The benefits of massaging the hands and feet go beyond comforting relief for just those areas. We know that as long as 4,000 to 5,000 years ago in China, India and Egypt, specific points on patients' feet and hands were manipulated to affect healing in other parts of the body. These treatments were based on energy channels (qi or chi in Chinese and Japanese medicine, prana in Hindu) that flow through specific meridians or zones in the body. In the early 1800s, Dr. William Fitzgerald identified each channel's "reflex points" and their corresponding muscles, organs and functions and plotted detailed maps of the hands and feet.

Reflexology involves the application of deep pressure to these reflex points in order to loosen calcium obstructions and free the nerve pathways. One of the basic principles of reflexology is relaxation.

Hydrotherapy can impart many of the benefits of a true reflexology session. The warm water promotes relaxation, enhancing the effects of the gentle pressure being applied to reflex points on the body. In addition, Sundance jets may be used to target specific pressure points for deep muscle massage. On some models, powerful foot rest jets conveniently massage all areas of the feet, which contain more than 7,000 nerve endings. Mini Intelli-Jets™ allow you to fine-tune the jet stream direction and volume for a precision massage for hands or feet.