We all love to pamper ourselves from time to time with a little spa session. But one of the easiest ways to promote relaxation and de-stress after a long day is to give yourself a foot massage.

After a long day of cold-weather camping, or an exhausting trip half-way around the world, a foot massage could give you the emotional and physical boost you need to get back on your feet the next day, ready to explore a new destination.

Many travelers experience soreness, pain, and foot fatigue overseas, and it can be especially difficult if you’re wondering how you can possibly head out again tomorrow.

Well, a DIY foot massage might just be the key!

Here are five of the biggest benefits of getting a foot massage after long-haul travel. Most people don’t realise just how beneficial these massages can really be.

5 Benefits of Foot Massage After Long-Haul Travel

It Will Improve Your Circulation

One of the biggest health issues to be aware of on a long-haul flight is the risk of developing circulation problems.

Many of us already have issues with blood flow in our day-to-day lives because we spend so much time sitting in front of a computer screen. However, when you’re flying around the world, the problem can become even worse.

Combine sitting in the same uncomfortable seat for several hours at a time with cabin pressure, and you’ve got a recipe for an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT is a blood clotting condition often associated with prolonged travel) or other issues.

If you’ve ever noticed pain and swelling in your legs and feet after a long haul flight, your circulation has been affected. If left untreated, it could lead to a pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage in your arteries due to a blood clot.

While getting up and moving around regularly will help to minimize the risk during your flight, a massage after your trip will help bring your circulation back into the right rhythm.

It Reduces Your Risk of Ankle and Foot Injuries

Beyond improving your circulation after a long flight, massaging your feet can help you to avoid other ailments, like joint pain. It can also aid in boosting your recovery times if you ever suffer from an injury to your feet and ankles.

If you’ve been walking around all day as part of your itinerary, a massage will help your feet to recover faster, so you feel more able to continue your adventure the next day.

A long day of traveling, sightseeing, and walking will definitely take it’s toll, but if you massage your feet regularily, at the end of each day, with any luck you won’t wake up with sore feet the next morning.

Athletes rely on foot massage several times a week to help them overcome the pain and discomfort that they feel after intense training sessions. By doing this as a traveler, you’re able to break up the tiny fascia and muscles that have tightened up due to nonstop walking.

It Could Lower the Effects of Anxiety

While travelling is an amazing experience for most people, and it in itself can have a positive effect on mental health, there’s no doubt that the stress of transit, and logistics involved may also lead to feelings of stress and anxiety.

After all, there are a lot of things you’ll need to plan for and manage during your trip. You might have to deal with unexpected mishaps, or keep kids happy when you’re travelling, which can really raise your blood pressure over time.

Foot massage has been scientifically proven to put you in a more relaxed state of mind. Studies have shown that this kind of massage is excellent at reducing emotional turmoil.

It Helps to Get Rid of Headaches

After a long day of rushing around New York or Tokyo, you’re bound to have a few aches and pains to worry about – including a potential headache.

And it usually doesn’t hit you until you’re back at the hotel.

Headaches are common after long-haul trips, particularly if you end up dehydrated on your flights. While drinking plenty of water will help you to get back on track, a foot massage could be just as useful.

Research has shown that people suffering from migraines and headaches have achieved significant improvement in their symptoms after getting reflexology massage treatments. Test subjects who had foot massages were also able to make more positive lifestyle changes to help them avoid additional headaches in the future.

It Reduces Blood Pressure

Finally, as mentioned above, the stress of travelling – even when it’s something that you enjoy – can really get to people from time to time.

If you feel overwhelmed by your long-haul trip, a foot massage could be just the thing to put you into a better state of mind and reduce your blood pressure.

Now that high blood pressure is a common issue for many men and women, studies are beginning to show that having foot massages a few times a week can be excellent for keeping stress levels and blood pressure low.

With a little massage after your trip, you could be in the perfect position to start enjoying your new destination without any residual feelings of overwhelm or panic.

Try a Foot Massage Yourself

A foot massage is one of the easiest things that any person can do to transform their attitude and their physical situation quickly. With just one massage, you can get rid of pain, discomfort, headaches, and even anxiety!

You can usually book in for a professional foot massage at your resort or hotel, but if this is not within your budget, it’s very easy to do this yourself – especially if you’re traveling with a friend or partner (enlist them!)

As well as the traditional method of massaging your feet with your hands, another technique you can try is getting a small ball or any hard round object and roll it under, at the top and sides of your foot up to your ankles.

So, the next time you’re planning a long-haul trip set some time aside in your schedule for a foot massage after your travel.