Footspa or Footbath?
When is a footbath not a
footbath? Answer: When it's a footspa!
From the humble washing-up bowl to the latest high-tech, bubbling,
foaming, massaging footspa there's no better way to relax after a hard
day's work.
No wonder footspas are one of the most popular pamper gifts.
There are
so many different models on the market. Most offer variable heat
settings
and variable bubble intensity. Some offer massage, "reflexology" or
"acupressure"
roller attachments.
There are rechargeable models - for those of us who don't like trailing
wires or the thought of water and electricity!
Take my tip for a relaxing evening after a hard day's work - fill up
your footspa - add one or two drops of lavender or your favourite
essential oil - and let the warmth and the oil soothe away those aches.
Foot Massagers and Circulation Boosters
There has been a lot of coverage in the news and on television of the health benefits of using some of the latest generation of foot massagers - "Circulation boosters".How do these circulation boosters differ from other types of massager?
Generally traditional massagers work in a variety of ways - many use a form of rotary kneading or massaging movement, some use vibration, some use infra-red heat lamps or combinations of some or all of these.
For muscular or joint pain many people find that massagers which incorporate heat in the form of infra-red heat lamps or gentle percussive vibrations are helpful. Infra-red heat has been traditionally used to help relieve muscular aches and pains and vibration is reported to decrease scar tissue and aid muscle repair after injury as well as aid circulation and decrease tension in the joints and muscles.
The new generation of electro reflexologist or circulation booster massagers use tiny electrical impulses to stimulate muscular action in the foot and lower leg which in turn helps circulation and helps retain muscle tone. So for many otherwise healthy elderly people who perhaps aren't as active as they once were these can can be useful. They aren't suitable for everyone and there are many different models on the market. Always check out the specifications carefully and any contraindications to use. There are quite a variety of models on the market so make sure to check out how many programs are available, how easy it is to vary the intensity level and whether the appliance can produce a selection of different waveforms.
So whether you suffer from joint or muscle pain, have a large or small budget you will probably be able to find a massager with a range of features to suit you.