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Our feet are the foundation of our entire body. They bear the weight of the whole body at all times, even while we’re sitting down. They are in fact the hardest working part of the body, regardless of whether you have a sedentary or hectic lifestyle. Yes, a sedentary lifestyle can also cause foot fatigue.
Add poor footwear to the mix and the feet really bear the brunt of it all. Wearing supportive footwear every day would make a world of difference but how many of us really prioritize foot health over a pair of sexy heels? The result – cramped feet, sore knees, chronic back pain, and overwhelming fatigue.
Unfortunately, the feet are one of the most overlooked parts of our body. We tend to take them for granted. We spend hours pampering our face and hands, but completely ignore our feet. The fact is, showing our feet a little TLC can be hugely beneficial and it doesn’t take all that much time either.
A simple foot massage every now and then can make a world of a difference. It offers several benefits that go beyond relieving foot fatigue and pain. What’s more, it’s surprisingly easy to give yourself one and it doesn’t take too much time either.
Let’s first take a look at the benefits of a foot massage. As you scroll below you’ll see how easy it is to give yourself one and which is the best foot massage oil to use as well as a roundup of the top foot massage machines.
8 Foot Massage Benefits
1. Relieves Foot Fatigue
Any massaging action offers tremendous relief from pain and fatigue. Massaging the feet helps to relax the muscles and get the blood flowing in the lower extremities. Both of these actions work together to relieve foot fatigue and help you feel more relaxed.
Add 2-3 drops of any of these essential oils for sore muscles to your carrier oil to help to get faster relief from foot fatigue and soreness.
2. Lowers Stress Levels & Promotes Relaxation
Most of us think of a head, neck, or whole-body massage as a way to relieve stress, but a foot massage can be incredibly rewarding too, particularly after a long stressful day that involved being on your feet all the time.
Adding 2-3 drops of relaxing essential oils to your massage oil will promote faster stress relief and relaxation.
3. Promotes Better Sleep
When you massage your feet before bedtime, the relaxation responses you experience will make it easier to sleep. Sleep and stress relief are intrinsically intertwined. There’s no doubt that better sleep patterns lead to better stress management.
Get even better sleep by adding 2-3 drops of these deep sleep blends to your preferred carrier oil.
4. Improves Blood Circulation
A sedentary lifestyle can impede the proper flow of blood. Tight, pointed shoes and high heels add to the problem. A ten-minute massage at the end of the day can greatly improve blood circulation, particularly in the lower extremities. This is especially critical if you have diabetes.
This is beneficial for non-diabetic individuals too. Improved blood circulation transports oxygen to the various cells in the body more efficiently, which is essential for overall health.
5. Boosts Energy Levels
With blood circulating more efficiently through the body, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard to pass blood and other fluids to them. This helps to take some of the strain of functioning off your system, leaving you feeling more energetic.
6. Lowers Levels of Anxiety
A foot massage does more than help you feel more relaxed for the duration of the massage. It also helps lower anxiety levels. Several studies that were done showed that regular foot massages helped lower anxiety levels in menopausal women.
Adding a few drops of these essential oils to a carrier oil can increase the anxiety-relieving effectiveness of the foot massage.
7. Strengthens Feet And Lowers The Risk Of Foot & Ankle Injuries
A foot massage stimulates the muscles in the area and improves blood flow to the whole body. This reduces stiffness in the feet and ankles and helps them stay more flexible, lowering the risk of foot and ankle injuries.
8. Alleviates Edema During Pregnancy
Edema or swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. This is due to increased fluid retention in the lower extremities. Edema makes things even more difficult during this time.
A daily foot massage coupled with rest and the right diet is key to reducing the swelling and discomfort.
How To Give Yourself A Foot Massage
Getting a professional foot massage at a spa can feel incredibly soothing and relaxing but it can also be expensive and time-consuming. When you give yourself a foot massage at home you can enjoy the benefits without spending too much time or money.
All you need is a good massage or carrier oil to get started. The massage itself will take about 10 to 20 minutes.
This Marvelous Massage Oil is my favorite. It is formulated with an assortment of carrier oils, each of which contributes different benefits to the oil. When you use this massage oil, you get the benefits of multiple carrier oils, instead of just one oil.
Here’s how to give yourself a soothing, therapeutic foot massage at home:
Sit comfortably on a chair or your bed.
Bend one leg and rest the food on the opposite thigh.
Put a few drops of massage oil on your palm and gently rub the oil into your skin in a massaging motion. Start at the ankle and heel area and move onto the arch and heel.
Massage the foot for at least 5 minutes.
Keep adding a little more massage oil every few minutes as the oil gets soaked into the skin.
To relieve excessive fatigue and tiredness, give yourself a deeper massage by pressing the knuckles of your hand into your foot using a kneading motion or simply pressing your thumbs gently but firmly into your foot.
As you reach the toe area, gently pull the toes forward and backward to stretch the toe muscles. It’s surprising how much relief this provides.
Repeat the same process on the other foot.
Take Your Foot Massage to the Next Level with These Foot Massager Machines
From experience, I can tell you that some days even though your feet desperately need some TLC, you just feel too tired to give yourself one. On days like that, getting your feet kneaded by an electric foot massager can feel like sheer bliss.
Foot massagers are fully automated devices, unlike foam rollers and other equipment that you have to manually move around to massage your feet.
To use a foot massager, you simply slip your feet into the foot cradles, switch the device on, and sit back and relax while the machine does the rest. The built-in pulsating wave patterns under and at the sides of the cradle mimic the movements of a professional masseuse. Treating your feet to these massage movements improves blood flow and circulation, and restores strength and flexibility of the feet, providing tremendous relief after a long tiring day.
Most foot massage machines allow you to choose the type and intensity of massage you want, from light rolling massage to compression-style massages.
These are some of the best foot massage machines available on Amazon, shortlisted based on features, durability, cost, and user reviews.
Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager With Deep-Kneading, Multi-Level Settings, And Switchable Heat
Five air pressure settings, user-friendly adjustments, and two wireless remotes, all at a surprisingly reasonable price, make the Miko Shiatsu the best overall foot massager.
Slip your feet into the comfortable foot chambers and choose from gentle pressure, soothing vibrations, or deep kneading to soothe your feet at the end of a long day. The two independent foot compartments provide a soothing massage experience to all sides of your feet. The compartments contract and expand around your feet, creating a kneading sensation that mimics the actions used by a professional massage therapist.
The rolling nodes target pain points precisely, promoting healthy blood flow and relieving stress. At the same time, the warm soothing targeted heat increases the effectiveness of the massage by penetrating sore muscles, easing pain and tightness.
The wireless remote is an added convenience. It enables you to adjust all the settings and customize your massage experience without moving from your comfortable position to make adjustments.
Belmint Shiatsu Foot Massager
Best Foot Massager for Plantar Fasciitis
The Belmint Shiatsu Foot Massager offers a deep-kneading massage technique that provides relief to the deep tissues. This is the best foot massager to reduce plantar fasciitis pain and soothe tired muscles.
This foot massager is designed with six massage heads – three on each side. These massage heads have deep-kneading nodes that are very effective for working out the tension in your feet.
The built-in heat function keeps your feet feeling warm and cozy while also boosting the effectiveness of the massage. The auto-off timer shuts it down automatically after 20 minutes so you don’t overdo it.
The Belmint Shiatsu Foot Massager is thoughtfully designed. It is angled in a way that allows you to use it while sitting comfortably on a couch. You don’t have to sit upright on a chair like some other foot massagers.
Nekteck Shiatsu Heated Electric Kneading Foot Massager Machine
The Nekteck Shiatsu Foot Massager is the best mid-priced foot massager. With over 16,700 reviews on Amazon, you know you can’t go wrong.
It’s packed with useful features and is an absolute steal at less than $55.
The massager has 6 massage heads and 18 rotating massager nodes that work together to relieve tension, relax muscles, and boost blood flow.
The device has an infrared heat function that helps to reduce foot pain and soothe fatigued muscles. It offers effective relief from the pain of plantar fasciitis.
The height is adjustable to three levels to suit your personal preference.
The Nekteck Foot Massager is portable and easy to operate. You can access the power button and also set or adjust the mode with your toe. No need to bend down in the middle of a soothing massage to make any adjustments. The carry handle makes it easy to carry around anywhere you go. It’s perfect to use at home or in your office.
Many users have attested to the fact that this foot massager offers a deep rolling massage that mimics the hand and finger movements of a professional masseuse. To get that experience at a fraction of a price makes the Nekteck Shiatsu Foot Massager totally worth it.
Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager
This is the most expensive foot massage machine on this list, but going by more than 7,800 user reviews, it seems to be well worth the price.
The Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager features multiple settings for air compression pressure, heat, and vibration. This allows you to customize the massage for maximum relief.
The pulsating motion of the device targets pressure points on the sides and bottom of your feet to reduce tightness, while the heat function relieves tension.
What most users love about the Cloud Shiatsu Foot Massager is its large roomy design that massages more than just the foot area. It also works the ankles, calves, and legs for all-over relief.
Another convenient feature is the adjustable far that allows you to set the angle of the machine for optimum comfort depending on your seating position rather than the other way round.
HoMedics Triple Action Shiatsu Foot Massager with Heat
At less than $60, this is the best budget foot massager with more than 2,650 positive reviews on Amazon.
The HoMedics Triple Action Shiatsu Foot Massager promises a deep kneading experience and that’s exactly what you get. The triple rotational heads deliver a circular kneading shiatsu massage from toe to heel, soothing tired arches and soles.
The heat function is optional but can really ramp up your massage by penetrating tired muscles and stimulating blood flow for faster, deeper relief. The breathable fabric helps your feet stay dry and prevents them from getting overheated.
With its integrated controls, you can adjust the settings with your toe while still sitting back on the couch. This is fantastic as you can customize your foot massage midway without the hassle of bending over or getting off your relaxed position.
The HoMedics has a large platform that easily accommodates larger feet without feeling cramped.
You may also be interested in:
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Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before using any natural medication or if you experience any unusual symptoms. See Full Disclaimer here.
