Massage can be an effective natural way to treat a variety of injuries. If you have suffered a calf or leg injury, the pain can be severe because it depends on the calf muscles each time you walk, run or jump. A calf massager can help strengthen your leg muscles to reduce pain, stimulate circulation and reduce scar tissue. Best of all, it’s a one-time investment, which means you don’t have to keep paying a massage therapist for treatments every time your injury gets worse.
Our shopping guide is full of tips to help you find the best calf massager for your physiotherapy routine. We even included some specific recommendations for calf massagers, such as our favorite choice, the Fit King Leg Massager, which features two massage modes and three different intensities for you to personalize your massage.
Massage can be an effective natural way to treat a variety of injuries. If you have suffered a calf or leg injury, the pain can be severe because it depends on the calf muscles each time you walk, run or jump. A calf massager can help strengthen your leg muscles to reduce pain, stimulate circulation and reduce scar tissue. Best of all, it’s a one-time investment, which means you don’t have to keep paying a massage therapist for treatments every time your injury gets worse.
Our shopping guide is full of tips to help you find the best calf massager for your physiotherapy routine. We even included some specific recommendations for calf massagers, such as our favorite choice, the Fit King Leg Massager, which features two massage modes and three different intensities for you to personalize your massage.
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10 Best Calf and Leg Massager Review
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Type
Handheld
Handheld massagers are versatile enough to be used on the legs as well as other areas of the body because you move it over the spot you want to treat by hand. It usually has a textured surface that you roll over your muscles or offers vibration to provide a deep tissue massage.
Wearable
A wearable calf massager is a device that wraps around your legs. Some are longer than others, so they may cover the foot and thigh as well. These wearable massagers typically use air compression to massage the leg and are particularly effective if you’re looking to improve circulation in your calves.
Step-in
Step-in calf massagers usually resemble boots. The boots sit on a base that provides the massaging action, and you’re usually able to massage your feet and calves separately if you prefer. Not everyone can find a step-in model that fits their legs comfortably, though, which can be a problem.
Massage style and intensity
Calf massagers typically provide a variety of massage styles and intensities, so you can customize your massage. Some might offer deep tissue, shiatsu, or other massage techniques, as well as low-, medium-, and high-intensity options to provide you with the relief you need.
Features
Heat
Some calf massagers have a heat setting, so your muscles are warmed while they’re massaged. Heat can help promote muscle relaxation, healing, and increased blood flow, which can boost the benefits you receive from your massage.
Adjustable base
If you opt for a step-in calf massager, it helps to choose a model with an adjustable base. That will allow you to adjust the positioning of the bottom of the massager to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible.
Extended height
If you’re fairly tall, you might find that a calf massager doesn’t cover enough of your legs for an effective massage. Opt for a model that’s taller than standard massagers, so you can be sure that you’ll receive a complete massage.
Accessible controls
You want to be sure that you can easily reach the controls for your calf massager, so you’re able to adjust the settings when you want. Look for a massager with controls that are located on the front and near the top to avoid having to bend or stretch too much.
Auto shutoff
If a calf massager is particularly effective, it might relax you to the point where you doze off. To avoid worrying about the massager running for hours, opt for a model with an auto-shutoff feature that turns the unit off after a certain period of time.
Portability
If you’re looking for a calf massager that you can take with you when you travel, choose a model that’s lightweight for easy carrying. You can even find some massagers that fold and have a carrying handle, so they’re even easier to take on the go.
Why Get an Electric Foot and Calf Massager?
People have been giving and receiving foot massages since ancient times, and they’re used in virtually every society today for physical therapy, athletic recovery, spa treatments and more.
Here are a few things massaging your feet can do for you:
Boost Circulation
While the circulation of blood through your veins is one of the most critical determinants of your overall health, many aspects of modern lifestyles impede good blood flow.
Sitting too much, wearing tight shoes or tight pants and plaque buildup in the arteries and blood vessels are some of the common causes of poor circulation.
A daily foot massage increases blood flow and oxygenation throughout the body, giving your health a boost each day.
Promote Full-Body Relaxation
Especially if you’ve been on your feet throughout the day, a foot and calf massage is particularly welcoming.
According to the ancient practice of reflexology, massaging trigger points in the feet cause your entire body to relax and promote calmness in your nervous system.
Uplift Your Mood
Research shows that foot massage and reflexology can reduce stress and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression [1, 2].
Your stress levels and blood flow to your brain are both factors that affect your mood.
By lowering stress and improving circulation, foot massages have a way of enhancing mental clarity and making you feel better.
Improve Sleep
High stress levels and tension in your body can keep you from falling asleep and even reduce the quality of rest you get.
Massaging your feet and calves before bed helps you relax, release tension and unwind before bed for a better night’s sleep.
Fight Fatigue
When your blood flow is sluggish and your muscles have been tight for a while without relaxing, fatigue sets in.
A foot massage is one of the easiest and fastest ways to unwind.
A good foot massage helps you get your energy back by improving circulation, releasing muscle tension and relieving the achy, heavy feeling in your feet and legs.
Provide Pain Relief
If you suffer from plantar fasciitis or from neuropathy in the feet, regular foot massages could help you with pain management.
Foot massages also have the potential to treat pain beyond foot and ankle pain.
They can potentially help with headaches and migraines, backaches, neck and shoulder pain, and other pains when they’re associated with stagnant blood flow and muscle tension.
Improves Performance
When your calves are too tight it can impact many other things in your body such as your mobility, flexibility and overall day-to-day performance during activities.
By ensuring your calves are free of tension helps realign the rest of your body and correct any unwanted muscle imbalances in your body.
What to Look for in a Shiatsu Foot and Calf Massager
Foot and calf massagers cost more than traditional massagers as they tend to be heavy duty machines which come with many features. Here are some pointers and things to look out for when choosing a foot massager that’s well worth your investment.
Heat Function
Massagers that can heat up add extra benefits for pain relief and blood circulation.
Heat also helps warm up and loosen tight muscles, so you can get more out of a shiatsu massage.
If you think heat may be helpful, look for a foot massager that has a heat function.
Vibration
Vibration is a great feature to have in a foot massager because it instantly stimulates better circulation without the kneading that can sometimes be too intense and painful.
Whether you’re adjusting to the intensity of a good shiatsu massager or just want to mix up your massage routine, it’s good to have this extra option for boosting circulation without penetrating your muscles.
Auto-Massage Programs
When your massager has various pre-programmed massages that offer different types of massages, you’re better able to customize your massage around your needs.
For example, if you need to relieve calf tightness, you may need a different massage than if you’re trying to improve diabetic neuropathy.
Auto-massage programs change it up based on massage type, instead of just intensity level.
Custom Fit
If your foot and calf massager can’t hug your body just right, then it won’t give you a good massage.
To feel the intensity and have your muscles properly massaged, it helps to have an adjustable massager so you can match it to your height and size.
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