DIY foot massager

Why legs?

An orthopedic foot mat not only helps the correct formation of the arch of the foot. Acupuncturists know that the foot rivals the auricle in its concentration of active (and very active) zones. Active zones of the body during acupuncture procedures are stimulated pointwise or in the old-fashioned way with acupuncture, or with the probe of an acupuncture device (by the way, you can make such a device yourself, and it absolutely correctly finds active points), or with a laser. For the foot, a targeted influence on the active zones is not suitable - they walk with their feet. Even in newborns, the active points of the feet are difficult for an experienced specialist to find, and acupressure on them is ineffective. But for the average person it’s so good: when working on the active areas of the feet with a massage mat, it’s very difficult to overdo it and cause harm. But there can be many benefits - if the mat is made properly, see below. In the end, only a few children spoil their feet, having never even seen a massage mat, and even fewer of them get rickets. But strengthening your health from infancy, at the same time guaranteeing yourself slender legs and a smooth gait, will not harm anyone.

The location of active zones on the feet of human feet is shown in the figure:

Location of active zones on human feet

The massage mat acts on them using soft acupuncture, which is nothing more than a massage. The basic principles of soft excitation of active points are as follows:

The impact is made on a limited but fairly large area of the body surface.
The impact should be rhythmic.
The force of each push (pressure) should gradually increase throughout its duration and decrease just as smoothly.
A double or triple rhythm is very effective, when a wave of impact seems to roll across the treated area, accompanied by rhythmic smaller shocks.
Increasing the strength and/or speed of impact until pain appears is unacceptable, because if the brain has received a pain signal, then the corresponding active point begins not to stimulate, but to suppress the organ associated with it.

Specifically (physiologically), with soft acupuncture, the keratinized layers of the skin slightly squeeze the active point (so as not to slip to the side), and then they themselves press a little inward and put pressure on it. On the feet, gentle acupuncture is facilitated by the fact that the upper layers of the skin are denser and the layer of soft tissue between them and the bone is thinner. In a properly made massage mat (see below) this happens automatically. However, if the mat is not made correctly, the opposite effect may occur.

Note: if you have ever broken the bones of your foot, then without consulting a doctor you can only use a padded, cork or felt massage mat, see below. Otherwise, due to scars from bone fractures, useful procedures can turn into harmful ones.

Exercises to relieve tired legs

Having stepped on a stone pillow with my bare feet, I initially experienced painful and unpleasant sensations. But after two to three minutes the pain went away, the feet calmed down and further stay on the stones began to bring pleasure

I walk on pebbles from the shore of the Black Sea.

Subsequently, I learned to “walk in place” on the stones, shifting from foot to foot. And even relax to your favorite music while performing simple dance moves. By transferring body weight and influencing a variety of active points of the foot.

How to make a massager with your own hands

You can make this thing at home from several available materials:

stones are most suitable for this purpose;
thick felt;
cereals: beans, peas, millet;
fruit seeds: plums, cherries, cherry plums and apricots;
chestnuts;
buttons;
pieces of wood.

From the list of materials, you can choose any option you like.

From stones

This variation is the most widely used, but in its creation a number of conditions must be observed. Round or oval shaped material should be used. Pebbles work great - they should be the same size. Having selected the required number of pebbles, you need to wash them with soapy water and, preferably, heat them. This will ensure the destruction of bacteria and make them safe for health. Next you need to do the following:

Prepare a rectangular piece of base. It is better to use soft rubber or matting of a suitable size.
Glue the prepared pebbles onto the base.
When all the material is placed on the base, press it down using a flat board or piece of plywood and press down with a weight.
Leave the product for a couple of days to dry completely.

REFERENCE! Another method is suitable for craftswomen who know how to sew. To make a massager, you need to sew a bag of the required size. Place pebbles inside and quilt the bag so that each pebble is in its own pocket. Please note that with this method, the bottom layer of the base should be much thicker than the top.

For children

To massage children's feet, it is best to make a massage track. It will consist of several sections filled with elements of different sizes. In an example it would look like this:

base section with sewn buttons;
a plot full of beans;
section with peas;
a plot filled with millet;
section with soft filler.

Walking along such a path, the child’s feet will receive a different massage effect. Not to mention the fact that such a “home attraction” will definitely appeal to little fidgets.

Work principles

Foot massage mats are recommended for people with problem feet. They help relieve muscle tension, improve tone, and correct foot arches. It is important to walk on them barefoot. Orthopedic devices at home imitate movements on natural, uneven surfaces with feet free from shoes. This effect on the feet allows you to:

normalize muscle tone;
activate blood flow in the extremities;
stimulate active points;
form the correct arch of the foot;
strengthen the body as a whole.

Experts recommend using orthopedic foot mats for various diseases:

foot deformities;
flat feet;
clubfoot;
fungal infections.

Most often, devices are used to treat children. They effectively influence a young body and correct recently manifested defects. However, the product must be chosen correctly.

Foot massage mats are not the main treatment method. This is an auxiliary addition to special orthopedic shoes.

The principle of operation of the massager is based on the fact that there are points on the human foot that are connected to the internal organs of a person and have an impact on them. Each of them is responsible for specific systems and organs. Massaging the points promotes general health, strengthening the immune system, and preventing specific diseases.

Massage mats allow you to simulate movements on natural, uneven surfaces

They help relieve muscle tension, improve tone, and correct foot arches.

Massaging numerous points on the feet responsible for the functioning of internal organs promotes overall health, strengthens the immune system, and prevents a number of diseases.

What are the types of devices?

Baby massagers come in different types, and all of them can be made independently using simple materials. The most popular options are:

For feet – these devices are designed to massage the feet to prevent flat feet. It is better to perform it on bare feet. They are divided into types in the form of a mat, a tube with a rough surface, and a track.

Foot mats
For hands – used to develop speed, dexterity and motor skills. Options for the massager include a tube with a rough surface, a “pigtail”, an “octopus”, and a ball.

DIY device for arms and legs
For the neck and shoulders - this device is necessary to strengthen the muscles of the back, shoulder girdle, neck and legs. They all look like a chain with various parts strung on a strong rope, with handles on both sides.

DIY massager for neck and shoulders
For the back and spine. Required for developing correct posture and strengthening the back muscles. They look similar to neck and back massagers.

Back massagers

Massage paths are very popular in kindergartens. Immediately after sleep, children walk along it and finally wake up, because the textured surface of the path stimulates the soles of their feet and invigorates them.

Idea to make a foot massager

With age, problems with sore feet appear in everyone. The muscles have already weakened and the joints have worn out, the blood vessels have narrowed. I began to feel my legs especially strongly after moving to a new place of residence and changing jobs.

Now she works in shifts, she’s on her feet for 12 hours, you can’t sit down for the whole day. By the end of the day, my legs hurt so much that I want to howl like a wolf.

I began to think about how to solve this problem and help my tired feet. The wife remembered that when they lived in Adler and worked as cooks at Rosa Khutor, after long shifts, walking along the pebble seashore was a good help for tired legs.

After thinking a little and “doing magic” with available materials, I decided to make a piece of such a coast with my own hands.

DIY back massager

It is not difficult to create a device for self-massage of the back from scrap materials at home, even in the complete absence of such skills. You just need to choose a scheme and prepare the necessary “parts” with the tool in advance.

Made of wood

For example, you can try making a back massager with your own hands from wooden parts. The easiest way to assemble such a treatment device is from old office bills.

If you have this rudiment from the past lying around somewhere at home, without which not a single accountant could do without the advent of calculators, feel free to get down to business. True, you will first have to prepare:

durable nylon cord with a diameter of at least 5 millimeters and no more than 8 millimeters;
two pieces of durable PVC pipe, the length of which should be equal to the size of the rollers;
metal axles (can be made of steel wire with a diameter of 3 to 5 millimeters - depends on the size of the internal hole of the “knuckles”);
tools for disassembling bills and assembling a massager (pliers, pliers, drill, metal file, etc.);
tape measure or meter.

First, let's determine the length of the homemade device. We simply measure the distance between our arms outstretched to the sides. Then we determine the number of roller axes, which should be located at a distance of 1-2 centimeters from each other, carefully disassemble the abacus and proceed to their manufacture:

clean and grind electrodes or pieces of steel wire;
using pliers we form an “eye” at one end of the future axis;
put on the axle from 4 to 6 dominoes;
we make an “eye” on the other side of the axis.

For greater efficiency, notches can be made on each “knuckle”. True, the process of turning rollers into stars requires a lot of patience and caution. In addition, upon completion of this work, each “knuckle” will have to be carefully sanded and covered with a protective layer of varnish.

After making all the axes, we move on to direct assembly, as a result of which we should get a homemade massager for the back and other parts of the body with wooden rollers:

cut a piece of nylon cord, the length of which should be twice the length of the device;
place a PVC pipe in the middle of the nylon rope to form the first handle;
we retreat 15-20 centimeters from the handle and connect both ends of the cord with a reliable knot (preferably a double one);
we string all the axles with rollers onto the rope by the ears;
we again connect both ends with a reliable knot so that the rollers fit quite tightly to each other;
put a second PVC pipe on one end of the rope to form a second handle;
We connect the cord with a secure knot, which we hide in the tube.

If you don’t have old office bills at home, you can make rollers on a lathe from hard wood (oak, maple, birch, etc.). The parts made in this way must be carefully sanded so as not to damage the sensitive skin of the back during use.

That's all. Our homemade massage device, which turned out to be not so difficult to make, is ready for use. Of course, there are other homemade back massage devices. But their manufacture requires special equipment and skills.

From bottles

The previous model of a homemade wooden massager was not the most complex. However, a device for back massage from ten ordinary plastic bottles of the same size, PVC pipes of suitable diameter and size, plastic packaging tape and wide transparent tape is even easier to assemble.

You just need to prepare a well-sharpened knife, a sharp awl and carefully follow each step from the step-by-step instructions:

carefully cut off the bottom of each bottle, retreating from the bottom edge by 5 centimeters;

we collect the cut bottoms in pairs, inserting them one into the other so that the cutting line overlaps by at least 1.5 two centimeters;
additionally fasten the rollers with tape;
We take an awl in our hands and make four paired holes in the workpieces with a diameter of about one centimeter;
put a PVC tube in the middle of the plastic tape;
we form the first handle - we retreat from the middle of the cord 15-20 centimeters from each end and securely connect the tape with a stapler or plastic rivets;

we string rollers from the bottoms of plastic bottles onto the cord, pushing the ends of the rope into the holes in a parallel manner;
we connect again - a stapler or rivets - both ends of the tape in such a way as to fix the rollers;
put another tube on one end of the tape;
we form a loop for the second handle, securely connecting both ends of the rope with rivets or a stapler at a distance of 15-20 centimeters from the previous fastening;
we hide the connection point under the tube.

The length of PVC pipes intended for handles should not be less than the size of the rollers.

You can make such a massager from scrap materials within an hour if you have the tools.

Spinal simulator device

Before you start making such a device with your own hands, it is worth knowing its structure and operating principle . The spine trainer is a board. A crossbar and handles for fixation are installed on one side of it. This exercise machine is installed obliquely against the wall. The angle of inclination is adjusted by a special carriage for convenience.

The crossbar has increased strength and can also be used as a horizontal bar. A metal pipe is used to make the crossbar. This is a brief description of what a spinal correction simulator consists of. Its structure is simple, so it can be easily made with your own hands at home.

What are foot massage mats made from?

Thanks to the manufacturers who offer a large selection of massagers for our tired legs. Silicone, thermoplastic, rubber, foamed polyvinyl chloride, foamed ethylene vinyl acetate are used to create a miracle carpet.

Don’t forget to check the quality certificate: see the clause on hygienic registration

How not to

General information about the essence of massage is already enough to understand how not to make a massage mat. Examples of its incorrect execution are shown in the photo:

How not to make a massage mat

Pos. 1 – from inverted plastic plugs. It hurts! There is no orthopedic effect, because The overall (covering) surface is flat compared to the size of the feet. Such a rug will protect against flat feet and club feet no better than a laminate floor, but it will not be beneficial for health at all.

The size of the bumps (positions 2 and 3) can, in principle, provide an orthopedic effect, but again – it hurts! The general strengthening effect is negative. Even worse is a mat made from grinding wheels (item 4) or concrete castings; it will wear off your feet to the point of infection. Concrete mats, in addition, also generate dust with allergenic and carcinogenic cement dust. According to sanitary and construction rules, any room with bare concrete walls is considered unsuitable for housing, industrial activities, and other cases of long-term stay of people in it. To understand how you can come up with a massage mat made of concrete or abrasives, you need to be quite a psychiatrist.

The orthopedic effect of mats made of cork with the flat side up (item 5), bath and kitchen utensils (item 6) or plastic household items (item 7) is possible, but unpredictable, even negative. General strengthening – absent. A rug made of pompoms (item.) gives a positive orthopedic effect, but it is very weak. General strengthening effect is zero.

DIY neck massager

People who spend a lot of time at computers are well aware that long periods of “sedentary” work lead to unpleasant pain in the back of the head and neck. You can get rid of the problem in a few minutes using a simple device made from a pair of tennis balls and a medical plaster or tape.

So, to assemble a simple neck massager with your own hands, you need to securely connect two tennis balls together using a patch or tape, which you need to securely tightly onto the base, placing layers crosswise.

The device is ready for use:

lie down on the floor;
place a homemade massager under the back of the head;
rest quietly for 5-10 minutes.

This technique helps to significantly reduce and even get rid of pain in the back and neck.

Another device of this type is suitable for supporters of active treatment. We are talking about a massager called “goosebump”, which can be made at home without a drawing from an old kitchen whisk and small plastic beads:

we disconnect each ring of this kitchen tool using wire cutters;
carefully grind the wire in the places of cuts;

bend the rods in a circle with pliers;
We put beads on the tip of each “tentacle” and carefully secure them using temperature (solder).

The device is ready. Just massage your head with this whisk in a circular motion for 5-10 minutes and the pain, according to the creator of the homemade massager, will instantly disappear. True, after a while, sometimes a repeat procedure is still required.

Benefits and harms

If you use the mat for flat feet correctly, on the recommendation of an orthopedic doctor, there will be no harm to a child or an adult. In addition to its beneficial properties, the massager has a number of contraindications:

Benefit	Possible contraindications
Formation of the correct arch of the foot	Wounds, cuts on the sole of the foot
Strengthening the body's immune defense	Fungal infections of the feet
Improving nervous system activity	Ankle instability
Scoliosis Prevention	—
Relieving pain in the feet	—
Improving the functioning of internal organs	—
Strengthening memory	—
Prevention of flat feet	—
Muscle training	—
Elimination of insomnia	—
Relieving swelling of the lower extremities	—
Preventing corns and calluses	—

Children perceive exercises on mats to prevent flat feet as a game. They should be comfortable standing or walking on uneven surfaces. They should not experience any discomfort or pain.

When starting to use an orthopedic product, which includes mats for the prevention of flat feet, you need to consult with specialists to find out how to use them correctly. It is important to do a warm-up and at the same time make sure that the foot does not receive excessive loads, and also that the unevenness does not cause pain.

Before using the device, you should study the list of possible contraindications

When using a massage mat according to the recommendations of an orthopedic doctor, it is simply impossible to harm your health

How to use it correctly

Most orthopedic mats are used as follows:

spread on a hard, smooth base (not carpet);
take off shoes, socks;
stand on the massager and begin to perform a set of exercises that the doctor should recommend;
The duration of classes starts from 5 minutes a day and gradually increases.

If the task is to prevent or cure flat feet, the complex usually consists of several parts:

warm up the feet, walk on an orthopedic mat;
take steps alternately on the outer and inner sides of the feet;
perform rolls from the toe to the heel area;
walk on toes and heels;
squats;
perform jumps.

If pain occurs during exercise, the workout should be stopped.

Before using the massage mat, your feet must be warmed up.

Exercises that need to be performed on the mat usually combine walking, jumping, and foot rolls.

Types of rugs

Many different types of massage mats have been developed. Each of them is designed to affect a specific part of the human body. There are mats for:

backs;
lower back;
neck;
hips

Despite its narrow purpose, each model also has a general positive effect on the body. According to the type of material, the products are:

natural;
artificial;
combined.

The first ones listed are the best option, especially if they are used for children.

According to the principle of impact, products can be: preventive, therapeutic, orthopedic. The surface topography may also be different. For example, there are models that simulate the landscape of the earth.

Mats are also differentiated by area of application:

automobile;
for office;
domestic;
for kindergarten;
dance

Let's talk in more detail about the types of massage mats, their features and methods of use.

Back massage mat with needles

The most common model. The base is high density fabric. Needle applicators are attached to its surface on top. They look like buttons with barbs. They are most often made of plastic.

A massage mat with needles helps eliminate pain, improves immunity, and improves blood flow.

This simple tool helps in several ways:

improves blood and lymph flow;
relieves increased muscle tone;
eliminates back and neck pain;
relieves headaches and migraines;
helps strengthen the immune system.

Important! After each use, the needle surface must be thoroughly cleaned. To do this you will need a brush and soap solution. This is done in order to remove organic matter from the tips of the needles. An uncleaned surface may cause irritation during subsequent sessions.

Electric back massage mat

The operating principle differs from the classical model. Instead of needle buttons, electrodes are applied to the skin. They are sewn into a fabric base. Most often, such devices are used for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Helps well with osteochondrosis.

A massage pillow is a type of electric massager. Used for osteochondrosis.

Electric models differ in different intensity of exposure. They allow you to set different massage programs, duration and intensity.

Important! Electric massage mats cannot be washed in water. No need to use detergents when washing. Such care may damage the device. It is also undesirable to stand on it. After use, it must be disconnected from the power supply.

The contraindications of the electric model coincide with similar limitations of classic rugs with needles.

Kuznetsov back massage mat

Kuznetsov's massager is a fabric mat. There is soft filling inside it. On the outer surface there are round or square plates. The needle plates have double teeth. This feature distinguishes the Kuznetsov massage mat from other similar devices.

Square or round plates with double teeth distinguish the Kuznetsov applicator from other massage products.

Positive effect of the Kuznetsov applicator on the human body:

relieves pain;
relaxes muscles;
has a positive effect on the nervous system;
accelerates blood circulation;
helps relieve headaches;
improves skin condition.

Most often, the applicator is used for problems with the musculoskeletal system, namely:

radiculitis;
scoliosis;
osteochondrosis;
flat feet;
curvature of the spine.

There are several varieties of the Kuznetsov applicator. First of all, they differ in the color of the needle plates:

Green. Their needles are not too pointed and short. Suitable for people with highly sensitive skin.
Blue. More elongated and thinner needles have a medium intensity effect.
Yellow. Equipped with special magnetic inserts. They make treatment procedures more effective. They have a noticeable effect during acupuncture massage.
Orange. Piercing elements with thin and sharp needles are designed for those who practice yoga.

The applicators may also differ in shape. You should pay attention to this when choosing. Massagers are available in the form of:

rug;
roller;
belts

This is what Kuznetsov's belt looks like.
Each of them is designed to affect specific areas of the body. They walk, lie or stand on rugs. The bolsters are placed under the neck or legs. The belts are worn on the lumbar region and secured with Velcro.

Back massage mat Lyapko

It is an elastic rubber plate. The surface is covered with piercing metal elements:

zinc;
silver;
nickel;
copper;
gland.

It is used to treat osteochondrosis, diseases of the genitourinary system, and cardiovascular diseases. Indicated for physical inactivity, headaches, muscle and joint pain. Helps solve problems of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory and nervous systems.

The needles on the Lyapko massager are made of copper, zinc, iron or silver.

Restores vitality and strengthens the immune system. Used in rehabilitation after traumatic brain injuries, bruises, strokes, fractures, and operations.

Available in different types: roller, mat, tape, belt, insoles. The needles on the surface can be located at different distances from each other and have a certain order of placement. The needle pitch is selected individually.

Therapy occurs due to the impact of a large number of needles on biologically active points.

Car back massage mat

Designed for drivers who spend long periods of time sitting behind the wheel. Installed on a car seat. Orthopedic mats differ in design: from the simplest “braids” made of wooden balls to complex devices with heating and electronic control.

The choice of massage devices for cars is huge. This mat helps relax the back muscles of the driver who has been sitting for a long time.

Orthopedic massage mat

Designed for foot massage. Looks like a rug with a textured surface. Moreover, the relief is not homogeneous, it consists of different types of convexities. They can imitate different natural surfaces - grass, hard pebbles, uneven ground. Some models are made in the form of a puzzle. Each square is different in color and relief.

The rug is made in the form of a puzzle. Each part is different in relief and color.

The bulges on the massager affect certain points of the foot that are responsible for the health of internal organs. Also, heterogeneous convexities on the surface train different muscle groups when walking. Often such devices are used for children, as they help the baby’s foot form correctly.

An option for foot massage is insoles. There are many reflex points on the legs. And each needle affects them, improving the functioning of different body systems.

And some things included

In conclusion, let’s talk about another trick with massage mats for children, which has already been revealed by medical statistics quite a long time ago. Namely: the overall beneficial effect of a massage mat combined with a developmental pillow is stronger than the sum of both used separately. Therefore, if you decide to give your child a massage mat, think about a developmental pillow to go with it. How to make a set of a massage mat and pillow, see the story:

Video: massage mat and pillow

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The difference between children's models and adults

The main difference between children's and adult models is that children aged 1–2 years are suitable for products made from the softest materials, such as silicone. From 3 years old it is allowed to use rubber mats. The rest can use massagers with a hard surface.

Requirements for rugs for children	Requirements for products for adults
Non-toxic materials	For highly sensitive feet - silicone massagers
No chemical smell	Correspondence of size and shape to the exercises that are planned to be performed
Easy to care for	—
Safety	—
Size corresponds to age - the older the child, the larger the area of the product	—

A children's foot mat must meet environmental safety requirements. Therefore, before purchasing a product, you should ask the seller to present a certificate of compliance with hygienic and sanitary standards, and also make sure that the manufacturing materials do not emit toxic compounds into the air.

Children's foot massage mats are made from the softest materials, otherwise they are not much different from adult models

How to make a Kuznetsov applicator with your own hands

Although the device is inexpensive, if you wish, you can not buy it, but make it yourself - the benefits will be no less. To work you will need:

a piece of dense fabric, for example leatherette, measuring 30 x 40 cm;
thin strong fishing line - best for fishing;
152 metal bottle caps;
152 washers.

First of all, you need to mark the places for sewing on the covers - evenly throughout the entire fabric. Then you need to punch 2 holes in the lids. A fishing line is threaded through these holes and the covers are attached to the canvas, and secured with washers on the reverse side.

In addition, the lids can be simply glued to the fabric using high-quality super glue. This option will be less durable, but the device will be made faster.

The nuances of making a children's massage mat with your own hands

If you want to make a rug with your own hands, then take a dense base on which you can sew large buttons, glue streamlined stones, lay out thick cords or pieces of rope.

Although it is probably easier for someone to buy a rubber massage mat for their feet, the process of creating it is actually interesting, and the benefits from it will be enormous!

Share your impressions of the foot massage mat with us and with each other, and we will share the necessary video with you.

Useful purchase: what to look for

When choosing an orthopedic massage mat, you need to focus, first of all, on its size. A small product is suitable for children. For older children, it is better to buy a mat on which you can not only stand or walk, but also perform simple exercises. Adults should choose flooring so that they can take several steps on it.

Those who prefer to do gymnastics on a massage mat should focus on the range of motion (so that you can lunge, sit down, lie down).

The surface relief of the product deserves special attention. Thanks to the different shapes of the convexities, a certain effect is achieved:

plastic tubercles create the feeling of walking along a coastal strip strewn with pebbles;
the tall ledges are reminiscent of walking on grass;
zones with low, hard pile provide more active stimulation of the legs and help relieve muscle tension.

It is best to purchase a combined massage mat with a segmented coating (several sections with different types of relief) made of natural rubber, which will provide a comprehensive effect on the body. And for kids, the best option would be a silicone or rubber puzzle mat made of multi-colored squares, which will fit well into the interior of the children's room. In addition, young athletes will be able to assemble it themselves before classes, giving it the desired shape and size.