About the Different Types of Foot Massages

The feet are the most overworked parts of our body. They bear the full burden of our weight day after day. We often enclose them in restrictive gear such as socks and sneakers or stockings and high heels. At the end of a long day, our feet deserve a little special treatment for the many ways they've been good to us. Foot massage is the best way to relax your mind and muscles and revive your feet. But where do you start? Foot massage is more than just rubbing tired feet. There are several types of foot massage, and you're sure to find one that will bring new life back to your feet.

History of

• Foot massage has been around as long as humans have. When muscles are sore, the first inclination is to rub them. For over 5,000 years, the Chinese have been using foot massage as a healing technique. In the 1900s, foot massage that involved pressure on reflex points became modern foot reflexology.

Type

• One of the types of foot massage is based on reflexology. This is also often called Chinese foot massage. In this type of foot massage, the massage is concentrated on certain pressure points. These pressure points relate to the energy flow between them and other parts of the body. As massage pressure is placed upon these reflex points, the energy is no longer blocked but can flow freely and relieve those parts of the body from pain, illness and disease. Chinese foot massage is as much about other parts of the body as it is the feet.
  Thai foot massage is similar to Chinese in that it pays attention to reflex points on the foot. In Thai foot massage, a stick, rather than hands, is often used to stimulate these points and free up energy flow.
  Hand massaging of the feet is not just about rubbing movements. Using the hands in foot massage involves pressure as well as rubbing. Rubbing is often used to warm up the feet and to stimulate circulation. Pressure is often applied in a foot massage by using the thumbs, fist or knuckles of the hand. The pressure works out tense and tight muscles to bring relief to the tendons and muscles in the foot.

Benefits

• The benefits of foot massage are more numerous than the different types. One of the main benefits is improved circulation. Foot massage stimulates blood and lymph system flow, which helps carry harmful wastes and toxins out of the body. Improved circulation also lowers blood pressure.
  A benefit experienced by everyone who experiences a foot massage is relaxation. It is a major stress-relieving technique. Numerous medical studies show that decreased stress levels improve the overall health of the body and mind.

Risk Factors

• There can be risk factors involved with foot massage. Basic reflex or pressure points on our feet correspond with other parts of our body. For example, certain areas of the foot, when massaged, stimulate the reproductive organs and can sometimes cause contractions in a female. If you are giving a foot massage to a pregnant woman, there are certain areas of the feet you must be careful to NOT massage, as it could put her into labor.
  Massage helps stimulate the circulatory system, so if someone is dealing with excessive bleeding from a wound, even in a different part of the body than the one being massaged, caution must be taken.

Expert Insight

• Because of the many subtle details that must be addressed when receiving a foot massage, it is important to go to a licensed massage therapist. Even if you long to do your own foot massages, you should consult a professional first and pay attention to massage techniques and types of massage.