Foot massage has become increasingly popular in recent years, although it is not a new phenomenon. Foot massage has been part of Chinese medicine for about 5,000 years, although it is relatively modern in western medicine. Foot massage is more than just about rubbing the foot however, and there are a variety of techniques and styles, both western and eastern that are designed both to massage the foot and also to provide relief to other parts of the body.

Chinese Foot Massage – the principles of Chinese foot massage are rooted firmly in acupuncture and reflexology, Chinese medicine sees the many parts of the body being linked, and so foot massage is not just about the foot, but about stimulating the parts of the foot which link to energy centers all over the human body. Chinese foot massage therefore often involves finding the appropriate pressure points in the feet which relate to these other parts of the body, and in fact such a foot massage may have its goal the alleviation of pain or stress in another body part rather than the foot itself. Chinese foot massage may also be used along with other elements of herbal medicine.

Thai Foot Massage – unsurprisingly this is similar to Chinese foot massage. Thai foot massage involves not just the feet but also the lower legs, also on the principle of the linked parts of the body and the energy lines that can be found in the feet and lower legs, such massage acting as a way of releasing the energy outwards. Thai foot massage is not exclusively Thai however, and has picked up Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Indian elements, which is not uncommon in the Far East.

Chinese and Thai foot massage sessions will often be up to an hour in length.

As well as those particular schools of massage, there are various massage techniques involved in foot massage. Perhaps the most common of these techniques is stroking. This is exactly what it sounds like. During stroking, parts of the foot are gently stroked in order to encourage the flow of blood through the foot by stimulation. Usually the whole foot is stimulated this way in a systematic manner, which warms the foot up and prepares it for the deeper massage that is to follow. Stroking is also a very good way in which to finish a foot massage, as a form of warm-down.

Once the foot is warmed up, a series of rotations can then be performed -on the ankles and toes of the foot, rotating the joints to keep them supple and active. As well as rotating the toes, they can be gently (repeat gently!) pulled and squeezed to help them in their movement. Although we use our feet often, this type of massage is a very effective form of exercise in keeping the joints of our feet active. These can be particularly useful forms of massage for anyone suffering from arthritis, although it is very important to ‘warm up’ the foot first with other massage exercises before going into rotations.

There are many other ways of foot massage and various other techniques that can be used in massaging the foot, both for the sake of the foot and of the body, but those mentioned above will give you an introduction into some of the most common and popular methods available.