Foot Massage Benefits
Pedicures combined with foot massage are not only a way to keep feet looking and feeling fabulous but are essential to healthy foot maintenance for seniors. With age, reaching the feet can become difficult and it gets harder to keep toenails trimmed and calluses at bay. Skin on the feet also gets thinner and nails become thicker.
A pedicure begins with removing old polish and cutting of toenails. Nails should be cut straight across so they don’t become ingrown. The feet are then soaked and scrubbed to remove debris and callouses and nails are cleansed and buffed. A foot massage follows and the nails being cleansed of remaining oils so top coat and polish can be applied.
According to Julie DeFelice, a district manager at Salon PS, a company that provides salon and spa services in existing salons in assisted and independent living communities in the Cape Coral and Fort Myers area, a monthly pedicure in between podiatric visits is a great way to keep feet neat but also help us to keep an eye out for the onset of medical issues.
“Many seniors can’t see their feet as well as they used to and pedicures give us the chance to look for problems like broken toes, cracked, bleeding skin, thickening of toe nails ingrown toe nails and nail fungus,” DeFelice said.
“If we catch a fungus quickly it can be treated,” she said.
The massage part of the pedicure enables us to check to see if the client is getting enough circulation to the foot and lower extremities,” DeFelice said.
Foot massage also gives seniors relief of aching joints, feet and legs. The techniques include kneading, tapping, rolling light stretching and pressing. Reflexology, the application of appropriate pressure to specific points on the feet, can also be therapeutic for seniors as practitioners believe these reflex points correspond to different body organs and systems, and that pressing them has a beneficial effect on the organs and overall health.
Foot massage also helps seniors with stress reduction helping them to relax and promotes a sense of well-being.
Theressa Foster, 75, of Cape Coral gets pedicures and a foot massage every couple of weeks says she really looks forward to it.
“I really enjoy the whole experience. It’s not as easy as it used to be to reach my feet,” she said.
It feels great getting the dead skin off and having my feet rubbed and my nails cared for,” she said.
Pedicure/foot massage treatment prices in SWFL
$30-$90
More Benefits of Massage >>
Massage Treatments at Theresa’s Face and Body>>
Theresa George is a licensed massage therapist, certified medical electrologist, aesthetician, and freelance beauty writer. She has worked in the beauty industry for 16 years and owns Theresa’s Face and Body in Cape Coral. For more beauty and holistic information, visit www.theresasfaceandbody.com or call Theresa at (239) 206-1216