Today we will tell you:
- what are orthopedic massage mats for,
- what types of mats are there and how to choose them correctly,
- is it possible to make an orthopedic mat with your own hands at home.
Orthopedic mats are used not only in the complex treatment of foot deformities (flat feet, varus or valgus positioning). The human foot is originally designed for walking on uneven surfaces: grass, sand, stones. If we do not give the foot the load it is intended for, we get weak muscles and ligaments at the base of our body. That is why it is so useful to walk barefoot on pebbles, the sea coast and... massage mats, when natural reliefs are not available.
In the meantime, our topic is precisely orthopedic mats, exercises on which give a good effect precisely in terms of orthopedics, for the prevention of foot deformities or during the treatment of already identified ones.
What types of orthopedic mats are there?
Orthopedic massage mats differ in:
- material: natural (pebbles, wood, cork) and artificial (PVC, EVA, etc.)
- shape and size,
- relief.
Today, modern materials: hypoallergenic, hygienic, with excellent shock-absorbing properties. And they are in no way inferior to natural materials: stone, wood, cork oak bark. And it is difficult to argue which pebbles on the mat are better: colored plastic or those given by the sea and the river? Rather, the choice here is determined solely by personal preferences.
Relief plays an important role: it is recommended to walk on different surfaces - this way the muscles and ligaments of the foot receive loads of varying degrees. In addition, it is pleasant and interesting to walk not just on pimples and bulges, but on mushrooms, or cones, or thorns. Both for children and adults.
How to choose an orthopedic mat?
Often, buyers are guided by practicality. In this regard, the winners are puzzle massage mats. Such mats are easy to wash and convenient to store. You can buy as many elements as you need. Different reliefs can be combined with each other. These mats are durable and do not wear out. Ortek puzzle mats are interesting to assemble. They are the best-selling massagers in the entire range.
Another important factor: what you want :) Take a mat that the person who will be exercising on it likes.
Where to place a foot massage mat? And what to do if there is little space in the apartment?
From practice: it can be placed in front of the sink. Then the whole family will certainly step on it and massage their feet with pleasure in the morning and evening, while washing and brushing their teeth. Each family member will have a favorite relief: someone likes puzzles-spikes resting against the longitudinal arch, someone likes tingling grass, someone likes cute cones, and someone stern likes hedgehogs.
If there is enough free space for exercises, you can buy more puzzles - you can make a winding path with adventures or a large rectangular rug from them.
If you are closer to the theme of ecology, you can choose massage rugs made of natural pebbles. Just imagine: not long ago, these stones, placed on your personal pebble mat, were warmed by the sun and licked by the salty waves... Also, supporters of ecology can opt for a textile mat with wooden elements. In addition, the choice in favor of a pebble or wooden mat can be dictated by the desire to harmoniously fit the new accessory into the existing interior.
Perhaps the “hardest” mat is with wooden elements in the form of thorns. But the sensations after using it are absolutely extraordinary! After walking on it for literally 2-3 minutes with bare feet, get off the mat, and any other surface will seem soft and pliable to you. The usual linoleum, or laminate, or tiles will seem like the softest carpet. But to use such a mat, you need to be ready for a thrill ;)
How to make a child or yourself exercise on a massage mat?
Sometimes a conscious person, driven by concern for their own health, can easily pull themselves together (or their feet :) and do a list of necessary exercises daily that are good for their feet for 10 minutes. But not everyone can boast of iron self-discipline ;) Then it is better to place the mat in a place that you will definitely not pass by. For example, in front of the already mentioned washbasin, or in the shower stall (if we are talking about PVC mats, of course).
Here is a review from one of our customers (a financially literate and practical person):
Anastasia, in her interesting and short review, among other things, tells us how to motivate a child to exercise on an orthopedic mat. Probably, following the personal example of parents concerns not only mats, but also many other aspects of life. Using the experience and specific approaches of our customers to the activities, we can offer several more interesting ways to motivate a child to exercise on the mat:
- a treat after the activities,
- a cartoon after the exercises,
- attractions during a walk, etc.
And then, as practice shows, children are interested in jumping and striding along the multi-colored elements of the mat with different reliefs. Many children will find it interesting to assemble the mat on their own: today the child will put its parts in one order, tomorrow - in another. Puzzle mats are great for children; they can be connected to form paths with turns and even entire carpets.
By the way, we will definitely tell you how to exercise on an orthopedic mat. Especially for this, we have made a video assistant How to exercise on a massage mat, where we have provided a list of basic exercises. Based on these movements, you can create your own unique gymnastics.
How much does an orthopedic mat cost?
The price of the mat depends on the material and size. Let's assume that all the mats under consideration are a priori high-quality and from a reliable manufacturer - and it is from such mats that you should choose. Therefore, we will focus on these two factors and show what range of rugs the OLVI.UA online store has.
If we focus on the price at the time of writing, then, for example, one element of the Ortek puzzle rug costs 192 UAH. The same is the cost of a massage ball that can be rolled by holding it with your feet. A rug of 4 elements - 811 UAH. A rug of six elements - 1163 UAH. Pebble massage rug - from 528 UAH. Mattress made of artificial variegated pebbles looks cool and costs 1559 UAH (150 cm x 40 cm) at the time of writing.
Well, let's read this article in two or three years and see how the prices have changed ;)
DIY orthopedic mat
If you have a rich imagination, a lot of time, and your hands are tuned to the right wave in terms of craftsmanship, then you can make the mat yourself. Although, you know, you can even do without imagination, since the Internet is full of articles, videos and posts about how to make an orthopedic mat, what parts to use for the relief and how to use the resulting product correctly in the future.
So, the following materials are suitable as relief for a homemade mat:
- sea or river pebbles,
- natural cork (you can carefully cut wine corks lengthwise),
- buttons,
- ropes, braided bundles, felt strips.
There is another option of so-called stuffed rugs, when the relief is a sewn pillow filled, for example, with cherry and sweet cherry pits, dates, peaches and apricots, apple and pear seeds. Cheap and cheerful. And useful.
Numerous Internet craftsmen also use other elements, both natural and artificial, but the use of some of them is undesirable.
- Chestnuts or acorns are a free material that can be collected in abundance in the nearest park. They are great as a relief, but they are good only when fresh, in which, however, they remain for a relatively short time (especially acorns). Over time, they dry out and crack. Firstly, cracked acorns and chestnuts can injure the skin of the feet. Secondly, the burst shell releases tannins (polyphenols), which are undesirable for the skin. Chestnuts will last longer, but watch the integrity of the shell.
- Real cones can also injure the skin of the feet.
- Plastic bottle caps, if turned upside down, cause painful sensations. If upside down, their smooth surface does not have a very high therapeutic effect.
And a really luxurious tip: if you are the happy owner of your own home, you can lay out a whole path or even a clearing from pebbles. The result of this work looks like a whole work of art.
And while you are outdoors, do not forget to take off your shoes when possible and relatively safe. And don't forbid children to do this - let them run around barefoot.
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