Foot Massage

Put your best foot forward. When you’ve been on your feet all day, a foot rub can help revitalise and relax tired tootsies so you can slip straight back into those stilettos without a pang of pain.

How it works

Not to be confused with reflexology (which applies pressure to certain points of the foot in order to relieve specific symptoms elsewhere in the body), foot massages are for relaxation purposes only.

Clamped in shoes and socks every day, with little or no air contact, it’s no wonder the feet are sometimes considered to be the forgotten territory. And when you’ve spent hours on end pounding the streets, you need a good rub to get that circulation going again.

Using techniques similar to Swedish massage, after a quick wash and cleanse (no-one wants to handle sweaty feet), massage oil is applied to the area and the gentle, gliding strokes begin. Combining stroking, pivoting, kneading, finger walking and ankle rotation, the varying amounts of pressure help to stimulate the blood vessels in your feet conjuring up a gentle, soothing heat which immediately starts to relax you.

Because the treatment doesn’t affect the body in the same way as reflexology, anyone can administer a foot massage. It also means that there’s no specific time limit, although when you book in for one at a spa or salon they tend to last between 20 and 45 minutes.

Is it for me?

The primary objective of a foot massage is to revive tired feet and help you relax. Although it has no medical credits to its name, it’s a treatment to indulge in if you find it tricky to switch off and unwind.