Foot massage
Foot massage points
A foot massage works six areas: the toes, the ball of the foot, the arch, the outer edge, the heel, and the ankle with the Achilles tendon. This page shows where they are, what a therapist does at each one, what the traditional reflexology chart says about it, and how to press them yourself between sessions.
When you would rather have someone else do it, the foot massage and the foot reflexology sessions come to your address across Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Tarlac and Olongapo.
The sole, zone by zone
Read it top to bottom, toes first. The left column is what a therapist works and why. The note under it is what the traditional chart pairs the zone with, which is a belief and is marked as one below.
-
Toes
Each toe is gently pulled, rolled and pressed at the pad and the base. Toes cramp in tight shoes and this is where that eases.
Traditional chart Head, sinuses, teeth and eyes in the traditional chart.
-
Ball of the foot
The pad under the toes takes most of your weight when you push off. Firm thumb circles across it, then along the groove behind the toes.
Traditional chart Chest, lungs and shoulders in the traditional chart.
-
Arch
The soft inner curve, worked with the thumb from the ball toward the heel. This is where feet ache after a day of standing, and the spot most people ask the therapist to stay on.
Traditional chart Stomach, liver and kidneys in the traditional chart, with the spine along the inner edge.
-
Outer edge
The firm outside border of the foot, pressed in short strokes with the knuckles. Often tender in people who roll their feet outward when they walk.
Traditional chart Arm, elbow, knee and hip in the traditional chart.
-
Heel
Deep, slow pressure with the thumb or the heel of the hand into the pad, and along the inside where the plantar fascia attaches. The thickest skin on the foot, so it takes the firmest work.
Traditional chart Lower back, hips and the sciatic nerve in the traditional chart.
-
Ankle and Achilles
Not on the sole, and easy to miss. Circles around the ankle bones with the fingertips, then the tendon pinched gently between thumb and finger up toward the calf.
Traditional chart Hips and the reproductive organs in the traditional chart.
What the chart says, and what the evidence shows
The reflexology chart divides the sole into zones and pairs each with a part of the body: the toes with the head, the arch with the stomach, the heel with the lower back. It is a traditional map, and it is why a reflexology session feels so specific. Our own reflexology page describes the session in the words of that tradition.
The trials do not back the map. A review of 23 randomised trials (Ernst, Posadzki and Lee, Maturitas, 2011) concluded that the best clinical evidence does not show reflexology to be an effective treatment for any medical condition. What a foot massage does give is plainer: feet that ache less after a long day on them, and half an hour of being looked after. Those are the reasons to book one.
So the page gives you the chart because people ask for it, and tells you which column to trust. A foot massage does not treat disease, and a symptom that worries you needs a doctor rather than a thumb on the arch.
Pressing the points yourself
Between sessions, or on a night nobody is coming. Ten minutes a foot is plenty.
-
Use your thumb, slowly
Sit with one foot across the other knee. Press with the pad of your thumb and move it in small circles, slowly. Fast rubbing warms the skin and does little else.
-
Hold a sore spot
When you find a point that aches in a good way, hold steady pressure there while you breathe out a few times, then move on. Come back to it once more before you finish.
-
Firm, never sharp
The right pressure is firm enough to feel in the muscle and never sharp, hot or electric. A spot that gives a shooting pain is one to leave alone and mention to a doctor.
-
Warm the foot first
A basin of warm water for a few minutes, or a warm towel, makes the whole thing easier and is most of what a foot spa is. A little oil or lotion lets the thumb glide.
When to be careful
Feet carry a few conditions where pressure is the wrong idea. Ask a doctor before booking, and tell the therapist, if any of these apply.
- Diabetes, especially with numb feet or any sore that is slow to heal. Numb skin cannot tell you when pressure is too much. Ask your doctor, and tell the therapist.
- A swollen, warm or painful calf, which can be a clot and needs a doctor before anyone presses on the leg.
- A gout flare, a fracture, a sprain that is still swollen, or a recent operation on the foot or ankle.
- Open cuts, blisters, a fungal infection or a wart on the sole. The therapist may decline that area for your sake and theirs.
- Pregnancy. A foot massage is usually fine in the second and third trimester with a light touch at the ankle. Ask your doctor first if you have any complication, and tell us when you book.
Booking a foot massage at home
Two sessions work these points. The foot massage covers the whole foot and lower leg for tired muscles, in thirty or sixty minutes. The foot reflexology session works the sole point by point against the chart, and its herbal foot soak or foot scrub add-on makes it a foot spa. Both are part of the foot, back, head and hand treatments.
Either one is easy to do sitting down, so it suits a small room, an office chair after hours, or a session for two. Say which you want when you book, and where your feet hurt most.
Questions about foot massage points
Where are the pressure points on the feet?
A foot massage works six areas: the toes, the ball of the foot, the arch, the outer edge, the heel, and the ankle and Achilles tendon. The spots that ache most are usually the arch and the heel, and the groove just behind the toes.
What does each foot massage point do?
Pressing a point loosens the muscle and fascia under it and brings blood to the area, which is why tired feet feel lighter afterwards. The reflexology chart also pairs each zone with an organ. That pairing is a traditional map. A 2011 review of 23 trials in the journal Maturitas concluded that the best evidence does not show reflexology to be an effective treatment for any medical condition.
Can pressing a point on the foot help a headache?
The traditional chart puts the head at the toes. There is no reliable evidence that a point on the toe acts on the head. A foot massage is relaxing, and that is as far as an honest answer goes. A headache that is severe, unusual or keeps coming back needs a doctor.
How hard should foot massage points be pressed?
Firm enough to feel in the muscle, never sharp. If you are doing it yourself, the pad of the thumb in slow circles, with steady pressure held on a sore spot while you breathe out a few times. Tell the therapist during a session if it is too much or too little.
Is foot reflexology the same as a foot massage?
Reflexology works the sole point by point against the traditional chart. A foot massage works the whole foot and lower leg for tired muscles and aching feet. On this site they are separate sessions, and the reflexology page carries the add-ons that turn either into a foot spa.
Is a foot massage safe if I have diabetes?
Often, with care, and after asking your doctor. Numb feet cannot tell you when pressure is too much, and any sore on the foot should be left alone. Tell the therapist when you book so the pressure and the areas are adjusted.
Which areas and hours?
Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Tarlac and Olongapo, from 9AM to 10PM, every day.
Book a foot massage at home
Tell us your area, a time, and whether you want the foot massage or reflexology. Send the booking form, or use the chat bubble to ask which suits your feet.