They literally carry us through the day, withstanding hundreds of pounds of pressure. Each time your heel lifts off the ground when walking, it forces the toes to carry one half of your body weight. While research and studies often focus on how much we sit all day, there’s no denying that we also walk and stand a lot. The average person will walk around 115,000 miles in a lifetime — the equivalent of four times around the Earth! Just like your other muscles and joints, your feet will benefit from massage. Foot massage in the form of reflexology dates back over 5,000 years to ancient practices and was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s. The practice of reflexology requires pressure to be applied to your feet to create a physical change in your body. Pressure placement is varied according to the complex zones and reflex areas in your feet that are in tune with other parts of your body.
A Quick Look At Our Top Foot Massage Machines
In a hurry to find the best foot massager for your needs? Don’t have time to read the entire foot massager review? Here’s a handy table that’ll give quick look at our top choices!
Benefits of Foot Massage
Getting a foot massage, whether you are giving it to yourself or getting it from a professional, has many health benefits. Here are a few of them:
1. Stress Relief
Massage is known to be relaxing, but did you know that a foot massage can be just as effective at reducing your stress as a back or neck massage? Research has shown that people with stressful and demanding jobs had lower levels of stress and improved moods after receiving a ten-minute foot massage. Research has also shown that a five-minute foot massage can relax patients who are in critical care and bring emotional comfort to people who are grieving the death of a family member.
2. Improve Your Sleep
Reflexology can help you overcome disrupted sleeping patterns and insomnia. By massaging your feet before going to sleep, you can become more relaxed and let go of any built-up tension. The best places to massage on your feet for improved sleep are beneath the ball of your foot and the area between your big toe and the next toe.
3. Natural Pain Reliever
Getting a foot massage can reduce pain in other areas of your body too. Research has shown that patients just out of surgery had more pain relief after a foot massage than patients who were only given medication by itself.
Getting a foot massage can reduce pain in other areas of your body. Studies have also shown that women who had a C-section reported having less pain after receiving a foot massage than women who did not have a massage.
4. Decrease Tension
About 40 million adults in the United States have anxiety disorders, making it an extremely common mental health problem. Natural remedies such as foot massages have proven to be very effective. In controlled studies, foot massage has been able to reduce anxiety by up to 50%.
5. Injury Recovery
Massaging your feet can help reduce joint and muscle pain and speed up the recovery process following an injury. It can also help reduce your chances of developing common injuries like plantar fasciitis.
6. Decrease Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a serious health condition that can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease. While the most common way to lower high blood pressure is to change your diet and exercise, regularly massaging your feet is also effective. Research has shown that hypertensive patients who received reflexology treatments had improvement in their symptoms to the point that they were able to reduce their high blood pressure medications.
7. Improve Circulation
Because we are often sitting, our blood circulation is frequently impaired. If you ever feel like your feet are cold or numb, give them a massage to improve the circulation.
Getting a foot massage has many health benefits.
Types of Foot Massage Machines
Sure, if you are in a pinch you can give yourself a foot massage. But it’s probably more effective and convenient to have it done for you. A foot massage machine can give you these health benefits while you just sit back and relax. There is a wide range of foot massagers you can buy, each having its own benefits.
Electric
Electric foot massage machines are a great way to be able to massage your feet at home with more pressure and power than you could do with your hands. Most electric massage machines have rollers that rotate quickly, putting pressure on common pain points of the feet. Electric foot massage machines in several styles, with some being much bigger than others. Electric foot massage machines may also incorporate water, heat, and oxygen bubbles to induce further relaxation. This type of foot massager is great if you want to be able to sit back after a long day and not have to do any of the work. These foot massage machines are typically very powerful and apply strong pressure, which is some people’s preference. However, they usually come with a higher price tag than other types.
Manual
If you are looking for a more traditional way to massage your feet, manual foot massagers may be right for you. These are typically made of wood and can be very effective at relaxing sore feet and treating injuries such as plantar fasciitis. With a manual foot massager, the user is in control of the pressure, and unique protrusions give the user deeper stimulation. These simple foot massagers are beneficial and cost a fraction of the price of electric massagers. However, they do require you to do some of the work.
Hand-held
Smaller foot massagers that are hand-held can be useful if you like to control how much and where the pressure is put on your feet. When choosing this type of foot massage machine, there are a variety of options in terms of your budget and preference. Also, hand-held massagers are available in both electric and manual models. With these foot massagers, you can determine the area you want to massage and have access to the areas that need the most relief. These foot massage machines are small, so they are easy to take on a trip or keep in your handbag. These massagers are also useful if you have tense muscles in other parts of your body because they can be used anywhere.
Slippers
Foot slippers are great if you need relief for your feet but don’t want to sit still. Massage slippers are acupressure shoes that apply pressure to certain areas of your foot to release tension and relax the feet. The stimulation offered by these slippers is meant to go beyond the feet and benefit your ankles, calves, and overall circulation.
Pad
Foot massage pads are great for people who suffer from low circulation. These pads use oscillating technology with a large surface designed to target specific pressure points to stimulate circulation. Most foot massage pads have several speed settings and come with different modes to best soothe your feet. Because these pads oscillate at high speeds, they crease some amount of noise. However, because they are simple, you can keep these on at your desk, making them a quick and easy solution to relax your feet.
Chair
If you want to have the ultimate massage experience at home, a massage chair might be your best choice. Massage chairs are intended to replicate the motions and techniques of a traditional massage through rollers, which often give off relaxing heat as well. While they are expensive, chairs offer more functions and benefits than smaller devices. People who suffer from specific foot issues may not find a need for an entire massage chair.
Are there any possible side effects to using one of these foot massage machines?
It is rare to experience negative side effects after getting a foot massage. However, some people experience flu-like symptoms after a foot massage releases toxins from the body. Others may feel tired or have a headache or become nauseous. If your foot massage is a bit too firm, you may feel sensitivity in your feet. However, these side effects should go away overnight. There are a few instances where you should contact your doctor prior to using a massager. Be sure to ask your doctor before using a massager if you are pregnant, diabetic, wear a pacemaker, breastfeeding, or have a history of developing blood clots. Once you identify your needs, you will be able to pick out which kind of foot massage machine is best for you.
Review of 5 of The Best Foot Massage Machines:
1. MARNUR Foot Massager Shiatsu Deep Kneading Massage with Heat Rolling and Air Compression for Home Office
This is a great product to help relieve tension and foot pain. It has a heating function that can help warm up your feet to further relax the muscles and give you a deep massage. It comes with three massage modes and uses a 15-minute timer that automatically turns it off after each use. You can remove the cover of this machine so it can be washed, and it is small enough to be easily stored under most couches when it is not being used.
2. Belmint Shiatsu Foot Massager with Switchable Heat Function, Delivers Deep-Kneading Massage Relief for Tired Muscles and Plantar Fasciitis
This portable foot massage machine allows the user to get the benefits of a professional-quality massage without the expense of having to go to a spa. The machine can easily be set up wherever the user would like and it can be turned on with a single-tap toe control. This compact machine has three levels of intensity to relax the user’s feet. This machine also allows you to change settings by pressing the buttons with your feet. You can turn on the heater, change the pressure, alter the setting, or turn it on without having to get up.
3. Shiatsu Foot Massager for Painful Plantar Fasciitis, Chronic and Nerve Pain
This foot massage machine offers 18 massage nodes that hit the important pressure points in your feet to offer the most relaxation. It comes with an optional heating feature and has an auto-shutoff that kicks in after 20 minutes of use. This pad can be taken anywhere, making it easy to use under your desk or in front of the television. With a large on and off switch, it is perfect for people of any age.
4. Homedics FMS-270H Deep Kneading Shiatsu Foot Massager
The large platform design is great for almost any size foot, and this product comes with toe-touch controls that make it easy for the user to change functions. This foot massage machine comes with optional heat to give a more intense massage. It has triple rotational heads to ensure your massage is complete, and it gives users a lifelike massage experience.
5. MedMassager MMF06 11 Speed Foot Massager
This powerful electric foot massager comes with 11 speeds, varying from 1,000-3,700 rpm. It is a full-sized foot pad and includes an arch bar and special surface that targets important pressure points. It is great for increasing blood circulation and reducing tension in the feet and ankles. With reliable construction, this product is very durable and can be used by many people. It comes complete with a kit so it can also be used on hardwood or tile floors. Depending on your needs, any of these options are great for a relaxing and rejuvenating foot massage. You may want to try a couple out before committing to a certain type of massager to see which works best for you. These are all durable options that are effective and cost-efficient.
Did you find any value from this list of the best foot massagers?
I hope you’ll use our review of foot massagers to make a good choice. Which foot massage machine features did you like the best? Would you be willing to send out some love to your friends and family? Please share our list of foot massagers on your preferred social media platform.
