Everyone Should Have a Massage Stick Called “The Stick”!
When I say that “Everyone Should Have a Massage Stick”, I am speaking of The Stick.
Original Body Stick
I am not speaking of any other type of a massage stick that is out there, because I am not sure about them. What I am sure about is how effective The Stick is on sore, tired muscles. The Stick is the original patented device created to massage muscles.
Here is an exert that RPI of Atlanta created to help explain what The Stick is:
“Intracell Technology™ is founded on solid, scientific evidence in muscle physiology. It employs a sophistication that attracts progressive practitioners, top level athletes, performing artists and individuals who aspire to gain and retain peak physical performance.
Intracell Technology™ employs the use of a patented, proven, therapeutic muscle device that will improve the quality and quantity of bodily motion at work, at play, and at home. The instrument is trademarked the INTRACELL® in the healthcare community and The Stick® in all other markets.”
It really does not matter who you are or what you do. We all experience muscle stiffness and or pain at some point in our lives. The Stick:
- Improves Strength
- Increases Flexibility
- Extends Endurance
- Accelerates Recovery Time
- Reduces Muscle Soreness, Stiffness & Pain
- Prepares Muscle for Rigors of Activity
- Flushes Muscle from Rigors of Activity
Most of all The Stick INCREASES CIRCULATION!!! By having good circulation throughout your body, your muscles can perform to their potential while being efficient at daily tasks. Good circulation means your tissues are getting the needed oxygen and blood supply. Without proper circulation, limbs can feel weak and cold.
For these simple reasons above, I recommend that everyone should have a Stick in their home or workplace to roll their way to healthy, happy muscles. There is nothing worse than being stiff and sore!!
The Stick is incredibly easy to use. It takes up no room at all and best of all, you probably won’t need another one for a very long time!!
This Guy Is Addicted To The Massage Stick Called “The Stick”.
Fantastic site to visit!
I can’t help but post “Joe Biker’s” explanation why he is addicted to using The Stick. He is simply hilarious!!!!
Here is the first paragraph: (his analogies are brilliant)
- “You want a terrorist to talk, give him a spirited rubdown with one of these massage sticks. I bought one of these over the weekend at the expo for Cincinnati’s Flying Pig Marathon. Gitmo officials listen up. Trust me. Put away the water boarding bucket and blindfold. Get yourself a massage table (with hand and foot restraints if you feel so inclined) and one of these puppies. Then go gather up the worst of the worst for a sensual massage. No doubt you’ll have Osama’s home address and an invitation to a cave dinner party within twenty deep strokes of the right calf muscle.”
Joe Biker finishes his post with:
- “However, you have to respect the stick and its allure. Even after a day or two, you’ll start using it all over your body, contorting yourself like a yoga master to get ever little hitch out of your muscular system. You’ll leave it on the sofa and give yourself a rub down during 30 Rock commercial breaks. Then the first warning sign will appear. You’ll consider buying another, so you can have one at work. After that it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be in a 12 step program for those with stick addiction.”
Check out the entire post here – http://thebestbikeblogever.blogspot.com/2009/05/addicted-to-massage-stick-torture.html
The Stick and Recovery
I always love to hear how people are using The Stick! I actually search for people who use this muscle device and see how they apply it to their daily routines.
Many people refer to The Stick as a muscle massager, massage stick or muscle stick. Whatever you like to call it, The Stick works!
I just found a guy named Tim Hull. He calls himself and his website TheStrengthDoctor.com. Here is his bio:
“My Name is Tim Hull. I have worked in the health and fitness field in various ways for over 15 years. I have licenses in Physical Therapy and Massage Therapy. Currently I work in a Physical Therapy outpatient clinic in Ohio working with a variety of patients. Also working on some exciting projects to be announced soon!
My passion is developing workouts that offer variety, fun, are challenging, and most of all are effective. I love to share my knowledge of training and rehabilitation, so that others may benefit and improve their health. ”
On Tim’s blog, he wrote:
Recovery With Massage Stick
There is a growing movement of people using foam rollers to prepare the muscles for exercise and recover from their workouts. Though rollers do a good job, prefer to use “The Stick”.
I feel that The Stick works better for me and is not as awkward as foam rollers.
Go -here- for the whole article!
He really has some good stuff on his site!!
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. “
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“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.
An Article About Knee Pain
Knee pain can be debilitating for anyone, never mind athletes!
Getting the correct diagnosis can help you reach recovery faster. I recommend seeing a number of people or experts. A second opinion is always great just to confirm what you may already know or what someone suspects may be the problem. Always take the opinion of an expert/professional!!
Once you have been diagnosed (by a professional) you can start on your rehabilitation. I have included a great article I found about treating knee pain through resistance training exercises. The title is:
A Strength Coach’s Guide to Dealing with Pain: Part 2, Knee Pain
By Andrew Paul
Basically, Mr. Paul provides advice and exercises on the following topics:
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Pain is right down the middle of the patella
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Pain is on the upper, medial portion of the patella
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Nagging pain on the lateral side of the knee
I think he does a wonderful job explaining and illustrating strengthening exercises. To see the whole article click – HERE -
So how does The Stick relate to this article? Massage sticks are mentioned in one of the opening paragraphs as a means to loosen up the quadriceps to help prevent knee pain. Mr. Paul also writes about trigger points, knots, and managing soft tissue. In addition, he mentions the TFL and IT band.
Using “The Stick” for Reducing Muscle Soreness
Many people believe that stretching before and after an activity or training session will prevent muscle soreness.
Before we get to far into this topic, it might be a good idea review another post I did titled “Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and The Stick“.
Muscle soreness is a result of microscopic tears to the muscle itself. After vigorous activity, it is not uncommon to have tight, sore muscles. There is a place for stretching and it does help to relieve some of the tightness, but is it effective? Some people say Yes, others say No! As you might guess, this is a hotly debated topic!
Research has stated that stretching after exercise does not help muscle soreness! In fact 10 studies produced very consistent findings. They showed there was minimal or no effect on the muscle soreness experienced between half a day and three days after the physical activity. In other words, the author found that the evidence derived from mainly laboratory-based studies of stretching indicate that muscle stretching does not reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness in young healthy adults. To see the whole article, click here!
It is well known that massage therapy reduces muscle soreness. That is where The Stick comes in! You can massage your muscles anytime and anywhere. NO SPECIAL EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED! You can roll out your muscles sitting in a chair, standing with a leg up, sitting on the ground or even kneeling!
The Stick is the right massage tool to help reduce muscle soreness! Many people refer to The stick as a massage stick.
The Sprinter Stick
Avoiding Injury With “The Stick”
You ask yourself, how can a massage stick help me to avoid injuries? Here is how:
- By rolling over your muscles, you can feel tightness.
- By rolling over your tight muscles, you will loosen them up.
- By rolling over your muscles, you may feel knots (trigger points). Knots lead to injuries.
- By rolling over your muscles, you will release those knots.
- By rolling over your muscles before exercise, you will warm them up.
- By rolling over your muscles after exercise, you will help to cool them down.
- By rolling over your muscles, you will increase circulation. Poor circulation leads to muscle fatigue.
- By rolling over your muscles, you will segmentaly stretch each muscle. Flexibility is good!
- By rolling over your muscles, you may feel soreness that you never thought you had.
- By rolling over your muscles, you will get to know your own body!!!
The Stick can do all this and more!!
I also found a great article that refers to avoiding fitness faux pas. The actual title of the article is:
Don’t hurt yourself: Avoid 5 fitness faux pas
Play it safe with tips for avoiding injury on the field, in the gym
Basically the five faux pas to avoid are:
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Not sporting the right gear
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Ignoring instruction
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Overdoing it
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Not varying your routine
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Overexposing yourself to Mother Nature
Here is the direct link – Click Here -
Another Video About “The Stick”
Here is a video about hoe The Stick can be especially useful for golfers.
Note: The picture you see is only a graphic of the screen shot of the video. Please click the video or hit the link under the video to view the clip.
http://www.coreperformance.com/video/Movement_Massage_Stick_Self_Massage_-_Golf.html
About ZV
Zealous Vitality Inc. was created to help people achieve optimal muscular and soft tissue health.
As a result of buying a Marathon Stick in Hawaii (where my wife ran her first marathon), I decided to tell everyone I knew about this amazing product!
The Marathon Stick
My name is Ken Zelez and I distribute The Stick! I am an Athletic Director @ Centennial High School in Calgary Alberta, Canada. In addition to managing the athletic program @ Centennial, I also teach Sports Medicine and Physical Education. I have coached almost every school sport, concentrating on Basketball. I have taken numerous coaching courses as well as sports medicine related courses. I have a Bachelors Degree is Physical Education and a Degree in The Master’s of Teaching Program at the University of Calgary.
I started to experiment with The Stick on my wife and myself. I also introduced this amazing product to my Sports Medicine students who in turn showed our athletes the benefits of using The Stick. I then had my Sr. Boys ( two -time Provincial contenders) basketball team use it everyday in practice for warm-ups and cool-downs. After being convinced that this tool was awesome for all aspects of soft tissue health, I decided to present The Stick to my colleagues. My wife and I also roll out our 5 year old twins legs’ at night before they go to bed. As a result, I decided to make it my business to let everyone know how this simple to use tool can change their muscular health and daily performance! I have learned that it is just not athletes that need to use The Stick, but everyone should have one to help take care of their own personal well-being.
I truly believe that the applications of The Stick are endless!!
Thank you for taking interest in The Stick!
Please visit my website @ www.TheStick.ca
Comments About The Stick
Here is another blog post (with comments) that talk about The Stick. The blog belongs to chicrunner! Here is a little about her:
Here is what her readers had to say about The Stick (Testimonials):
Her are some other posts you may like:
November 14, 2009 Posted by Ken | Discussions, Information about The Stick | blog about The Stick, comments about The Stick, massage stick, massage sticks, Stick testimonials, The Stick | No Comments Yet