New Delhi: A foot massage can give you much-needed relief. But it doesn’t just feel good. foot massage can ease stress and perk you up. That’s a good thing because cutting stress and boosting energy raise the odds you’ll make healthy choices like exercising and eating right.
How to Give Yourself a Foot Massage
Step 1. Sit in a chair or on a bed, and put one of your feet on top of your opposite thigh. If you’d like, use a dollop of lotion or oil (like coconut or argan) to help your fingers move smoothly across your skin.
Step 2. Hold the front of your ankle with one hand. Then pinch the back of your ankle with the thumb and forefinger of your other hand and pull down toward your heel. This relaxes your Achilles tendon, which can get especially tight from exercise, standing for long periods of time, and wearing high heels.
Step 3. Use your thumb to make small circles from the bottom of your heel up to the base of each of your toes. You can also knead the bottom of your foot by pressing your knuckles into it. Or hold your foot with both hands and press your thumbs directly into the bottom of your foot, working from the heel up to just beneath your toes.
Step 4. Finish by rotating each toe lightly. When you’re all done, switch feet. If it hurts, use less pressure. If you feel sharp pain, stop right away. You can also use a drugstore massage device. Or try a foot roller. To use one, stand and hold onto a stable surface with one hand as you roll your foot over the device at a pressure that feels comfortable for you.
Here is a list of reasons to massage your foot on a regular basis.
1.Relieving Stress and Relaxing the Mind
One of the biggest benefits of foot massage is the relaxation aspect of it. While the primary places a person can feel stress is the neck, back, and shoulders, the foot is a location that’s overlooked unless they’re sore. It reduces stress and more relaxation after a 5-minute massage.
2. Prevent Injury and Faster Recovery
Sore feet can be relieved with a massage after a long day, but it can also help with injuries and serious joint pain. One of the most common injuries in the feet, especially for runners, is plantar fasciitis. This incredibly painful injury impacts the tendon that runs from the toe to the heel bone. Tightness in the area can lead to serious inflammation and the tearing of the tendon.
A foot massage can do much to prevent an injury as well as help a person recover from a painful injury to the foot, too.
3. Reduce Blood Pressure and Associated Health Risks
A serious condition like hypertension, or high blood pressure, can cause heart-related risks. People with hypertension have a high risk of heart attack and stroke.
To relieve this serious condition, many patients are asked to reduce their intake of sodium as well as increase the healthy foods in their diets. Along with diet changes, they’re told to reduce stress levels, which can be accomplished with a relaxing foot massage.
4. Restorative Sleep
Relief of insomnia and restless sleep is another benefit of having regular foot massages, especially those involving the art of reflexology. A foot massage before bed is relaxing and allows the person to prepare themselves for bed.
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