Massage Tutorial: Deep tissue foot massage techniques

Do you hate working on feet? Well, you may be putting too much work into it! Instead of sitting down and using your thumbs, use 8 fingers in tandem to strip up between the metatarsals. Mobilize the many bones by firmly grabbing the calcaneus with one hand and the metatarsals with the other, twisting in opposite directions.

Don't neglect the amazing array of anatomical structures! Your clients will be glad to have someone who finally works on their arches, puts pressure between the bones, and doesn't forget the ankle or toes. There's a lot to work with here!

Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear your comments!

[MarvFitBikesKicks]

Foot massages are one of the greatest things on earth

[altareggo]

Thanks for this!!! I am a massage therapist myself, but you seem to know a lot more than i do, lol. I like the idea of "stripping" between the metatarsels! I like your thumb-saving ideas: could come in handy if i get a sprain in a thumb. I have very strong thumbs, so normally i use them to the best mechanical advantage i can. Something you might add to a revision of this video, is that the tendons that take the brunt of foot cramps, such as many folks get at night, are on the top of the foot about an inch to 3 or 4 inches behind the toes. Doing some deep tisssue work on this area can help relieve cramps - but advising the clients to drink more before going to bed, and when they do have cramps, is the best way to prevent and relieve them - well, the best way i have found, lol.

[rhondad]

This helped me alot as I regularly massage my husband's feet. Thank you!!

[vitaR]

So much great info. I'm a nail tech and have started to notice pain in the thumbs. I'm so glad to have found this

[janetjordan]

I would be asleep 2 minutes into this! Nothing like a great massage by a professional!!!

[hulabird]

Who in hell would thumbs down your techniques Massage Sloth? Baffles me some peoples' kids.

[TalentedLMT]

I love your technique. I find that I already do a good deal of what you’re doing when I massage other students and clients. I also try to get a sense of the natural contours of their feet so that my hands can glide along those contours perfectly and smoothly well at the same time giving just a small bit of pressure in the more meatier areas of the foot

[seriqua]

You've done it again, Ian. Saved my thumbs and rocked my world. Thank you!
Note: I like to use the hot towel I had used on the foot before the manual work to give ankle traction. I just twist it longways until it's kinda rope-like (like the kind of towel my sister and I would whip each other with by the pool), wrap it around the ankle, and I lean. It's neat bc it surrounds the whole joint in pretty uniform pressure, something that's hard or really kind of impossible to do with my hands.

[elizabethgreen]

Thank you so much for this video and the one on thumb care. I am a reflexologist and we are taught to do essentially everything you say not to! My thumbs are pretty aggravated. I am in Canada, and it is not necessary to have a massage background to practice reflexology here so I think we miss a lot of important info. I am going to start using some of your techniques right away, and go on a thumb vacation :)

[JohnBKerkhoven]

Great that you not just focus on the patient, but also show how you can safe thumbs and energy, by easy tips to use your body.
Cudos!

[UniqueMasterpiece]

I love love LOVE your videos and teaching techniques. Thank you so much for sharing your videos. I'm 7 years in the game and there is still plenty to learn.

[thepokekid]

I am so fixated on how the nails match the drapes! That's attention to detail! lol

[theodorthelionheart]

The way you massage is really helpful and relaxing.
Thank you, sir

[michaeldooley]

Your videos are really great and your methods work like magic. I have been pulling out your stuff on fellow students and they keep asking me what I did! I start clinical s in three weeks and I am super confident! Thanks!

[Atlas.abandoned]

Despite the fact that the word "sloth" is present on any level, (sloths are mildly frightening) I gotta say that you are extremely talented at teaching this grand technique! :) Thanks for sharing! Much obliged! Cheers!

[vgpriceless]

Giving foot massages is one of my favorite tx areas!  Thks for all these great tips and reminders

[noelia]

I use your vids to help massage my mom and my mom says that it should be my job :).

[taemorrow]

There are life savers and then there's you, a thumb saver. Technically I should say you are both because good grief I was using my thumb during foot massage way too much.

[crystaldunham]

Thanks i am a massage therapist and thanks to a car wreck i have been out of work. I am going back so these videos are so helpful

[luciaivanovich]

You are the best therapist and a superior human being. Love and blessings every single day!