Sham massage (SM) protocol
The sham massage method used here was similar to foot modelling for well-being purposes and aimed to relax the muscles. The participants received a standardised 10-min massage directly in the MRI scanner. The technique is exclusively manual, practiced with the palms of the hands and the fingers. The pressure is vertical to the skin, such as a gentle touch manipulation, the depth limit is before the sensation of rebound. The sham massage protocol consisted of gentle touch of the foot, starting from the toes to the heel, then circling the ankle and moving up to the toes. This sequence was repeated for 10 min. No specific points were pressured, as opposed to FR.