The name itself is enough to make anyone skeptical. Reflexology foot massager sounds like a cool innovation, but most products advertised as such often fail to live up to people’s expectations.
But do reflexology foot massagers really work? Or is it just a misnomer popularized by manufacturers to boost up their sales?
Let’s cut through all the crap and understand reflexology foot massagers for what they really are, warts and all.
What Is Foot Reflexology Massage?
In an ideal world, a foot reflexology massage is done by a therapist who has the knowledge and experience to do it. Some local spas give in-house training for their employees, while other massage therapists earn certifications on their own.
Reflexology is basically a type of foot massage with roots originating from traditional Chinese medicine. It’s almost as old as acupuncture and focuses on holistic therapy. It aims to restore the body’s overall health with a simple foot massage.
Also Read: How To Give A Foot Massage: 10 Tips For The Best Foot Rub Ever
In reflexology, a foot has different reflex zones or points. These specific areas are connected to different organs of the body through a rich network of nerve endings. Blockage in these reflex zones (or meridian points) means there’s an imbalance in the body’s energy flow (known as Chi) which then leads to a host of different health problems.
The goal of reflexology, therefore, is to remove these blockages and restore the body’s health and energy.
Reflexology foot massagers try to replicate this massage. They do this in a variety of ways. There are wooden rollers with prominent nubs which can stimulate specific parts of your feet. Electric-powered reflexology foot massagers, meanwhile, provide under-foot massage either through mechanical rollers or low-frequency electro-waves.
Although they’re more convenient, reflexology foot massagers won’t work as effectively unless you know which problematic areas of your feet need stimulation. This means you need a basic understanding of the foot map/chart and be prepared to move your feet around to get the most out of this device.
Benefits Of Reflexology Foot Massage.
Aside from restoring the Chi or the body’s energy flow, foot reflexology can also bring specific health benefits and healing, depending on which reflex zones you focus on.
For example, applying gentle pressure on reflex points corresponding to the lungs may improve respiratory functions while stimulating areas connected to spleen and lymphoid organs may help boost the immune system.
The following are some of the known benefits of reflexology:
*Improved blood circulation.
*Decreased stress and anxiety.
*Stronger immune system.
*Improved breathing and metabolic functions.
*Decreased pain and better sleep.
For a complete list of benefits and a more in-depth explanation for each, please read Reflexology Foot Massage Benefits.
Best Reflexology Foot Massager Review: Our Top Picks.
Here’s a list of the best reflexology foot massagers in the market with a very detailed product review for each. Take note that all of them focuses on stimulating the feet as a whole. If you want to massage specific areas, you’d need to move your feet around as you use the device.
The OTO Electro-Reflexologist ER-839S Foot Massager stands out because it uses low-frequency electro-waves instead of nubs or mechanical rollers. And unlike other foot massagers, it’s also designed to provide reflexology massage on the hands.
Whatever you choose, have a realistic expectation of a reflexology foot massager–it won’t do all the work for you.