Foot Massage Therapy Routine

The foot massage therapy routine will be a favorite with your clients, especially those who are on their feet all day.

Teachers, nurses, and sales people, cooks, waitresses, and cashiers all love having foot massages. Who doesn't?

This will not be something you can do in a massage chair. You must use your massage table so that you, the massage therapist, are comfortable. Remember that the aim is to keep you healthy so that your career can last for years. Too many massage therapists do stupid things to injure themselves and have to quit after a few years in the business.

Always work smart.

I have received e-mails telling me the leg and footwork can be done in a massage chair after I have written that it cannot. Please do yourself a favor and do not listen to those who say it can be done in a massage chair. Yes, anything CAN be done, but why would you do it and risk injury to yourself by stretching and bending in an unsafe manner? Does this make sense to you? They will find out for themselves after a while....

You will use a lubricant with this routine. Apply cream on the top and bottom of the foot, moving towards the heart. Use a drain stroke once the cream has been applied.

Start with your digitals moving in a circle on the ankle bones, five to ten times. Then glide with the sides of your thumbs under the ankle bones.

Use small-handed kneading with one hand to the heel and then palmar glide the bottom and top of the foot.

Follow with thumb digital to top and then bottom of foot.

Now for the toes. If the client is a female, start with the pinky toe and move towards the big toe. For a male, start with the big toe and move towards the little toe. I learned that order in massage school. Not exactly sure why, but that is what was taught to our class. Digital knead to each toe and then give a gentle pull with a twist all at once. Do not cause pain. Work digitally between each toe.

Apply thumbs to ball of foot, both up and down and side to side. This may tickle so do not do lightly. Then do the same to the middle of the foot. Do not push hard or you may cause pain to the tendons. Then lift the foot and use palmar kneading on the heel.

Step to the side of the table and grab the ankle in one hand and knuckle the bottom and top of foot with the other hand. Then place hands on both sides of the foot and roll foot with your palms. Do not roll the toes.

To end the foot massage therapy routine, do palmar drain stroke on bottom and top towards the heart.

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