What Is Reflexology?

Reflexology is a type of foot massage treatment in which a practitioner applies pressure to specific reflex points on your feet and, sometimes, your hands and ears.

Unlike a standard foot massage, which commonly includes different massage styles, rhythms, vibrations, and tools, a reflexology practitioner primarily uses their hands to apply firm, steady pressure to your feet. Their goal isn’t simply to massage your muscle tissue. Instead, they’re focused on applying pressure to specific points that may affect how the rest of your body feels.

Foot reflexology doesn’t treat specific medical conditions and it’s not a substitute for medical treatment. Instead, it’s a type of complementary therapy that may work alongside other treatments. At its core, a reflexology massage session is meant to relax you and help you manage stressful or uncomfortable feelings in your body by manipulating the corresponding points on your feet, hands, and ears.

How Does Reflexology Work?

At the core of the practice is the belief that a reflexologist can help promote relaxation and healing throughout the body by applying pressure to specific pressure points. A practitioner will use a foot reflexology chart, which maps out how various parts of the foot are believed to correspond to organs, muscles, and other body parts.

This chart—or map—is based on the reflexology zone theory.

Differences Between Foot Massage and Reflexology

The distinction between reflexology and a standard massage might still seem a bit unclear. The differences between the two types of massage are mainly in intention and technique.

Foot massages focus on relieving tired or sore feet. A foot massage directly manipulates the area of tension or pain to alleviate discomfort in that area.

Reflexology uses the foot massage to affect the rest of the body—not just the muscles in your foot. You’ll still feel the soothing effects of a massage on your feet, but the goal is also to target and relieve discomfort in other parts of the body.

If you’re doing self-reflexology at home, you can choose to use a foot massage device to increase the soothing effects of the massage and help you relax. You can even use the warming features of some foot massagers to help further alleviate tension.

What Are the Potential Benefits of Reflexology?

It’s believed that a reflexology massage may have several benefits on different areas of the body, including the following overall wellness benefits.

Promote Relaxation

One not-so-surprising effect of reflexology massage is that it can promote relaxation. It’s a form of massage, after all. If you’ve never experienced the pleasure of a soothing foot massage after long days on your feet, you don’t know what you’re missing.

The firm but steady pressure of a reflexology massage can be a wonderfully relaxing way to relieve soreness and tension in your feet and help your body relax.

Help You Manage Stress

Stress management is another potential benefit of a reflexology foot massage.

In the peaceful state of relaxation and tranquility that you can fall into during the comforting pressure of a foot massage, you can more easily enjoy the present moment, practice mindfulness, and prepare yourself to better respond to and manage stressful events and responsibilities.

Increase Your Positive Feelings

As you feel your stress start to slip away under the soothing influence of a reflexology massage, you may find yourself experiencing more positive feelings and your mind wandering to more optimistic thoughts. Even a few moments of quiet and calm can have a huge effect on your emotional wellbeing, and a 30-minute reflexology massage session will give you plenty of time to sit comfortably and reflect on how you’re feeling and what you’re grateful for.

Feel More Energy

According to reflexology theory, the practice may help you feel more energized after a session. When you’re feeling drained or burned out, a slow foot massage might be just what you need to help you feel rested and refreshed.

Especially after a relaxing reflexology massage, you may feel rejuvenated and better prepared to face your tasks and responsibilities.

Help Relieve Pain and Soreness

If you spend a lot of time walking, running, or standing, your feet probably don’t get much rest. Give them a break! When you’re feeling sore and tense from work or workouts, a reflexology massage on your feet may help alleviate some of that tension and help you kickstart your recovery.

There’s also been some research into the potential effects of reflexology massage on other types of pain. In a 2015 study—a randomized controlled trial on infants—participants who received reflexology responded less severely to pain from an injection than those who didn’t.