The Benefits of a Foot Massage for Arthritis
There are lots of different ways in which help is available to alleviate the pain and discomfort cause by arthritis.
And massaging the feet is just one of them
According to arthritis.org research shows that regular massage can help with arthritis symptoms by easing stiff muscles, increasing the range of movement and reducing pain. A good massage can lower how much of the neurotransmitter substance P (which can increase sensations of pain) our bodies produce.
Our feet have more nerve endings (per square inch) than any other part of the body, allowing them to sense pain, temperature, make sense of different surfaces and more. Our feet even contain nerves that can signal to our brain to reduce the pain. To trigger these nerves, we need to apply moderate pressure while massaging. You don’t even need to do a foot massage for too long if you are short on time. Even five minutes can make a difference.
How to give a foot massage
- Put a small amount warm lotion or oil in your hand and smooth over the foot. If you are giving the foot massage to alleviate arthritis symptoms, then a few drops of H-Arthritis Formula would be ideal.
- Firmly hold the foot with both hands. Rub the top of the foot using a firm motion with your thumbs. Start at the tip of each toe and move slowly all the way up to the ankle. Move back towards the toes and rub with a lighter stroke. This step can be repeated 2 or more times.
- Continue to hold the foot with both hands and move your thumbs to the bottom of the foot. Rub the bottom of the foot. Start at the tip of each toe and move your thumbs firmly towards the heel. Go back in the direction of the toes and rub the bottom of the foot with your thumbs. This step can be repeated 2 or more times.
- Repeat the above steps on the other foot.
Other ways to help relieve arthritis symptoms
- You may be worried about the level of exercise (if any) that you can safely carry out when you have arthritis. In this post, we share some of the ten different ways that can help you to decide what you can do to get moving.
- One of the best ways of exercising with arthritis is yoga. This is because yoga is associated with a wide range of physical and psychological benefits that can be especially helpful for anyone living with a chronic illness such as arthritis.
- Another is swimming. A heated all-weather indoor pool is ideal for the arthritis sufferer as the warmer the water, the more the joints can loosen up. Those with arthritis receive greater health benefits from participating in hydrotherapy, swimming or just gently exercising in water than any other activities. This is because water-based exercise improves the use of those affected joints and decreases pain (whichever type of arthritis) by putting the body through a broad range of motion that helps joints and ligaments stay loose and flexible. Find out more about the benefits of swimming for arthritis sufferers.
- Fish consumption has been noted to have many beneficial health effects for those with arthritis along with turmeric and flax seed oil.Â
- Apart from the fish above, there are several healthy foods to include in our diets to combat arthritis including extra virgin olive oil, broccoli, green tea, citrus fruits, beans (including red beans, kidney beans and pinto beans, cherries and nuts.
Regular and daily use of our own H-Arthritis Formula. This natural product (when applied topically) can provide rapid relief from arthritis pain and even help to prevent arthritis symptoms.
Sources
Conti V, et al. (2015). High prevalence of gluten sensitivity in a cohort of patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease.
researchgate.net/publication/273700262_High_prevalence_of_gluten_sensitivity_in_a_cohort_of_patients_with_undifferentiated_connective_tissue_disease (Accessed, Feb 10, 2021)
Ferri FF. Rheumatoid arthritis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2019. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. (Accessed Feb 10, 2021).
Deveza LA. Overview of the management of osteoarthritis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. (Accessed Feb 10, 2021).
Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.