Sometimes we get questions like the following about how a particular therapy, in this instance, massage therapy would treat a patient’s condition. Read on for our massage therapist’s response to a query about massage treatment for foot problems.
Could you send me some info on foot reflexology and Thai massage. I am having a great deal of trouble with my feet this winter and maybe one of the new massage treatments can help. I am not certain of my diagnosis.
Hi …,
Thanks for your interest in massage.
Massage is a wonderful way to help with pain or discomfort in the body, as it has positive effects on almost all body systems. It can be very effective in managing the symptoms of arthritis because during a massage the body releases endorphins which help to reduce the perception of pain. Both regular Swedish Therapeutic Massage and Thai Massage would be very beneficial for releasing muscle tension in the back, legs, and feet that could contribute to stiffness, or pain. Massage is beneficial for the joints as well, and keeping the joints of the ankles, feet, and toes as happy as possible is very important in the management of Arthritis.
Thai Massage is a type of body work that involves many different manipulations of the body, acupressure points, deep stretching, and passive movements. The massage helps to increase flexibility, release deep and superficial tensions in the body, and help the bodies energy flow more freely. This massage is done with loose comfortable clothes on, lying on a mat on the floor. I will be moving and stretching the body from head to toe in various yoga-like postures (gently, and within your comfortable limits), which is why Thai Massage is also known as “Lazy Mans Yoga” This treatment can be 1 hour, 1.5 hour or 2 hours.
Foot reflexology is an ancient therapy that uses points on the feet to promote the body’s own healing abilities and to help it regain balance. These points are reflex zones on the foot that correspond to organs or other parts of the body. With stimulation of each point, it helps the body clear any blockages in corresponding organs or body parts. The treatment does also include foot massage, which will help loosen the muscles of the foot and leg, stimulate blood and lymph flow, decrease stress and increase relaxation, which helps to reduce pain, and it very useful for easing arthritic pain. This treatment is performed with clothes on, pants rolled up to the knees and takes over 1 hour.
Each of these treatments would be tailored to your specific condition, so I would have to do an assessment to see which course of treatment would be best for you, and then we could go from there. But just for good measure, it is always good to chat with your doctor about any new symptoms or changes the body!
Feel free to book in for an appointment, looking forward to meeting you!
Sincerely,
Cheryl Staubitzer, RMT
