Home LivingWellnessSleepFoot massages can help you sleep better, says researchHow having a foot massage before bed can help with sleep problemsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingWellnessSleepFoot massages can help you sleep better, says researchHow having a foot massage before bed can help with sleep problemsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
How having a foot massage before bed can help with sleep problems
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: cottonbro / Pexels)
(Image credit: cottonbro / Pexels)
Whether you’re out like a light as soon as your head hits the pillow or you find it hard to fall asleep, we’re all looking for ways to sleep better. Some people prefer listening tosleep podcastswhile others tryTikTok sleep hacks, but the answer could be even simpler than that: foot massages.
If you’re a fan of foot massages (let’s face it, who isn’t), having one before bed can help you sleep better, according to multiple studies. In arecent JAN studyreleased in May 2022, researchers looked into whether foot reflexology could help improve sleep disturbances for adults over the age of 18. The results found that foot reflexology improved overall sleep quality and those who participate in it regularly were also found to be less likely to have sleep problems going forward.
For those new to foot reflexology, it’s an alternative medical or therapeutic practice that involves applying pressure to specific points of the feet, ears and hands. Also known as zone therapy, stimulating pressure points can provide relief and help those who suffer with insomnia, according toHealthline.
While foot reflexology is typically done using massage techniques without the use of lotion, further studies have shown that using oils during foot massages can have a similar effect to helping us sleep. In aNational Library of Medicine studyconducted in 2020, researchers found that aroma foot massage using jojoba and lavender oil was an effective way of improving sleep quality and alleviating symptoms of constipation in adults over the age of 70.
(Image credit: Yan Krukov / Pexels)
(Image credit: Yan Krukov / Pexels)
For women in particular, foot massages are a brilliant way to calm symptoms and help with sleep. Women going through menopause while experience many symptoms like sleep disturbances and fatigue, and foot massages are believed to help ease this. In other ways, foot massages also help those suffering with menstrual cramps, and there’s also a specific pressure point in the foot that’s said to help induce labour.
So, next time you’re having trouble sleeping, why not treat yourself to a foot massage? Try using thebest foot massagers, go for something more luxurious with thebest foot spasor you can ask your partner to help you out. You can even do it yourself!
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How to give yourself a sleep-inducing foot massage
If you’re finding it hard to fall asleep, follow this self-massage tutorial. If you want to focus on specific pressure points, we recommend trying out acupressure, going to a masseuse or speaking to a doctor to determine which points are safe.
Working from your heel to your toe, press your thumbs up from the bottom of your foot to the top.
Now focusing on the toes, rub and squeeze each toe to alleviate pressure.
Moving down the foot, do the same to the ball and arch of your foot. You can do this in strokes or rubbing in circles.
Finish up at your heel and ankle, and follow the same steps. Repeat this routine as many times as is comfortable. After you’ve done that, switch to your other foot.
If you’re a massage fan, take a look at our guide to thebest massagersand check out thebest massage gunsfor workout-related pain relief.
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