Foot Massage

Foot massage at Athlete’s Choice Massage is a 45 minute treatment for tired, aching feet, heel pain and plantar fasciitis. Your RMT works the feet, ankles and calves, the whole chain that takes a beating when you stand, walk or train all day. It is available at all four Edmonton and Sherwood Park clinics, and because it is massage therapy from an RMT, we can direct bill it to most major insurers.

It is massage therapy, not a foot spa. There is no soak and no pedicure, just focused hands-on work on the tissue that hurts, and most people walk out with feet that feel noticeably lighter.

Who is a foot massage for?

Anyone whose feet are the first thing to complain at the end of the day. That includes nurses, retail and restaurant staff, teachers and tradespeople who spend their shifts standing, runners and walkers building up mileage, and people with heel pain that is worst in the first few steps out of bed.

The most common reasons clients book:

• Tired, aching feet after long shifts on hard floors
• Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
• Arch strain and tightness through the sole of the foot
• Tight calves and stiff ankles that pull on the foot
• Sore feet from new shoes, a new running plan or a long trip

Does foot massage help with plantar fasciitis?

Yes, especially as part of a plan that includes stretching. The NHS describes plantar fasciitis as pain on the bottom of the foot around the heel and arch, often worst when you start walking after rest, and lists calf and foot stretches among the main things that help.

The hands-on part has evidence behind it too. A 2026 randomized trial of 58 adults with plantar fasciitis found myofascial release reduced pain and improved foot function more than calf stretching alone over eight weeks, with no reported side effects. That is the kind of work your RMT does on the plantar fascia and calf.

Heel pain has other causes as well, so the NHS heel pain guidance is a good check on when to see a GP. Massage fits alongside that care rather than replacing it.

Is a foot massage relaxing?

For most people, very. Even with clinical work in it, a foot massage is one of the most calming treatments we offer. In a small randomized trial of older adults, a 15 minute Thai foot massage lowered a measured stress index and increased markers of parasympathetic, “rest and digest”, nervous system activity compared with lying down for the same time.

So if your feet are sore and you are also run down, this is a good booking. Your therapist adjusts the pressure to what you need that day, firmer through a tight arch and lighter where you just want the tension gone.

What happens during a foot massage appointment?

You start with a short assessment, then about 40 minutes of treatment on your feet and lower legs.

Your RMT will ask where it hurts, when it is worst, what you do on your feet all day and what shoes you wear. They will check how your ankle and foot move and feel for tension through the arch, heel and calf. Treatment then focuses on what they find, usually a mix of:

• Deep tissue and myofascial work along the sole and heel
• Trigger point release through the calf and arch
• Ankle and toe mobilisation
• Lighter work to finish, so you leave relaxed rather than sore

You stay clothed, so wear something you can roll up to the knee. Before you leave you get simple home care: calf and foot stretches, rolling the arch with a ball, and footwear tips if your shoes are part of the problem.

Foot massage, reflexology or Thai foot massage: which should I book?

Book a foot massage if your feet hurt. Choose one of the other two if relaxation is the main goal.

	Foot massage	Reflexology	Thai foot massage
Best for	Aching feet, heel pain, plantar fasciitis	Stress and relaxation	Relaxation and stiff, tired feet
What it works	Muscles and fascia of the feet and calves	Pressure points on the feet, hands and head	Thai pressure lines, compression and stretching

If your foot pain comes with tight hips or low back pain, a full therapeutic massage can cover the feet and the rest of you in one visit.

Book a foot massage in Edmonton & Sherwood Park

Foot massage is available at all four Athlete’s Choice Massage clinics: West Edmonton, Downtown Edmonton, South Edmonton and Sherwood Park. Book a 45 minute Therapeutic Foot Massage online or call 780-433-0550.