Overall, it is important to make sure you know what your feet can handle when considering a new foot massager, Kuhn says. “If you have decreased sensation in your feet or neuropathy, you may not be able to tell if the pressure is too much, if the temperature is too high, and/or if an injury or cut happens,” she explains.

Here are some of the main things to consider when shopping for a quality foot massager:

Massage methods

Depending on what you’re looking to get out of your massager, you might look for different modes. Air compression is a common mode in foot massagers, and it’s great for circulation, Dr. Rimawi says.

However, if you’re looking for something to reduce specific tension in your feet, you should look for something more targeted, such as a massage gun.

Heat

Dr. Rimawi recommends staying away from heat entirely if you have neuropathy to reduce risk of injury. “If you can’t sense if the heat is too much, you run the risk of burning your skin,” he says. “This is something we see often as podiatrists.”

Of course, a little heat won’t harm your feet, but Dr. Rimawi recommends exercising with caution and avoiding massagers with heat altogether if you can.

Controls

Whether you have controls on your foot massager is really up to your personal preference. Certain buttons can make it easier to control heat and vibrations, which can be beneficial if you have neuropathy. You may also prefer that your foot massager come with a remote control, so that you don’t have to bend down to switch to a different function—all up to you.