Have you ever noticed that even when your whole body is warm, your feet still remain cold? In most cases, this is due to poor blood circulation in the body. There are various ways to deal with this problem, one of the most effective is massage. The procedure improves blood circulation, increases vascular tone, and reduces the severity of the symptom. How does massage alleviate the condition and “treat” cold feet? We will tell you about this in the article.
Causes of Cold Feet
The most common cause of cold feet is poor circulation. When this happens, the tissues of the limbs do not receive sufficient nutrition, so the person feels cold. Other causes of cold feet:
- Low ambient temperature. In the off-season and winter, feet freeze due to exposure to low temperatures. This especially happens when a person wears thin, non-insulated shoes.
- Low physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle slows down blood flow in the extremities. Long periods of inactivity cause fatigue, tension, and decreased temperature in the legs.
- Iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency in the body often leads to poor circulation and decreased oxygen supply to tissues, which is accompanied by a feeling of cold feet.
- Diabetes mellitus. Having a history of type 2 diabetes in a patient often leads to problems with blood circulation. This is associated with damage to nerve endings and blood vessels, which causes cold feet.
- Thyroid dysfunction. With hypothyroidism, metabolic processes in the body slow down, the heat level decreases, which causes a feeling of cold in the lower extremities.
In addition, scientists from the Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine conducted a study and proved that conditions such as chronic gastritis, hypotension, stomach ulcers, chronic rhinitis and fatty liver disease lead to a feeling of cold feet.
How does massage help get rid of cold feet?
Lymphatic drainage and roller massage are effective tools in the fight against cold legs. The techniques relax muscles, improve blood circulation, and relieve tension after a hard day. These methods of eliminating the feeling of cold in the lower extremities have differences:
- Using a roller massager stimulates blood flow and deeply works the muscles. The rollers act on acupuncture points on the feet, which improves blood flow to the legs.
- Lymphatic drainage massagers are aimed at reducing swelling by improving lymph flow. The use of this type of device is especially necessary for people with fatigue, heaviness and a feeling of cold in the legs.
Both types of massage devices increase the temperature in the lower extremities and improve the general condition. With regular use of massagers, the tone of blood vessels increases, tissue elasticity increases and swelling decreases.
How to massage cold feet correctly?
The procedure should begin with light stroking, which prepares the skin for more intensive impact, warms up the skin. After this, it is necessary to lightly knead the feet, shins and thighs — such movements stimulate the blood flow to the lower extremities.
Using a lymphatic drainage or roller massager with heating not only improves lymph flow, warms the legs, but also reduces swelling and fatigue in the legs. It is advisable to perform the massage every day for 10-15 minutes.
The procedure should be avoided in the presence of inflammatory processes in the body, thrombosis, varicose veins. Massage is also not advisable for chronic diseases and infections.
