Leg massagers - do they work?

February 22, 2019 3:54 PM

I stand around a lot at work, and my feet/legs are killing me. I saw an ad for a leg massager and want to know if those actually help or aren't dangerous.

My job has me standing around on hard concrete in heavy safety shoes a lot, and I also stand on the train for up to an hour depending every day. I also walk a lot as my office is far from the station (on average 8 km a day) and my feet hurt A LOT most days. (I also still have mysterious pain in one ankle that doctors think I'm making up, and I use a pain numbing cream on that side, which helps a little.)
Women in my family tend to have vein problems such as a varicose veins, and I'm almost 30, so I worry about that a little. (This job is not a forever job, but I have to make it work for most of this year.) I'm also on a progesterone-only pill, so not super worried about blood clots.

So far, I've been aiming to put my feet up at night after getting home, which is mostly for half an hour tops as I fall asleep soon after dinner due to my exhausting days. I've been propping a pillow under my feet at night as well. I've had my husband massage some tiger balm into them, and tried stick-ons that promise to relax your feet. They still hurt.

I saw an ad on the train for a Panasonic leg massager (I'm sure there are others) and was wondering if those work, or are even harmful for some people. If they do work, is there one you recommend? If they don't work, what do you do for leg and foot pain? I don't want to spring for a real massage every week because those only feel good right after and then my body hurts even more when I misuse it.

posted by LoonyLovegood to Health & Fitness (12 answers total)

Compression socks and changing into a second pair of shoes midway thru a shift helps alot.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 3:57 PM on February 22, 2019 [4 favorites]

I have very good luck with a lacrosse ball, or even one of the massage balls that has spikes on it like a dryer ball. You can roll them under your feet and on your legs, and there are a million foam roller videos on youtube. Sounds like woo, but totally works.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 4:13 PM on February 22, 2019 [2 favorites]

We swear by this pillow.
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:25 PM on February 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

I bought someone a $400 leg massager. I hate it, myself, he loves it. He works from home once a week and I swear his legs are in it for 8 hours. But definitely worth trying one out first.
posted by OrangeVelour at 4:26 PM on February 22, 2019

You could try freezing a cylindrical bottle of water, slipping it into a sock to reduce the cold shock, and then rolling it on the floor with your foot while you sit in the evening. I found this to be helpful and cheap. If you are standing most of the day, you might find calf stretching feels good. One way to do this is to use the steps, having your toes and the ball of your foot on a step facing toward the top of the flight, but hanging your heels off the step and very gently bouncing, stretching your calves.

It's also possible more flexible shoes with good arch support could help, and if you changed into your safety shoes at work you could do your commute in shoes that are better for your feet and legs.
posted by citygirl at 7:13 PM on February 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

I wore those elasticized knee socks under wool socks (less sweat with wool) and Dr. Scholl athletic insoles. I agree changing socks and or shoes during the day can help greatly, but I found an Epsom Salts bath was essential every night or I couldn't sleep for the muscle cramps in my legs and feet. You could also try lying on the floor with your feet up against a wall to reverse the blood flow. Also, sit with one ankle on the opposite knee and press gently down on the bent knee, to push away from your body. This will help your hips and back. As much as possible, sit with your feet up. I got a footstool at the thrift store to help with plantar fasciitis, and it helped my legs, too. I wish I had better advice.
posted by Enid Lareg at 8:00 PM on February 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

I've tried the kind you get in a mechanical mall massage chair once or twice and remember it feeling good, although I can't speak to longer-term effects. The Panasonic ones are expensive but there seem to be cheap knockoffs (around $50 on the US Amazon site, anyway) that might be affordable enough to just give it a try. (I've been pleasantly surprised by other knockoff massage machines.) You might also find a brick and mortar place that will let you try one out for a few days in the store so you can get a sense of what it does.

Other than that I agree with the recommendation to try different insoles in your shoes. (You might have to remove the existing ones to make room.) Switching between different kinds every day or two can be good. Foam roller/hard ball)/trigger point massage might also help, and gentle stretching is probably a good idea.

If none of that helps much, consider seeing what a physical therapist can offer. You don't want to wind up with a more lasting injury.
posted by trig at 3:46 AM on February 23, 2019

Also, if the walking you do is also in the heavy safety shoes I'd bring a more suitable pair along for the times when you don't need the safety gear.
posted by trig at 3:52 AM on February 23, 2019

This may seem like silly advice, but have you shopped around for more expensive safety shoes? Members of my family with very similar sounding job situations upgraded to expensive boots, they actually wear them on the weekends sometimes now because they are so comfortable. (I forget the brand but memail me if you want me to dig it up.)

For me (no safety shoes, less standing at work but on concrete, way more standing on a train, generally walk the same or a bit more than you) changing shoes, replacing my sneakers more often, and expensive wool socks help a lot. Can you walk around or take more frequent breaks? I think it's ok to be on your feet all day (health wise, obviously it's exhausting and your feet will probably hurt) if you move, but maybe both of us should confirm with a doctor..
posted by love2potato at 7:37 AM on February 23, 2019

I can vouch for the acupressure machine that has little nubs that go up and down. not the machines where you can't see inside the footholes. I think those have rollers inside not nubs. the machine we have is by Ucomfy

my husband had a stroke and he has a paralyzed foot and I depend on this machine to keep circulation in his foot

we also tried compression socks but I believe they cut off circulation to his toes and his physician assistant hates compression socks. so we have permanently ditched them
posted by cda at 11:52 AM on February 23, 2019

I linked to Amazon but the Ucomfy is probably cheaper at Walmart or similar. but the Ucomfy is the only brand I know that has the moving nubs (as opposed to rollers)
posted by cda at 11:56 AM on February 23, 2019

The spiky balls someone mentioned above are good, but the ones you often see for sale are really hard. Softer ones like this are way, way better for foot massage, I've found.
posted by penguin pie at 3:20 PM on February 23, 2019