How to Give a Foot Massage

• by Darcy Logan

Introduction

• Feet tend to get the raw end of the deal. As essential as they are for keeping us upright and moving us around, they are often neglected and forced into painful footwear. Isn't it about time they get a little pampering? A good foot massage is one of the best way to pamper your feet. While it is always better to receive a foot massage, it can also be fun to give one—even to yourself.

• One word of warning, while a foot massage can seem a simple task, take special care when performing it on pregnant women. Foot massage has been known to cause contractions and induce labor.¹

Step 1: Gather What You'll Need

• Sure, a foot massage can always be an impromptu gesture. However, if you want to make the massage particularly enjoyable, there are a few things you want to gather such as:

A foot or pair of feet (obviously) A basin of warm to hot water Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) Towels Massage oil or lotion

Essential oils Comfortable socks or slippers Relaxing music Scented candles

Step 2: Prepare the Feet

• Preparing the feet before you start the massage will help ensure that the massage is relaxing for you and the recipient.

1. Make sure the feet are clean. This can be done by wiping the feet with a washcloth or by rinsing them off in the shower.
2. Prepare a basin of warm water. Add about 1/2 to 1 cup Epsom salts per gallon of water. Stir the water to dissolve the salts. The temperature of the water should be bathwater warm (comfortable for the recipient).
3. Soak the feet for about 5 to 15 minutes. The warm water combined with the Epsom salts will help the recipient relax and de-stress.²
4. Dry the feet thoroughly. Don't forget in-between the toes.

Step 3: Starting the Massage

• Now that the feet are clean, you're ready to begin the foot massage.

1. Have the recipient sit or lie in a comfortable position.
2. Lay a towel beneath your work area to catch any oil or lotion.
3. Make sure your hands are warm before starting the massage.
   • If they are not, rub them together a few times to heat them up.
4. Start by massaging the cream gently onto the whole foot, top and bottom.

General Foot Massage Tips

• Here are a few additional tips for a good foot massage:

1. Apply enough pressure to avoid tickling sensations.³
2. Use less pressure on the toes and inner center of the foot.⁴
3. A slow-moving massage is relaxing; a fast-moving massage is stimulating.³
4. Shake your hands occasionally to help avoid cramping.
5. Adjust the massage to fit the reaction of the person. Experiment with various techniques until you find one that they like.⁵
6. You should finish with one foot before moving onto the second foot.

Step 4: Massage Techniques

• The following is a list of massage techniques that are particularly good for the feet. While there is no particular order for them, stroking is a good technique to start and end the massage.

Stroking

• Stroking is a great technique to help warm up the foot and stimulate circulation.⁶ If the foot is properly warmed up, there is less chance of injury and the massage can be deeper.⁴

1. Start by holding the foot in your hands.
2. Massage the top of the foot with your thumbs starting at the toes and moving toward the ankle. Use a long, slow, firm stroke.
3. Work your way back to the toes.
4. Repeat this 3-5 times.
5. Then, repeat the entire process on the sole of the foot.
6. Be sure to start gently and gradually increase pressure.³

Ankle Rotation

• Rotating the foot at the ankle will loosen the joints and relax the feet.⁶

1. Cup one hand under the heel behind the ankle.
2. With your other hand, grasp the ball of the foot.
3. Slowly rotate the foot at the ankle 3 to 5 times clockwise.
4. Repeat counterclockwise.

Pivoting

• Pivoting is relaxing, especially if you vary the amount of pressure.⁷

1. Place your thumb on the sole of the foot below the big toe.
2. Gently apply pressure.
3. Roll your thumb back and forth.
4. Slowly lighten up on the pressure.
5. Proceed to the area beneath each toe and repeat.
   • This can be done all over the bottom of the foot.

Kneading

• Kneading a foot is a lot like kneading dough, except you need to remember that feet are not as pliable as dough.⁷

1. Using your fingertips and/or knuckles, knead the sole using large rotating points of pressure.
   • Pressure should be moderate.³
2. Next, make a fist and press your knuckles into the sole of the foot.
3. Slowly move from the heel to the toes. ⁴

Finger/Thumb Walking

• This technique is exactly how it sounds.

1. Using your thumbs or fingers, apply pressure to the foot in alternating spots on the foot.
2. Eventually, move across the entire surface of the foot.

Foot Stretch

1. Lightly grasp each side of the foot with your hands with the thumbs on the sole of the foot facing up.
2. Gently stretch the top of the foot while placing light pressure into the solar plexus (a spot about 1-2 inches below the second and third toes).⁸

Toe Circles

1. Grasp all the toes in one hand. Your thumb should be on the bottom and fingers on the top.
2. Gently rotate all the toes 3-5 times clockwise, then clockwise.⁹
3. Next, grasp one of the toes individually.
4. Gently rotate the toe clockwise 3-5 times, then counterclockwise.
5. Repeat this step with each toe.

Toe Pulls / Squeezes

1. Grasp the foot beneath the arch.
2. Using your other hand, grasp the big toe at the base with your thumb and index finger. The thumb should be on the top of the toe.⁶
3. Slowly pull the toe while sliding your fingers towards the top of the toe. Gently squeeze while you are pulling.⁴
4. Repeat on each toe.

Toe Slides

1. Insert your index finger between each toe.
2. Slide your finger back and forth three to five times.⁶

Toe Rolls

1. Roll each toe between your thumb and forefinger, starting with the big toe.
2. Gently slide your fingers from the base of the toe to the end while applying gentle pressure.
3. When you reach the end of the toe, gently squeeze. ³

Cupping

1. Cup the foot in your hands and squeeze.
2. Slowly move up and down the foot and repeat this procedure.⁴

• 
  How To Give A Stress Relieving Foot Massage

Step 5: Finishing the Massage

• When the massage is finished, wipe off any excess massage oil or lotion. Have the recipient slip on a pair of socks or slippers before moving around—remaining lotion on his/her feet can make them dangerously slippery. Of course, it's only fair that they now return the favor and give you a foot massage. If so, have them repeat steps 1-5.

Conclusion

• You don't have to have a foot fetish to enjoy giving or receiving a foot massage. A foot massage is a great way of showing someone how much you appreciate all the hard work that he/she has done for you. It is can also be a way of bring two people closer together. After all, you can always start with the feet and move your way up.

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References for How to Give a Foot Massage

1. ↑ Pregnancy Foot Massage: How to Foot Massage
2. ↑ Epsom Salt Council: Why it Works
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} WikiHow: How to Give a Foot Massage
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Learn Foot Massage: Foot Massage Techniques
5. ↑ Learn Foot Massage: How to Foot Massage
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Messages for Mom: Techniques of Foot Massage
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Dr. Foot: Foot Massage
8. ↑ Relaxing-Tranquility-Moments.com: Foot Massage Techniques
9. ↑ Ultimate-Cosmetics: How to give a Foot Massage? Learn foot massage techniques and tips  

How to Give a Foot Massage Videos

• Video: How to Give a Foot Massage Video Series
• Video: Foot Massage Techniques Video Series
• Video: Foot Massage Lesson (Time: 7:30)
• Video: Foot Massage (Time: 3:06)
• Video: Swedish Foot Massage (Time: 2:38)
• Video: Foot Massage (Time: 1:52)
• Video: Foot Massage Techniques(Time: 4:10)
• Video: How To Give A Stress Relieving Foot Massage (Time: 7:29)
• Video: Foot Massage Therapy Video 1 (Time: 2:03)

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