What is a foot massagers?
Have you ever visited a reflexologist and experienced the small miracles the reflexologist can perform for aching, tired and sore feet? You can have the same experience with a foot massagers, without even getting off the couch.
A foot massagers is a bit like a foot bath – an oval box that you place your feet on or in. Some models are a combination of a footbath and a foot massager, where you immerse your feet in water while the machine massages your feet. Others are waterless and, depending on the type and model you choose, will stimulate the reflex zones of the soles of your feet in different ways.
What’s common to both models is that you get massaged away the tiredness and soreness after a long day on your feet or after sports or exercise that have taken a bit of a toll on your feet.
What does foot massage actually do for you?
The condition of your feet actually has a big impact on your daily well-being. Probably a lot more than you think. Sore, heavy and tired feet can cause you to walk differently than usual and can easily cause pain elsewhere in your body – mainly affecting your back and lower back.
A good foot massage can do wonders for your feet, but also for your general wellbeing. It helps to relieve tension in both connective tissue and muscles. It also increases blood circulation, allowing your body to get rid of unnecessary waste products that have built up.
In fact, you’re putting up to 700 tonnes of strain on your feet – every single day. No wonder they can get tired, sore and overworked. Painful and sore feet should in no way fill your everyday life. A foot massager is not about such a miracle cure that instantly removes your pain, but foot massage can, for example:
- Provide fresh and pain-free feet
- Reduce stress
- Provide better night sleep
- Minimize or eliminate back and lower back pain
- Eliminate or reduce tension headaches
As with any massage, it’s important to be relaxed when massaging your feet – the massage will have a much greater effect. So find a good spot at home where you can really relax your whole body. Put some cushions on your back if you need them, or whatever you need to make sure you’re completely relaxed.
Foot massage with water or without water – which should I choose?
Generally, there are 2 different types of foot massagers – namely those with water and those without water. Which type is best is mainly about your wants and needs.
Some love the frequent foot baths, which can help loosen calluses on the feet and make nail clipping easier. All else being equal, a foot massager with water will help give you well-groomed feet and nails, while allowing you to give your feet a much-needed foot massage using the spa feature, which gives you bubbles and vibrations that are both relaxing and soothing. It almost feels like a good pedicure at a clinic.
If you’re in control of your pedicure, but need an effective machine to give your feet an effective and efficient massage, a waterless foot massager is the one to look at. It’s not just about well-being and self-indulgence, but also about getting your feet back in tip-top shape so you’re ready for a new day’s challenges.
As a rule, a foot massager without water is equipped with more massage functions and options than a machine with water is.
The 6 most used massage functions – how they work
Before you decide on your best foot massager, it might be a good idea to learn a little more about the different massage functions. They can be crucial in choosing the best foot massager for your needs.
Here is a brief introduction to the 6 massage functions that are the most commonly used in the many different machines. You’ll be well equipped to find the machine that meets all your needs.
- Shiatsu massage
This form of massage originated in Japan. In its original form, it involves pressure and rotating movements on selected points. It is very similar to the pressure used by a reflexologist to massage the feet. With the Shiatsu function, you loosen up tight and sore muscles in your feet. In addition, Shiatsu massage is known to stimulate, balance and cleanse the body. It gives you increased vitality. - Vibration massage
This option gives you vibrations of varying strength. Small vibrations that help to loosen up and give your feet a feeling of well-being and relaxation. It can be absolutely eminent if, for example, you have spent the day or evening in higher heels than you are used to. - Spamassage
Spamassage is related to water – this is the kind of massage you get if you choose a foot massager with water. Here you get the same bubbles that you know from a regular hot tub. The small nozzles in the machine, give a good pressure on the water, which in turn gives you gentle and targeted massage. - Infrared light therapy
Infrared heat is heat that penetrates the muscles and causes them to loosen up.In addition, the infrared heat helps to enable your body to get rid of accumulated waste products. - Heat function
With the regular heating function you get in a foot massager, you can warm up cold feet and joints. This can be beneficial if you suffer from arthritis or have weak or previously injured joints – or just generally always have cold feet. - Air Compression
Compression massage is done by creating a vacuum around the feet and ankles. This gets the blood flowing and the lymph glands working. Air compression works in much the same way as a compression stocking, removing swelling and oedema in the feet, ankles and lower legs.
4 conditions where a foot massager can relieve discomfort
In fact, an appropriate foot massage machine can help improve symptoms and discomfort in some chronic conditions. It cannot cure your ailment or replace any medication you may be taking. But it can give you relief and reduce your pain or your other symptoms and discomforts.
Often features such as air compression, infrared light therapy and heat can provide relief and relief.
- Diabetes
Whether you suffer from type 1 or type 2 diabetes, a diabetes diagnosis often takes a toll on your feet. It can mean pain in your toes in particular, and at the same time it usually means that after a while you won’t feel quite the same pain or irritation in your feet. - Restless legs
Also called “restless leg syndrome” and felt mostly when you are at rest. Then it can be hard to find peace in your legs and feet – it can affect your relaxation, your night’s sleep and your general well-being. - Reduced circulation
If you suffer from poor circulation, it is often noticeable when your legs, ankles and feet swell if you sit very still. Not only can swelling and oedema in the legs, ankles and feet feel uncomfortable – it can also be downright dangerous. - Arthritis and joint pain
It can be hard to find an effective remedy to take the edge off the pain that comes with having arthritis. At least when it doesn’t have to be medication. That’s where a foot massage machine can provide relief – even if your joint pain stems from an injury or a previous fracture.
It may be quite sensible to have a chat with your doctor about the factors you need to be aware of in relation to your condition. Then you can be sure you’ll end up with a foot massager that meets just the needs that can help make your everyday life a little easier and less painful.
Are you pregnant? – relieve stress with foot massage
Fortunately, pregnancy is not exactly an affliction, but rather a joyous event. But it’s still a whole 9 months of your body getting heavier and heavier and your baby putting pressure on your internal organs.
When your weight increases, well, so do your feet, which have to carry the extra weight. And as your baby gets bigger and bigger, your body often starts to accumulate fluid, which can make life as a very pregnant woman a bit of a challenge.
This is where a foot massager can provide relief and a relaxing foot massage throughout your pregnancy. With no need to book an appointment with a podiatrist or reflexologist – just get your foot massager out and sit comfortably on the sofa with a good book or your favourite film on the TV.
Even after you’ve given birth, your foot massager can help make your new life a little less stressful.
How to take good care of your feet – 5 tips you shouldn’t forget
Many of the ailments we experience from time to time – both in our feet and in other parts of our body, we can actually do something about. Based on our feet, here are 5 tips to keep your feet in top condition and avoid the problems that actually stem from your feet.
- Choose footwear that fits your feet
It’s important to choose footwear that fits your feet – both in length and width. Otherwise you risk your shoes being too small, too big, too narrow or too wide. None of these things are good for your feet and legs. It’s also worth knowing your foot position and whether you have any underlying foot problems, such as fallen arches or flat feet. - Check your feet for calluses and ingrown nails
Hard skin and ingrown nails can be signs that you’re either wearing the wrong footwear or that you need to visit a podiatrist. That’s because as we get older, our feet can change and collapse a bit. - Watch out for muscle knots and corns
Corns or muscle knots can also be a sign that your feet aren’t in tiptop condition. Both hurt, so they’re not easy to ignore – and you definitely shouldn’t either, because they rarely go away on their own. - Do foot exercises regularly
There are many exercises that you can easily do for your feet. From picking things up with your toes, alternating toe walk and heel walk, to a long barefoot walk on the beach. All of which help to strengthen the muscles in your feet, improving your overall wellbeing. - Massage your feet in a foot massage machine
Of course, you can also book an appointment with your therapist or masseur – but this option takes time and costs you every time you go. With the best foot massage machine, you can massage feet whenever you have time – and even in the privacy of your own home, while watching the news or reading a bedtime story to junior. It’s easy, convenient and super optimal – when you don’t want to spend precious family time visiting the masseur.
Be aware of changes in your feet. Often, it’s the feet that show the first signs of an underlying disease.
How to choose the best foot massager for your feet
I have chosen to focus on the 3 factors that can influence how happy you will be with your choice of foot massager. In fact, they can ensure that you don’t get tired of the machine before you get to use it properly.
- Features
This factor is almost self-written. And if you’ve read the article here, you’re already well informed about the different features you can find in the various foot massagers. Choose a machine with the features you’ve chosen for your feet. - Size
Size is also a factor to keep in mind. You’ll obviously need space to store it in a cupboard when not in use. Then, of course, it also matters whether you want to be able to take the machine with you to the cottage or perhaps to work. Find a machine that’s the right size and weight for your needs. - Cleaning
A machine that is difficult to clean is often left in the cupboard instead of being used. Although the vast majority of manufacturers focus precisely on making the foot massage machine easy and quick to clean, it’s good to keep the machine’s ease of cleaning in mind when choosing the foot massager to use in your home.
Once you’ve been around all the factors above, it’s much easier to look at the selection and decide on the foot massage machine that meets all your needs – and maybe even a little more than that. Then you can be sure that the machine will be used and that you will always be in control of the well-being and health of your feet.