We get feet to ache even at an early age because our feet bear the weight of our bodies. We stand, walk, run and depend on our feet for most of the day. There are plenty of issues if we do not take care of our feet properly. For this purpose, a foot massage helps you to be fresh and healthy. The foot massage helps you to reduce blood pressure, improve balance, release endorphins, and also assists with mental health problems.
Working of Foot Massage
Foot massage consists of several components that are physical aspects of manipulation and massage of muscles. It provides you the therapeutic effect. Also, it increases lymphatic drainage. Lymphatic drainage is the process of filtration or drainage of fluid from the blood before going back to the circulatory system. It also helps to reduce the pain of local joints and increases blood flow. Studies have shown that it reduces pain and helps to fight anxiety and depression.
There are various types of massage, that can be done at home or you can visit the foot spas. Besides, you can buy foot massagers to give yourself a foot massage.
Health Benefits of a Foot Massage
Increases Endorphins
Endorphins are good for us. Eating chocolate or doing an exercise, increases the endorphins. They are happy hormones. They rob the discomfort and pain out of us leaving us happy. Studies have shown that there has been a positive impact of foot massage on the number of subjects in which it increases the endorphins. After the foot massage, they have calm, less pain and stress. It helped them to manage their anxiety and depression.
In a foot or tissue massage, the endorphins are activated which circulate in our body and brain while endorsing muscle relaxation, happiness, and decrease in pain.
Activates the Parts of Brain Associated with Pain Control and Reward
Studies have shown that healthy adults were scanned under an MRI before they got the foot massage. After getting the foot massage, the brain activates the centers related to pain and reward. It helps them to be calm and decrease the pain or stress. Foot massage also activates the parts of the cingulate cortex with three different types of foot massage such as Swedish, massage with an object, and reflexology massage.
The cingulate cortex is responsible for the moderation of pain, association of external events, memory, and emotions. Thus, foot massage actives this part of the brain and modifies the response to pain and reward.
Affects Cortisol Level and Stress
Foot massage influences cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone. All sorts of havoc in our bodies such as blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety. Foot massage decreases stress levels. It helps people to go about their days without worry. Foot massage does not only help the adults but also healthy undergraduate students having stress. Women going through postpartum depression can also be cured through foot massage. It significantly decreases stress hormones.
Decreases Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting result because of an upset stomach. Nausea, morning sickness, and vomiting are experienced by people in pain and stress. Activation of the Vagus nerve triggers nausea and vomiting. Also, you experience motion sickness because of your inner upset ear. The activation of dopamine receptors is related to stress. The foot massage does not help your inner ear but there is some theorization in studies that the foot massage affects the Vagus nerve and dopamine receptors.
Vomiting, especially if chronic, causes a multitude of secondary problems. It includes ion imbalances and dehydration. Nausea and vomiting can cause significant issues if they are left unchecked.
Foot Massage and Reflexology
It is a specific type of foot massage based on reflexology. Reflexology is the concept of massaging feet and hands. Masseuse influences the parts of your body. In foot massage, it influences the central nervous system. The energy flows through the body pointing out the problems in the flow. It can return the body to a resting state. Anecdotal evidence in reflexology increases circulation and lymphatic drainage.
The circulation and lymphatic work together to maintain the water balance in the body. It helps to filer the fluid in the body and to protect against the disease. It helps to house the white blood cells all over the body as per requirement.
Helps to Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular disease comes from blood pressure if it is high or low. A higher blood pressure makes the heart work harder, which results in increasing the stress and strain of the cardiovascular disease. Every 20 milligrams of mercury above a systolic pressure of 115mmHG increases or doubles the risk of heart disease. Lymphatic system and circulation related to the blood volume. As mentioned above, foot massage increases blood circulation and enhances the lymphatic system.
The foot massage is having a positive impact on blood pressure. A foot massage can be used in conjunction with its stress-bursting abilities that help to control the blood pressure and decreases the risk of heart disease.
Helps to Maintain A Healthy Heart Rate
Heart rate is tied to the function of the heart same as blood pressure. If you are having faster heartbeats, then several things can occur. In critical conditions, the heart does not get filled with blood enough to circulate it to other parts of the body. If you are in less critical condition, a sustained heart rate can increase anxiety, chest pain, and dizziness.
Foot massage is having a significant effect on heart rate. The heart rate becomes stable and gives obvious benefits in all kinds of conditions. It removes the stress and the heart does not have to work hard that increases the risk of heart disease.
Helps to Maintain the Balance
Balance is something that people don’t think about it as a skill when don’t possess it. Balance affects people’s ability to stand, walk, or participate. The two components balance the human body; the inner ear and balancing mechanical parts. Foot massage helps to assist the balancing mechanical parts. If you are diabetic and you have lost balance, foot massage can significantly enhance the balance.
Lack of balance is evident in elderly people, especially in those who are having osteoarthritis. The foot massage effect the pain associated with arthritis and enhances balance. It acts as a multi-benefit therapy that controls mobility and relieves the pain.
Benefits the Skin of Feet
As the foot massage increases the blood circulation in your body, it also benefits the skin on your feet. The skin of the feet does not seem to be as important as the skin on your face, but feet are also the part of your body same as hands. You wear shoes and force your feet to be in uncomfortable shoes, sometimes you walk barefoot and women put pressure on their soles by wearing heels for hours.
Foot massage increases the blood flow in the connective tissue below the skin and also the temperature. If your feet are swelling, the foot massage can cure it by circulating the blood. Swelling in your feet is medically known as oedema which results from an imbalance in water drainage. A foot massage can also decrease the appearance of scarring.
Verdict
Apart from relaxation and stress relief, there are various health benefits of getting a foot massage. One should get a foot massage often to gain the health benefits for your whole body.