If your feet are aching after a long day, a foot massage can give you much-needed relief. But it doesn't just feel good. Research shows that it has health benefits, too.

Even a brief foot massage can ease stress and perk you up. That's a good thing, because cutting stress and bosting energy raise the odds you'll make healthy choices like exercising and eating right.

But how does massage do all that? It activates your nervous system, which increases feel-good brain chemicals like endorphins. In one study, people who got foot massage after surgery to remove their appendix had less pain and used fewer painkillers.

That's not all, though. Foot massage boosts your circulation, which helps with healing and keeps your muscles and tissues healthy. That's especially important if you have health problems that add to poor circulation or nerve damage, like diabetes.