Speciality Products Related to The Stick

Here is another video!!

These are the Speciality Items related to The Stick.  They are FANTASTIC!

The Different Stick Models

I am on a video kick now!!

I have just created a video explaining the different Stick models.

Dressing for Cold Weather Running

I just think this video is AWESOME!!

 

Massage Therapy at Home

My last few posts have been a little on the technical side of things.  Let’s talk convenience!!

As I have said in other posts, I don’t believe that The Stick can replace human touch.  However, I do believe The Stick is the next best thing!!

Massage therapy is very effective for a variety of conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, lower back pain, insomnia, stress, headaches, anxiety, circulatory problems, growing pains and recovery from sports injuries.  It is a well-known fact that the build up of anxiety, stress and sleepless nights can cause you to become mentally and physically ill.  Massage of any type can be your open door to wellness.

For many people, they try to “squeeze” in an appointment to see a massage therapist during their already hectic day.  Why not take 15 minutes and work on yourself in the most comfortable environment that you know – YOUR HOME!!  Just take out The Stick, Trigger Wheel and/or Foot Wheel and roll your way to happiness, content and relief. 

Please understand that I am not suggesting you never go see a trained professional again.  Think of The Stick affiliated speciality products as tools that will enhance your over well being.  In fact, I have Massage Therapists, Physiotherapists and Chiropractors who all recommend The Stick to their patients.

Travel Stick

Foot Wheel

Trigger Wheel

                      

Nutritional Biomechanics and The Stick

Have you ever heard of this term “Nutritional Biomechanics”.  I know I didn’t until I got involved in researching about The Stick.  I have posted a description of this interesting subject below.

By the way, I am a firm believer that nutrition and sleep are the top variables that a person can monitor and directly control.  Most of us a born with some combination of  speed, endurance, flexibility and power.  Some people can increase their abilities in one area, but not others, no matter how hard they try.  Some level of improvement will be seen with training.  However, advanced levels of achievement come with years of training and hard work.  Sleep and nutrition are directly controlled on how we take care of our bodies.   Imagine how much harder or how fast a person can recover with proper rest and nutrition?  

Nutritional Biomechanics:

The Stick helps to strengthen your muscles by employing Nutritional Biomechanics.

Here’s a short definition:
“In principle, Nutritional Biomechanics exploits the unique biomechanical relationship between muscle and its nutrient delivery system. Patient care for fibromyalgia syndrome, trigger point pain, muscle strain and delayed muscle soreness is especially magnified by supplementing the patient with a balanced nutritional drink 20-30 minutes prior to therapeutic stretching and massage. Such a protocol will insure that the blood entering the newly relaxed muscle is nutrient-dense. A full complement of nutrients will provide the raw materials needed for healing.”
- Dr. Andrew S. Bonci
Copyright 1992, All Rights Reserved Dr. Andrew S. Bonci Sport Biomechanics Laboratory

As you can see, The Stick can really make a difference in how nutrition is used in the body.  Basically, ingest some nutrient rich substance 20-30 minutes before you use The Stick, then roll out your muscles to increase circulation and blood flow.

 

The Technology Behind The Stick

As a  follow-up post to my last one.  I would like to give some information about the technology behind The Stick.  This should answer the question of what does The Stick actually do?

Here it goes: (Note: Please remember that “Intracell Technology” can be used interchangeably with “The Stick.”)

The Q-10 Effect

Warm muscles perform better than cool muscles. Traditionally, athletes would have to do light exercise to raise muscle temperature and enhance enzyme activity. This came at the expense of energy stores that could make the difference between first place and second place. Intracell Technology™ allows an athlete to warm-up without expending energy reserves.

Speed, Strength and Endurance

Emphasis on flexibility training by most athletes is almost non-existent. However, flexibility is crucial for developments in speed, strength and endurance. The usual approach to flexibility is less than optimal since muscle rarely stiffens uniformly. Typically, isolated segments of muscle become chronically shortened. Intracell Technology™ allows an athlete to perform general stretching as well as segmental stretching procedures with a high degree of precision.

Barrier Trigger Points

Barrier trigger points are inflexible bands of muscle containing knots. These barriers set an artificial ceiling on muscle performance by restricting blood flow to the muscle.And, unrestricted blood flow is vital for both high performance and full recovery from exercise. Intracell Technology™ lifts the ceiling on performance by extinguishing barrier trigger points.

Growth, Repair and Glycogen

Restricted blood flow to the muscles following exercise hinders muscle growth, muscle repair and glycogen repletion. Blood flow restrictions are due to generalized muscle tightness and barrier trigger points. Intracell Technology™ relaxes tight muscle which enhances muscle growth, repairs tissue and augments glycogen repletion following heavy exercise.

Enhanced Lactic Acid Removal

During exercise, lactic acid can build to critical levels where optimal performance is sacrificed. Intracell Technology™ expedites the discharge of lactic acid from your muscles and encourages its conversion into glucose by the liver.

Understanding the Science Behind Exercise?

To truly reap the benefits of exercise, training and recovery, I think it so important to have background knowledge in the basics of Exercise Science.

There has been countless text books, articles and studies completed on this subject.  In fact, the topic of Exercise Science is the basis of University grants and study programs.  Many Universities have Human Performance labs.  There are also countless training facilities that study human exercise at the highest level imaginable.  Not to mention the labs in the animal world as well.  Studying the effects of exercise is big business!!  How do you think the Elite Athletes of the world and their coaches get their information and training tips?

How is your knowledge?  Where do you go for advice?  What is your background in exercise?  Even though I have a Physical Education Degree, teach Sports Medicine, manage an Athletic Department and have numerous coaching and sports medicine related certifications and courses under my belt, I am always updating my knowledge and understanding of Exercise Science. 

I have provided a link to a great (short) article I found that briefly speaks of “The Science Behind Your Workout”.  Basically, the article gives the basic information of these topics:

 

1. The Principle Of Individual Differences
2. The Principle of Overload
3. The Principle of Progression
4. The Principle of Adaptation
5. The Principle of Use/Disuse
6. The Principle of Specificity

It is so important to understand what is happening to your body when you are breaking down muscle tissue and building it back up.  The Stick can help!

The Sprinter Stick

The Massage Stick and Popularity.

The popularity of The Stick really makes me excited.

This wonderful tool has put me in contact with some really exciting people and places.  I have met and corresponded with countless business owners who truly care about their clientele and want to offer their customers fantastic products.  I have spoken with physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, alternative and holistic medicine experts, equine massage therapists, horse owners, horse stores, pet owners, pet stores, rehabilitation stores, running stores, bike stores, triathlon stores, personal trainers and gyms.

Off the top of my head, I have met and worked with athletes from various sports/activities/athletics including: (but not limited to) track and field , basketball, volleyball, individual athletes, bmx, dancers, gymnasts, swimmers, hockey, football, weight lifters, ski racing, equestrian, runners, cyclists, marathon runners, triathletes,  snowboarders, badminton, tumbling and trampoline, x-country skiers and runners, climbers, rugby, golf, tennis, racquetball, ultimate frisbee, squash and more!!!

My company, Zealous Vitality Inc. has given me the opportunity to converse with individuals from all over North America about The Stick.  To mention a few, this simple to use muscle massage tool has put me in contact with people from Alberta, Saskatoon, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, Georgia and even the UK.

Then again, I am also very excited when I meet people who have never even heard of The Stick.  In fact, just the other day, a lady from around the corner from me here in Alberta, Canada contacted me for a Stick after she was redirected from the US.  She could not believe that her physiotherapist has never heard of The Stick.  I also had  a neighbour drop by and ask about the what the decals on my truck were all about.  He simple asked “What is The Stick?“

It truly is amazing what can happen when the word goes out when a product is really as good as we claim it is.

Does Anyone Use Those Massage Sticks?

I just found a great forum that answers the the above question 100%!

It is a forum post from a  site called TRIFUEL. It is a site for Triathlon.

Here is the exact question posted:
“Just wonderin if anyone uses one of those massage sticks after their workouts? My legs are screaming lately and need a little work….thought I’d try one and thought I’d ask her first…….or a rolling pin, but I hear they aren’t very good!!”

To me, the biggest differences between The Stick and a rolling pin are:
- you will get pin point accuracy with The Stick
- a rolling pin squishes your muscles
- The Stick massages your muscles
- it is hard to put a rolling pin in your bag
- there is no scientific studies about using a rolling pin
- The Stick has some flexibility to it
- The Stick has much better handles

There are 11 different comments as of Jan 12, 2009.

It is well worth a look.

http://www.trifuel.com/forum/17250/does-anyone-use-those-massage-sticks

 

Massage Therapy Reduces Muscle Soreness

As you can see from my last post, massage has been the topic of study for its ability to relieve pain and soreness. Especially concerning high intense exercise.  Specifically, sore muscles, are attracting increased attention as sports massage becomes a regular part of an athletes’ training regiment.

As I mentioned before, there has been recent studies that highlight some of the benefits of receiving massage therapy after a training session to reduce soreness.

Researchers at the University of Iowa, studied DOMS. Participants in the study exerted their muscles, then were assessed for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. Deep tissue massage was given to the participants, then their level of soreness was reanalyzed.

In this study from Iowa, Frey Law et al., were looking for the analgesic effects of massage on reducing soreness. They found that the participants muscle symptoms were decreased by as much as 50%. Depending on the pain measures taken, they found muscle soreness was relieved by 25%-50%.  Those are significant findings! 

In addition, at Kings College of London,  a study by Hurley and Bearne reported that massage was amongst the non-exercise physical therapies found to be effective for treating musculoskeletal conditions. They also mentioned other reasons to use massage for pain relief as cost efficient and easy to self-administer. 

After reading these studies, The Stick is the perfect tool for helping with muscle soreness when it comes to DOMS.  You can use The Stick anytime and anywhere with easy and accuracy.  The Stick is very cost efficient.  To find out more, visit our site – The Stick provided by Zealous Vitality Inc.