Finding the Right Foot Massager for Plantar Fasciitis

If you have plantar fasciitis, there is nothing better than the charm of a good foot massage. Foot massages are a powerful tool against this condition and let you enjoy relief right from the comfort of your home.  However, with the market overflowing with so many different kinds of foot massagers with unique features, many find it hard to pick the best one for themselves.

To help you choose the right massager for yourself, let’s have a look at the tips to consider when finding the best foot massagers for plantar fasciitis for yourself.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Most Common Areas of Pain.A condition with inflammation, plantar fasciitis causes intense pain in the heels and arches of your feet. These spells of discomfort often visit in the morning or after standing for a prolonged period.

Doctors often recommend deep tissue massage therapy to help relieve chronic foot pain. This technique involves the application of slow strokes with firm pressure. The right foot massager works similarly to boost blood circulation and release tightness in the feet. It penetrates the muscles and tendons of the lower parts of your feet and breaks the tension built up, promoting the healing of the plantar fascia.

How to Find the Right Foot Massager For Plantar Fasciitis?

A businesswoman massaging her feet.

When looking for the perfect one-stop solution to your feet pain, make sure you consider the following tips and factors. To achieve maximum relief and pleasure for your feet, one must get the massager that is most suitable for their personal needs.

Choose Between Manual & Automatic Foot Massagers

Before getting onto other factors, it is incredibly important to decide between an electric and manual massaging tool.

Manual Massagers

Manual massagers mainly include foot rollers and massage balls. Popular among physical therapists, these massaging tools are both easy to use and tote. Since they are small in size and weight, you can carry them with you wherever you go. With a manual massager, you have complete control over the strength and intensity of the massage.

Mechanical foot rollers come in a multitude of shapes and sizes: they can be of wood or foam; they can be just one singular roller or have several rollers on it; have a flat or curved design. You can roll feet on it by placing it on the floor. The magic of a foot roller lies in the kneading action of its nubs and knobs that releases all tightness and knots which cause plantar fasciitis. The knobs roll and burrow deep into the fascia for deep tissue massage while the smaller nubs stimulate trigger points.

Massage balls, on the other hand, come with small nodes or spikes. They are used to target a specific point on your foot for acupressure relief to treat knotted muscles.

Electronic Massagers

Electronic massagers are more technologically advanced and therefore offer additional features like different massage modes and techniques. The following are some common kinds of electronic foot massagers:

Percussion Massagers

Percussion massagers are hand-held electronic devices designed to apply rapid bursts of pressure in small, concentrated areas to release trigger points. This short-duration, concentrated pulses reach deep into the tissues and increase the flow of blood through veins and lymphatic systems, which in turn, loosens muscle tension and relieves pain.

These devices massage any area of the body that is causing you discomfort, including the feet. Since they are cordless, users no longer have to sit by an electrical outlet while using these massagers.  From road trips to flights and even office breaks, you can carry these tools and use them at your ease.

Percussion massagers come with an electrical charger and a multitude of attachments. Each attachment serves a specific part of the body and provides a different intensity level.

Dual Foot Massage Machines

Massage machines mostly offer Shiatsu massage, while some offer multiple massaging techniques. They’re more expensive than any other massaging tool due to their versatile design and functionality: they offer varying air pressure settings and intensity levels. They also have better stability than manual massage tools as they do not slip away.

Consider The Design

Machine massagers come in two designs: open and closed. Both of these designs provide different functionalities and have their pros and cons.

Open design 

In an open foot massager, you only have to sit back and place your feet on its flat surface to enjoy a relaxing massage. Your feet are not enclosed, and it does not massage your ankle or calves. Since it has a flat surface, it does not massage the arch of your feet either. However, some generate infrared heat that digs deeper into your feet for acupressure relief.

It is low maintenance compared to close foot massagers: you can easily clean it by wiping the surface with a cleaning cloth.

Closed design  

A closed foot massager has an enclosed cavity where you place your feet so that they’re fully covered. This feature allows the heat to spread throughout your feet, creating a soothing effect. Unlike an open massager, they massage the ankles and calves too.

It gives a more prolonged relief. Moreover, to further elevate the experience of your massage, some also offer air and heat massages. This feature causes blood vessels in your foot and calves to dilate, improving blood circulation and allowing oxygen and nutrients to flow through your feet.

However, their maintenance is more time-taking as they’re more complicated to keep clean and dry.

The Types of Massages Provided  

To ensure that your massaging experience is flawless, you must pay heed to the type of massage offered by the massaging device. Different massage techniques produce different results. So if you’re looking for a specific massaging technique, make sure to read the manual and double-check whether the device provides it or not. The following are some widely installed massage techniques:

  1. Shiatsu Massage
  2. Kneading Massage
  3. Heat Massage
  4. Compressed Air Massage

The Size of Your Feet/ Shoe

Many foot massagers only offer models with shoe sizes ranging from only 10 to 14. It is crucial to check whether the model you’re buying will have enough space to fit your feet or not. Placing your feet in an ill-fitted massager will not alleviate the symptoms of plantar fasciitis, instead, aggravate them.

Ease of Operation 

Many massaging machines have a touch panel physically installed on the massager from where you can operate its features. However, to use this panel, you have to bend down. If you want to enjoy a more luxurious experience, you should choose a massager with wireless remote controllers. Doing so will let you change the mode or intensity without having to move from your seat.

Portability

The perfect massaging machine offers not only a relaxing massage experience but must also be portable so that you can move it without any nuisance.

If you like to carry around your massaging device with you, make sure to choose a wireless, lightweight one.

Warranty

Almost all massaging machines offer a warranty. However, the warranty and return periods may differ from model to model. If you’re unsure about the foot size given by the model or its mode of massage, make sure it has an adequate return period.

The Takeaway

Several tips and factors need to be considered before you choose a foot massager for plantar fasciitis. The best bet is always the one which suits your personal needs the most.

Still can’t find the right foot massager for plantar fasciitis? Find out here The Best Plantar Fasciitis Foot Massagers.