“The Stick” Is An Amazing Tool!

Original Body Stick

Here are more testimonials that confirm that The Stick is FANTASTIC!

I found these on a blog called “The Breadcrumb Runner”.  You should really check it out.  The author (Nameless except for a female student residing in the USA) actually titled her blog post as “Holy Stick”.  The first thing you see is a Superman graphic and she starts off with:

“It sits with its pearly-whites glistening in the sunlight, prepared at any moment to come to the rescue of a muscle in distress. With no costume or cape to identify this underestimated super hero as such, it is humble. Neither a resident of Gotham nor Metropolis, and bearing a name of neither Wayne nor Kent, it is not the idol of many popular comics, but rather that of runners’ magazines. What is this faceless, heroic entity? Its name, often whispered among the running community, wields great power. It is called…The Stick.”

It really is a great posting!  She finishes with:

“Essentially, the stick works like a rolling pin on the “dough” of the muscles, allowing you to bake up an epic performance and satisfy your knead for speed.”

Here is the link – http://breadcrumbrunner.blogspot.com/2009/03/holy-stick.html#comment-form

To see all the testimonials that I have collected, go here.

 

Treating Neck Pain

More and more people I come across speak to me about sore necks and headaches from tension.  Although this is not a new phenomenon, I can’t help to think that in many cases it is related to posture and bio-mechanics.  Upon further investigation and questioning, it turns out that computer usage, cell phones, smart phones and MP3 players are largely to blame.

So many of us rely on “screens” to give us information on a daily basis.  We search on the Internet for the best prices and solutions to our questions and problems.  Some of us “text” like crazy with our heads bent forward putting strain on our necks.  Even searching for a song on our MP3’s is putting strain on our necks.  Blackberries, IPhones, Palms and other popular smart phones, have us checking Facebook, Twitter, email and surfing the web at any time in any place.  My point is, if you are not careful with the way you are looking at your screens, it can become a real “pain in the neck”!

Basic ergonomics say that you should sit with the natural curves in your neck and back.  Your computer screen should be at eye height and you should sit upright with your feet comfortably on the ground in front of you.  Your arms and hands should be comfortably bent at close to 90 degrees.  (More to come on another blog post.)

Now let’s talk hand held devices!  It has been very rare for me where I have seen someone on their cell phone texting at eye height.  Take a look around the next time you are out in public.  I also really like the the phone resting on the ear and shoulder routine while driving or taking notes.  I have even seen people out there performing the ear-shoulder routine while copying directions, putting on make-up, smoking and steering with their knees.  OK…. enough ranting!

Again, my point is, be aware of the position you are working/talking/texting/socializing in.

I have come across a great article posted by guardian.co.uk.  It speaks about the various treatments for neck pain.  I have to say that it is quite an extensive list.  They authors go through topics such as:

• Painkillers, heat or ice  for when you first get a sore neck.
• Hands-on treatment by professionals.
• Keeping active and exercising
• Improving your posture

They also go into detail about:

• Treatments that are likely to work - Mobilisation (often done by a physiotherapist), Manipulation (often done by a chiropractor), Exercise, Manipulation plus exercise, and Acupuncture.
• Treatments that need further study - Biofeedback, Drug treatments (Painkillers, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Stronger painkillers, Antidepressants, Muscle relaxants), Hot and cold packs, Being treated by a specialist team, Education programmes, Soft collars and special pillows, Traction, TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), Injections for neck pain caused by an injured nerve, and Surgery for neck pain caused by an injured nerve.

Needless to say, the article is quite good and has references.  You can find it – HERE -

If I can add my two cents, neck pain is nothing to take lightly when it lasts and lasts.  You should definitely seek professional advice.  For basic neck stiffness and soreness that comes and goes from stress and repetitive movements, I would recommend using a massage tool such as the TriggerWheel.  Just roll it up and down your neck and you can instantly identify trigger points and start releasing tension and stiffness.

 Click Here To See The TriggerWheel In action!

Two Useful Websites for Athletes

Here are a few useful websites for you athletes out there.

The first is from NursingDegree.net.  It lists the 100 Best Health and Nutrition Blogs for Athletes.  Take some time and go through these sites.  I am sure you can find some of them useful.  Here are some of the headings:

• Blogs by Athletes and Professionals
• Fitness and Training
• Youth Blogs
• Weight Loss and Dieting
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Recipe Ideas
• Mental Health
• Running
• Sports Medicine
• Rest and Recovery

The next website is About.com.  They have posted information on 5 Common Sports Nutrition Mistakes and How to Solve them.  The article identifies common problems such as:

1. Not Consuming Enough Protein
2. Not Eating Properly Before a Workout
3. Not Getting Enough Iron
4. Not Fueling Properly After a Workout
5. Not Drinking Enough

By no means is this a complete list, so if you know of a few sites that are great, feel free to make a comment below.  You also may want to check some of the links I have posted on The Stick Provided by Zealous Vitality.  I should also add that The Stick is an amazing recovery tool.

Be sure to check back often as I will be adding other resources.

Choosing The Right Massage Stick

This post is a follow- up from a post I created called “The Different Stick Models“.  In that post on Jan 31, 2008, I created a video that explained the different models according to length and flexibility.  A gentlemen by the name of Van wrote a comment saying “Could you make a video helping folks to choose “which” model to buy? This is a great video which shows all the different models, but I’m still confused by ‘which’ model I should buy. For example, provide comparisons on the sprinter model versus the marathon model, compare the body to the stiff stick, etc, to help people choose the right stick for them.”

I will create a video, but let’s first get the basics down first.  We need to keep in mind that body types, height, weight and muscle density vary from person to person.  That is why there are so many different models. 

When I speak of muscle density, I am referring to how heavily an individual is muscled.  For example, do they have the body of The Incredible Hulk or they built like a long and lean Marathon Runner?

Categorized by muscle density: (Note: Sticks are listed from shortest to longest)

• Heavy, dense muscle = Sprinter Stick, Stiff Stick, Big Stick
• Medium, average muscle = Travel Stick, Original Body Stick, Power Stick
• Light, lean muscle = Marathon Stick, Flex Stick

Let’s now explore the rigidity of The Stick.  Basically, every Stick has the same components; handles, spindles and a core.  The core is what makes The Stick stiff or flexible.  The term “standard” refers to a Stick that has a medium flex to it.  A stiffer Stick will give a deeper massage with little effort.  Think of a wooden spoon compared to a plastic spatula.  The wooden spoon offers very little flexibility, where as the spatula can contour to the substance (muscle) a little easier. 

Categorized by rigidity: (Note: Sticks are listed from shortest to longest)

• Stiff Models- Sprinter Stick, Stiff Stick, Big Stick
• Standard Models - Travel Stick, Original Body Stick, Power Stick
• Flexible Models- Marathon Stick, Flex Stick

Note:  Any Stick can be made more stiff my sliding one of your hands onto the spindles (choking up)!

Now we will categorize by the length of The Stick.  The longer models are made for taller individuals.  A longer model also allows for greater ease of movement for working on back muscles.  The longest models are meant for people over 6′2″.

Categorized by length: (Note: Sticks are listed from flexible to stiff)

• Long Models – Flex Stick, Power Stick, Big Stick
• Medium Models – Original Body Stick, Stiff Stick
• Short Models – Marathon Stick, Travel Stick, Sprinter Stick

Here is a comparison chart:

Short Models	Rigidity	Common Usage	Addition Info.
Marathon Stick	Flexible	Lean muscles	Adults,Children,Seniors
Travel Stick	Standard	Average muscles	Great for travelling
Sprinter Stick	Stiff	Heavy muscles	Short and stiff
Medium Models	Rigidity	Common Usage	Addition Info.
Original Body Stick	Standard	Average muscles, full body	Very versatile
Stiff Stick	Stiff	Heavy muscles, full body	Stiff and powerful
Long Models	Rigidity	Common Usage	Addition Info.
Flex Stick	Flexible	Lean muscles, full body	Tall people
Power Stick	Standard	Average muscles, full body	Tall people
Big Stick	Stiff	Heavy muscles, full body	Tall people

I hope this helps!!  To say the least, it is The Original Body Stick that can easily meet the needs of the average person.

Original Body Stick

Please feel free to contact me @ www.thestick.ca or leave a comment below.

What People Say About “The Stick”

I find that testimonials from real people are one of the best ways to review and research a product.  I have been doing a lot of reading about researching products and one of the best ways is to visit forums and blogs.

I found one about The Stick a few months back on the MapMyRun website.  Some comments were:

• “My son has used one for a couple years. It was recommended by his physical therapist when he was recovering from a IT band injury during his junior year of cross-country. He bought his from www.thestick.com and still uses it, although he is no longer running. “

 

•   “I have been very happy with this purchase.  I had IT pain, and lots of tiredness/soreness on the anterior muscles of the lower leg while training for an ultra.  It was a fantastic way to get the blood flowing in those areas and provide therapeutic massage.  I cannot say for sure, but I feel that it helped me avoid injury during higher mileage weeks. “

 

• “I purchased one several years ago on the advice of a personal trainer. I love it! It was definitely the best running investment I made. I had intense knee pain due to ITB tightness. When I use it after runs consistently, I never have a problem. Mine has lasted at least 5 years and has kept my ITB very happy. I recommend it to all runners, as it is relatively inexpensive and can be used for a variety of stretching and massaging moves. “

You can find all the testimonials- here -

I also have been creating a testimonials page on the Zealous Vitality Website.  It is comprised of  people who I know except for the professional sport testimonials.  I don’t claim that I have spoken to people like:

Phil Jackson, Head Coach – LA Lakers

Bob Anderson, Author of Bestseller…Stretching

Norm Miller, Strength coach – Olympic Bobsled Team

You might also want to check out one of my earlier posts – “Does Anyone Use Those Massage Sticks?”

If you have a testimonial about The Stick or anything on this blog, please feel free to make a comment.

 

Avoiding Pain When Cycling

I love to get out on my mountain bike and have a great workout.  One of the problems I have is my geographical  location in Alberta, Canada.  I have to admit that I am somewhat of a weekend warrior, so I naturally wait for the snow to melt, than I get very excited for spring!

I truly enjoying x-country mountain biking, so the road really is not my cup of tea.  However, I do go for a few long road/path rides to get my legs (and butt) back into the shape.  Since discovering The Stick I have taken one on many of my rides to help recover and loosen up my sore muscles.  I also love to use a Stick during a break and right after I am done to aid in recovery.

Needless to say, cycling can be amazing or a real pain in the butt, knees, back, wrists and shoulders.  There are many fitting guides out there and you should always listen to experts or go to your local bike shop to get the personal touch.  For starters, I have a guide to help you.  It is called “Proper Bike Fit Can Prevent Pain and Injury“.  The article gives some good, basic information on the following topics:

• Adjusting the Saddle
• Handlebar Adjustment
• Knee pain
• Neck pain
• Foot pain or numbness
• Hand pain or numbness
• Saddle sores

You can find the full article -Here-

The most interesting note I have to say is that The Stick and it’s related Speciality Products can help with all of the above conditions except saddle sores.  That is a “sensitive” topic. 

Needless to say The Stick is a great tool every cyclist needs to have in their toolbox.

How The Stick Is Different From The Foam Roller

OK… It is not my intention to be controversial, but soooo many people have asked me ” How is The Stick different from a foam roller?”  I will attempt to give the facts as I see them.

I would like to start off by saying that any product you use to enhance your well-being is a good product.  If you like it and it is doing the job you are looking for… then it is a good fit for you.  Many people use multiple products for different applications.  Every person is different based on body composition, level of activity, pain thresholds, mobility and so on.  An individual needs to keep in mind why they are using the product in the first place and what they are using the product for?  If you are using the product because you think everyone else is, then you are not using the product for the right reasons.  Needless to say, I like to live by the saying “If it is not broken, don’t fix it!”  It is OK to tweak things a bit!

With all this in mind, please understand that I am open minded enough to know that there are fantastic products out there that claim and probably do have the same benefits of The Stick.  I am in no way slamming anyone who uses the foam roller.  OK…. here are some of my answers to how The Stick is different from the foam roller:

1. You can use The Stick anywhere @ anytime.
2. The Stick is fully portable.
3. The Stick is waterproof.
4. The Stick travels better as it is smaller.
5. There are many different models of Sticks to suite each individual and if need be – body part.
6. The Stick can be used in any position.
7. The Stick allows you to fully concentrate on the body part you are working on.
8. You do not need to get on the floor to use The Stick.
9. The Stick has a smaller surface area for pinpoint accuracy.
10. You do not need to use your body weight on The Stick.
11. The Stick  is able to contour to your muscles.
12. The Stick has movable spindles which help to massage your muscles, not squish them.
13. You can use The Stick on a friend.
14. You can apply a very wide range of pressures to the body part when you use The Stick.
15. You can (with great ease) massage your entire body from one position with The Stick.
16. The Stick has many applications in the health care and animal field!

Wow… I even surprised myself!  By the way… we own and do use foam roller on occasion!  I also teach athletes and sports medicine students how to use the foam roller.

Please remember one thing….. you do not need to hurt your muscles to help them!  The Stick is simply a tool that all age groups regardless of fitness or body type can use.  In fact, we like to refer to The Stick as a Toothbrush for Muscles!

Specialty Items Page

I have added some information to my Specialty Items page.

You can see pictures and videos for the following products that are also manufactured by the good people who created The Stick:

The Trigger Wheel

The Trigger Wheel is used in the therapy of:

Tension Headaches

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

TMJ Disorder

Epicondylitis

Tendonitis

Shin Splints

And other myofascial conditions and lesions.

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The FootWheel

The FootWheel is very effective in the treatment of:

Plantar Fasciitis

Sore Feet

Flat Feet

Sore/Dropped Arches

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The PostureCurve

The PostureCurve helps to relieve

Back Stiffness

Hip Stiffness

Increasing the Lumbar Curve

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These products really are fantastic!!