Living with neuropathy is not easy. Constant pain, tingling, and numbness often in the feet and hand leave a person unable to perform normal routine tasks. Neuropathy can hamper a person's quality of life.
It is proven that foot massage can help reduce pain, discomfort, and nerve damage associated with neuropathy.
In this post, we will discuss the role of foot massage in the management of neuropathy symptoms and how using a foot massager for neuropathy can be beneficial for relieving nerve pain.
What is neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a medical term used for nerve disorders in which the nerves of the body become damaged or impaired. The damage can happen in one nerve or a group of nerves.
Neuropathy can affect both the cranial nerves (nerves that connect the brain to other areas of the head and upper body) and peripheral nerves (nerves that originate in the spinal cord and branch out to the rest of the body). Peripheral neuropathy is more common.
Symptoms of neuropathy depend on which nerve or group of nerves is damaged. It can cause discomfort, muscle weakness, and pain in the affected area. Early signs of nerve damage are tingling or burning in your arms and legs. Toes and feet are typically most affected.
What are the causes of neuropathy?
Neuropathy is usually caused by pre-existing health problems. The most common is diabetes. Elevated levels of blood sugar in a person with diabetes may lead to nerve damage and pain in the feet and legs
Other causes of neuropathy may include cancer, autoimmune disorders, trauma, toxin exposure, infections, alcoholism, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic conditions, bone marrow disorders, and liver or kidney diseases.
Sometimes neuropathy can happen without any known reason. If this is the case, it is called idiopathic neuropathy.
Is foot massage good for neuropathy?
A foot massage can help improve uncomfortable symptoms of neuropathy. Neuropathy, whether caused by diabetes or something else, can cause a broad range of problems such as poor circulation, extreme pain, fatigue, and muscle stiffness in the legs and feet.
For centuries, massage has been used for pain relief, relaxation, and many other purposes. It also proves to help diminish the symptoms of neuropathy and decrease the risk of associated complications.
What is a foot massager?
A foot massager is an indoor massage device that can mimic the human touch. It massages and relaxes the feet through vibration, rolling, kneading, compression, or heating.
Although foot massagers do not heal nerve pain directly, they are specially designed to relax the aching, tired, and burning feet. When you apply a foot massager directly to the tissues of the affected area, it relaxes the nerves and eases the pain.
Why should you use a foot massager?
You can also use your hands to massage your feet without spending a penny on a foot massager. However, using your hands for a foot massage is not only a troublesome task but also requires expertise.
It’s also easy to hire a massage therapist for a foot massage. However, foot massage specialists are unaffordable for most people. Moreover, when you have neuropathy, the relief is only temporary, and the pain will gradually return.
That's why the use of a good foot massager is a more convenient, consistent, and cost-efficient way to get the neuropathy-relieving benefits of a massage. The cost of a foot massager is equivalent to 2 to 3 massage sessions, and it lasts for years. Foot massagers save you money, time, & effort. They can easily be utilized right in the comfort of your home or office.
What are the benefits of using a foot massager for neuropathy?
A neuropathy foot massager can be beneficial in the following ways:
Relieve pain
Neuropathy causes aching and painful sensations, like pins and needles, in your feet. Living with all this pinching, burning, and pricking is very irritating. A good foot massager massages out all the painful sensations and helps to provide relief.
Increase blood flow
Good blood circulation is necessary for optimal well-being. Unfortunately, it is usually one of the things that are associated with neuropathy. In diabetic neuropathy, poor circulation is the main cause of foot pain. A good foot massager can stimulate the muscles, increase circulation, and push oxygen and nutrients where they're most needed.
Reduce muscle stiffness
Muscle stiffness is another complication of neuropathy. Lack of circulation and movement make the muscles stiff. Especially in the morning, the pain can be very severe, making it difficult to move the muscles. A little warm-up is usually required to restore muscle movement. Foot massagers help warm up the muscles by increasing blood circulation, thereby reducing muscle stiffness.
Enhance flexibility
Pain and muscle stiffness in neuropathy can cause a lack of mobility. A good foot massager wakes up tight muscles, stimulates them, loosens them, and enhances their flexibility.
Improve nerves sensitivity
Foot massage is helpful for people that are experiencing diminished nerve function due to neuropathy. Neuropathy can cause loss of feeling in some areas of the body, especially in the arms and legs. Massages can revive feeling in the legs by targeting and stimulating specific reflex points at the bottom of the feet.
Improve the quality of life
Foot massage can improve the quality of life for those living with neuropathy in many ways.
A foot massager not only relaxes your feet, but also loosens the nerves, thereby relieving tingling, burning, and numbness. Foot massagers reduce discomfort by relaxing the muscles and decreasing the pressure on the nerves. Additionally, massage leads to the release of endorphins in the body which act as natural painkillers.
Improve sleep quality
Neuropathy pain can be debilitating at any time of day. At night, it becomes worse. This can hinder the quality of sleep and therefore negatively affect overall health. A good foot massager helps improve one's quality of sleep by relieving neuropathy pain and increasing blood flow to the feet. Increased oxygen levels and decreased blood pressure make you sleep better at night.
Best foot massagers for neuropathy
Many different types of foot massagers are available in the market. This can make the selection of a good foot massager very tricky.
We are here to assist you in your selection by providing information about two of the best foot massagers on the market.
1. Z Smart Foot Massager
Some of the excellent features of this foot massager include the following:
- It is equipped with heated massage rollers which send warmth deep into the soles and provide instant comfort.
- This massager offers shiatsu foot massage, which helps improve balance, blood circulation, and stimulation of the feet.
- It has an auto-shutoff feature, so you don't have to worry about turning it off.
- It is easy to clean and wash because its cover is made of washable and durable fabric material.
- This massager provides an all-encompassing heated compression by combining airbag and heating effects.
- It gives powerful vibrations which help to penetrate its pain-relieving benefits deeper into tissues and muscles.
- It has precise-point technology that eases the pain by offering a deep kneading massage.
2. Z-Smart Foot Massager Plus
This is a superior foot massager that offers the following features:
- The Z Smart Foot Massager Plus acts as a stand-alone massager. It provides a calm and relaxing massage to both your feet and calves.
- The Z Smart Foot Massager Plus alleviates pain by providing shiatsu foot massage with heat.
- It's easy to travel with because of its transport wheels.
- It is easy to clean and wash because of its removable cover.
- Its Massage rollers move in multiple directions to ensure a full-foot massage.
- It has auto-shutoff technology, so you don't have to worry about turning it off.
- Its quiet technology provides allows you to relax in peace while enjoying a powerful massage.
Precautions to consider before using a neuropathy foot massager
Massages are great, but it is necessary to take precautionary measures before using foot massagers.
Here is a list of precautions that anyone should consider before using massagers. These will help you to obtain optimal results and prevent accidents.
Massagers should be avoided with physical injury
It is best to thoroughly examine any physical injury to the foot before using a foot massager. Massaging an injured area can increase pain. This is especially important if the user is a diabetic patient. Consult your doctor with any concerns before trying a foot massager.
Don't use massagers on swollen areas
Swollen feet are a common symptom of diabetes due to poor blood circulation. Whatever the reason, the foot massager should never be used for swelling. It can only cause more pain and discomfort.
Be cautious with heating massagers
We recommend checking the temperature before using any massager. Make sure it's not too hot to avoid burning the skin.
For those who have neuropathy in the feet, it is best not to use high-heat massagers. They are more likely to burn their skin without sensing or realizing it.
Don't apply excessive concentrated pressure
When using a massager on the feet, it is best to apply an equal amount of pressure to every area instead of applying pressure to only one place. Pressure applied to just one area can lead to damage or swelling of the muscles.
Conclusion
Neuropathy is a painful health condition to suffer through, especially in the feet. Luckily, there are many ways to manage foot pain. One of them is using a foot massager. A foot massager can help manage pain simply and easily. Foot massagers are also cost-effective compared to specialized manual foot massages. They provide the relief you desire without leaving your home. It's important to consult your doctor before starting any massage routine to ensure it’s safe and healthy for you.
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