A system for improving blood circulation, the system comprising a control unit comprising a processor and at least one article of footwear wherein one or more of the at least one articles of footwear together or alone comprise: one or more actuators coupled to and controlled by the control unit; and a flexible wearable material comprising: one or more electrically-conductive paths; and one or more sensors integrated into the wearable material and coupled to the processor, for providing measurement signals to the control unit; the system further comprising an electrical power supply for supplying electrical power to the one or more sensors by means of the one or more electrically-conductive paths, wherein at least one of the at least one article of footwear comprises an insole and a cushioning layer located between the insole and the flexible wearable material.