Your feet might be the most neglected part of your body. Even if you walk all day, most people don’t pay attention to their feet, until something feels wrong. 

That’s why you deserve to treat yourself with a foot massage now and then. Other than helping you relax, a foot massage provides many health benefits that you might not expect. 

So how to give a good foot massage, to yourself and others? And what can you really gain from it? Find out more as you read below.

What’s the History Behind Foot Massage and Reflexology?

The origin of foot massage dates back to ancient China. In the classic documents on Chinese medicine, they discussed that certain areas of the foot are connected to your “vital energy” or qi. 

Everyone has qi and it flows throughout the human body. However, it might get blocked due to stress and illness. By massaging the pressure points on your feet, qi will keep on flowing and prevent your body from getting sick. 

Eventually, the concepts and discovered benefits of foot massage evolved. In 1582, Dr. William Fitzgerald founded “zone therapy”, an earlier version of reflexology. With zone therapy, he wrote that applying pressure on a specific point connected to your injury can relieve pain and stress.

His studies were expanded by Eunice Ingham. She discovered that feet reflexes are most responsive to touch. And so, she developed foot maps and reflexology charts. 

As of today, her charts are known as the Ingham Method of Reflexology and are still used by professional massage therapists.

Is Foot Massage Good for Your Health?

Massaging Your Feet Eases Muscle Pain and Speeds Up Recovery

Similar to other types of massage therapy, foot massage can relieve you of intense body aches. In a 2020 trial study, massage reduces the long-term muscle pain of ICU patients, its effects withstanding for more than a week. 

For this reason, foot massage is also effective in speeding up your body’s healing process. If your feet are sore from walking too long, a massage session can dispel all of that in just a few minutes. 

Massaging Your Feet Can Lower Blood Pressure

If you’re at risk of cardiovascular issues, look into getting a deep-tissue foot massage. It can stimulate tight pressure points and decrease blood pressure in your body. In a 2020 study, foot massage proved to be helpful for patients with stage-2 hypertension. 

Massaging Your Feet Fights Off Anxiety, Stress, and Depression

Whenever stress gets too much, it doesn’t only make you tense. It can also overload your mind and slow you down. So, the perfect way to de-stress is to receive a foot massage. 

In a 2017 comparison study, giving yourself a foot massage twice a week can significantly reduce levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Massage also helps you tolerate pain better, especially if you’re undergoing surgery. 

How to Massage Foot Pressure Points?

While it does provide a wide range of health benefits, a professional massage might be too heavy for your wallet. It also takes a lot of time and effort, since you have to go back and to your local massage therapist.

Fortunately, you can learn how to do a self-massage at home. And it’s not complicated. For starters, take a look at the foot reflexology chart below. 

This chart gives you a basic idea of which pressure points to focus on. Based on this, you can also figure out what kind of foot massage you need. Here are some massage techniques you can do right now.

Foot Massage for Easing Anxiety

1. Sit comfortably and curl up your toes.
2. Place your thumb on the space below your big toe. This stimulates the solar plexus which is connected to your fight-or-flight response. 
3. Gently support the top of your foot with your other hand.
4. With your thumb, massage the pressure point in small circles.

When you’re tired of using your hands, grab a massage tool such as the Hydragun. With 6 speed settings, it can knead your muscles quicker and deeper than your hands can. Try the Hydragun for 30 days and find out how effective it is at relieving foot pain.

Foot Massage for Relieving Plantar Fasciitis (foot) Pain

1. Sit in a comfortable position and get your massage gun.
2. Attach the ball or bullet head to the massage gun, then turn it on.
3. Let the massage gun glide under your foot.
4. When you feel a tight muscle, focus the massage gun on and around that spot until it softens.
5. Do this for at least 3 minutes. 

How to Give Yourself a Foot Massage?

Now that you know everything you need for a good self-massage, let’s go over some helpful tips and safety guidelines. 

Foot massage might seem like an easy task, but there are potential risks that you should consider. Before you do anything, make sure that your feet don’t have any open wounds, infections, or severe injuries. 

• During the massage, pay attention to the areas that hurt and feel good. 
• Don’t persist if the massage hurts too much.
• Be careful in using your thumbs or you might injure yourself. Use your body weight to apply more pressure, if you have to. 
• If your hands are too tired for this, get the Hydragun to do the massage for you. It has a 30-day risk-free guarantee, so you can try it out and see how you like it. 

On another note, if you’re pregnant, at risk of blood clots, or have a pre-existing health condition, check with your physician first to see if you’re okay with a foot massage. 

Don’t Let Foot Pain Drag You Down

A complete self-care routine should play from head to toe. Similar to how you might pay attention to your hands, hair, or face, your feet deserve a break as well.

Don’t wait until the pain gets worse and you get injured. A self-massage session every week or so can loosen up tight muscles and help your feet recover. Plus, it helps your mind fight against mental stress, anxiety, and depression.

If you’re too busy to manually knead your feet, check out the HYDRAGUN now and see how it can relieve your foot pain in less than 10 minutes. With a customer review rating of 99.7%, you’re guaranteed a relaxing massage like no other.