With your toes, grasp the centre of the towel and then curl it inward.
- When the towel gets curled up, open it up and repeat.
- Do this exercise about four to five times to relieve that heel pain.