Having neuropathy can be frustrating. If you have this, then you know what is like to live with the constant pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet. This may sometimes take a toll on your well-being. The good news is that you can ease neuropathy symptoms through the best foot massage for neuropathy. Since you are here, I’m guessing you might be wondering what kind of massage therapy will get the job done, and how well it works.
In this article, we will cover all you need to know when it comes to a massage for neuropathy, massage therapy, and the techniques to use. We will also cover how this benefits your overall health and which massage is best for you.
What are the causes of peripheral neuropathy?
peripheral neuropathy occurs when there is damage to the nerves. When this occurs, there is pain, numbness, and tingling in a specific part of the body. Diabetes is the major cause. some other well-known causes of neuropathy include;
- Infections
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Alcohol abuse
- Chemotherapy
- Inflammatory condition
In rare cases, there might not be any probable cause for peripheral neuropathy, having to get to the root at this point can be quite challenging. With the right knowledge of massage therapy, you can easily overcome this.
Benefits of Foot massage for neuropathy
Massage, as we all know, plays an essential role in tension relief, relieve pain, and increase circulation. It offers lots of other benefits to the body, but you might be wondering, what exactly does massage do for neuropathy? Stick around to find out
Improved circulation
Improved circulation is key to maintaining overall best health. It ensures an increase in the circulation of blood and oxygen throughout the body which ensures every organ in the body function properly. With increased circulation, you are likely to have a healthy heart, and sharper brain and your wounds tend to help faster.
With neuropathy, you tend to have poor circulation, which results in numbness and tingling of the foot. Massage therapy combats this by increasing blood circulation, and moving oxygen as well as body nutrient to the right areas of the body.
According to research by the journal of alternative and complementary medicine, it was discovered that 25 mins after receiving massage therapy, blood flow increases as well as skin temperature.
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Tension relief and relaxation
Having to deal with neuropathy symptoms can increase your stress, and stress can sometimes make neuropathy symptoms worse. One way to combat stress and relief tension is through massage. Massage has been known to provide relaxation and tension relief. Less stress equals relaxation which is good for your general wellbeing.
Relieve pain and discomfort
Massage is a great way to relieve pain, it dampens the activity of inflammatory cytokines (a protein responsible for causing pain and inflammation). According to research conducted by the NSAIDS, massage has the same pain relief effect as drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
Best foot massage for neuropathy
Now that we have established the benefits of foot massage and how essential foot massage is for neuropathy, let’s quickly look at some simple massage techniques we can use to combat neuropathy symptoms.
Nerve stroking:
The most common symptoms of neuropathy are numbness and tingling. When a patient requests a foot massage for neuropathy it’s important to note that they are probably not feeling anything on those feet. The best way to trigger their sensation is using Nerve stroking.
Never stroking is a fingertip massage technique in which very light pressure is applied to the body. It is performed by running your finger across the skin of the affected area gently.
The nerve stroke technique is also called feathering. This is because this technique has no direct effect on deep tissue. It is usually effective during an intimate massage; this is why they are not commonly used.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a massage technique that requires the application of gentle pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, and ears. In theory, these parts of the body have connective tissues to certain organs and the body system.
Reflexologist (people who practice reflexology) believe that this technique relaxes the body alleviate stress, and relieve pain and tension.
Acupressure
Acupressure just like nerve stoking is one massage technique that helps neuropathy patients get in touch with their feeling. You need to apply some oil and gently sweep up your legs from the ankle up to the knee.
A case scenario that is familiar with neuropathy is, that the blood sometimes can’t overcome gravity and it is stuck in the legs causing them to numb and swell. With acupressure, you gently enable blood flow back to the body and reduce swelling. This process requires a massage therapist.
Stretching
Yes! Stretching. Stretching is another technique you need in your arsenal. It’s best for pain management and relief. There are a good number of stretches you can perform which include stretching your calf. For neuropathy, seated stretch works best. For this technique, you need to be seated and you also need a towel.
Put the towel over your feet with your toes pointing upwards. Try to pull the towels towards your body while keeping your calf laid horizontal to the floor.
Self-massage for neuropathy
There are lots of self-massage you can carry out to help your neuropathy. DR. Jo shares a detailed video of a simple massage you can carry out yourself. Check it out.