(affiliate link) to roll out the tightness in my lower back and legs. It did help but I won't lie, it's not exactly the most graceful thing to master. It's pretty big and you have to contort yourself in different ways to hit the right spots and you look like a fool doing it. Yes...the Mr laughs at me. Trust me, it doesn't look as cute as those models doing it in Shape magazine.But one day the Mr sent me a link to this baby and my life has never been the same.
That is since I got The Stick -Travel Size (17-Inch version)
. (affiliate link) It's this mini roller that has made life much more tolerable. I use it a few times a week especially after doing workouts that really put my legs through the paces. I used it after some soreness with snowshoeing over the winter and I try to do it at least twice a week. It's small enough to keep beside the couch so I can just whip it out and roll over my IT band, calves and achilles area when I'm having a flair.
. (affiliate link) It's this mini roller that has made life much more tolerable. I use it a few times a week especially after doing workouts that really put my legs through the paces. I used it after some soreness with snowshoeing over the winter and I try to do it at least twice a week. It's small enough to keep beside the couch so I can just whip it out and roll over my IT band, calves and achilles area when I'm having a flair.
Do you have to be in pain or have a condition to use it? Heck no! The shoes we wear, standing at work, running/walking and just normal wear and tear on our legs are enough reason to use it to keep the muscles loose. If you think muscle manipulation is a bunch of mumbo jumbo, I can assure you, it's not. If you don't believe me, believe Mr Skeptic. The Mr never put much stock in foam rolling or at minimum, he didn't like to do it because of the initial pain involved when rolling the tight area. Then one night he got a hellacious muscle cramp that wasn't going away. He tried his usual caveman approach of "punch it and it will go away." When that didn't work, I pulled out "The Stick" (affiliate link) and gave him "the look." He took it and asked where to roll. I asked where the cramp was and showed him the muscle that connected to that area, he rolled it out and it didn't come back. As if that didn't sell him, he had a pain shooting through his foot that was causing him to wince every time he stood up. I showed him where to roll and then I rolled it while I had him do an achilles stretch and use the tennis ball on the bottom of his foot and it went away within 5 minutes. I even showed it to my cousin who does a ton of plyometric workouts and is really hard on his legs and I could tell he wanted to steal it. He said it gets all of those nooks and crannies you can't get to with a regular one and he's right. It can get into any area and not just the legs. I've used it for tension headaches and rolled my shoulders and I've rolled my lower back too.
(affiliate link) and gave him "the look." He took it and asked where to roll. I asked where the cramp was and showed him the muscle that connected to that area, he rolled it out and it didn't come back. As if that didn't sell him, he had a pain shooting through his foot that was causing him to wince every time he stood up. I showed him where to roll and then I rolled it while I had him do an achilles stretch and use the tennis ball on the bottom of his foot and it went away within 5 minutes. I even showed it to my cousin who does a ton of plyometric workouts and is really hard on his legs and I could tell he wanted to steal it. He said it gets all of those nooks and crannies you can't get to with a regular one and he's right. It can get into any area and not just the legs. I've used it for tension headaches and rolled my shoulders and I've rolled my lower back too.
This size is the perfect size to travel with and it's already saved me after long days of walking on trips. I kind of forgot about it because I'm so used to it but then I used it and thought "crap I forgot to spread the good word, yo!" I know I couldn't live without this thing now and it's cheap enough that you should definitely consider it if you do any kind of exercise or walk around in high heels. If you don't believe me, just click through the links above and read the reviews on it from other Amazon users. People swear by it and it's like having your own personal deep tissue masseuse on staff whenever you want it!
(This post contains an affiliate link. Should you buy through it, I will get a few cents to keep the blog up and running and you'll get the best massage of your life with this baby.)
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Sounds like a cool little gadget. I may have to look for one, I can see where it would be useful to have some nights.
ReplyDeleteI clicked on the link to check it out, then I clicked on massage sticks in general to see what else was out there. OMG!!! I saw different sticks, then about halfway down, it started to show me, um, other types of massagers :). Did I mention I'm at work right now? Too funny.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check this out. My pain is primarily in my lower back and feet but I know it's all connected. The foam roller's sounded great but you pretty much have to roll around on the floor to make them work and on bad back days that can be a real issue.
ReplyDeleteI'm in! A couple of my friends are physical therapists and they have been on me about using the foam roller because my IT bands are so tight my knee caps actually pull to the outsides of my knees when I sit. I'm clicking on the link above now and will be purchasing. Thank you my friend! This is something I can manage quite well. I have constant tightness in my right calf no matter how much stretching I do...this just might help!
ReplyDeleteWow, it's like you read my mind! I have a high-density foam roller, but it has been driving me nuts because it is so hard to contort my body to really work my calves and IT band. This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for! I ordered this from Amazon this afternoon and I can't wait for it to come in. Thanks for the product review!
ReplyDelete