The Stick is meant to be used as a self-massage tool. However, it can be used by one person on another. Many practitioners use The Stick in their treatments on clients and patients. Here are a couple of videos posted by 70′sBig.com . The guys in the video are using the Stiff Stick.
I found the below article written by Joe Pietaro for Muscle Sport Magazine: (Click Here to go to the original article)
We have all hit that proverbial wall or sticking point in our training. No pun intended on the latter, but get past that with The Stick, which is a device “used to segmentally compress and stretch muscle.” Treat your muscle pains and trigger points comfortably and safely with this product made of space-age plastic.
By using The Stick, you can self-administer therapeutic procedures such as unassisted rolling, stretching, twisting and compressing of the muscle. After just a few strokes, you will begin to feel the release of the build up from your strenuous training routine.
The Stick provides the following benefits:
*Prevent and predict muscle injuries
*Dramatically improve strength, flexibility and endurance
*Rapidly prepare muscles for physical activity
*Disperse the effects of lactic acid following activity
*Accelerate muscle recovery
You know you’re doing something right when the United States Olympic Training Centers in four states (Colorado, New York, Michigan and California) are using The Stick as a training tool.
The Stick comes in a variety of sizes (long, medium, short) and prices range from $53.95 (30-inch Big Stick) to $27.50 (17-inch Travel Stick). For more information and to order your own, please visit www.thestick.com.
Of course, if you are in Alberta,Canada, you can find ordering information through me @ www.thestick.ca.
I found a nice little article that gives some tips for stretching out @ your desk when you are at work or working in the siting position for some time. Here is an exert:
“Sitting in front of a desk every day can wreak havoc on your body, especially since most of us don’t have the best posture. Hunching the shoulders and slumping in your seat can cause back pain, headaches, tension and tightness in your back, neck and shoulders. The following stretches target the muscles of the back, neck and shoulders as well as the hips and glutes. Taking time to do some of these stretches throughout the day can help increase flexibility and reduce tension and stress.”
You can find the whole article here – Best Stretches for Office Workers
I would like to add in my two cents by saying that The Stick is in fact, the perfect tool for putting the “pop” back into your busy lifestyle. By rolling out your muscles, you increase circulation, flexibility and reduce stress all at the same time.
I have included a video and a picture to help see what I mean!!
Forearms
For more pictures, please go here – Specific Techniques . I have loads of pictures! Everything from standing to sitting to kneeling to sitting on the ground!!
To fully understand muscle recovery whether it is work related, induced by training and/or exercise or even from a medical condition, we first need to discuss muscles as compliant and non-compliant.
We will first start with a discussion of compliant muscle. Muscles that are compliant can be shortened, stretched, compressed and twisted without symptoms of soreness or pain. They will exhibit flexibility, strength, good circulation, and the qualities of endurance.
Let’s switch our focus to the qualities of a non-compliant muscle. Non-compliant tissue is tight, stiff and tender. People often refer to this type of sensation as having painful “knots” in their muscles. Their muscles actually feels fibrous instead of long, lean and smooth. Non-compliant muscles exhibit reduced flexibility, weakness, poor blood circulation and they easily fatigue. A non-compliant muscle or group of muscles create barriers which restrict peak performance and blood flow. These, non-compliant muscles are susceptible to injury because they are not functioning properly. In order for the body to perform at optimum levels, muscles must me allowed to expand and contract freely.
The human body contains approximately 690 muscle bellies and tendons. Each muscle has an origin and an insertion. The rule of thumb is the origin is where the muscle attaches to bone and the least amount of movement takes place. Whereas the insertion of a muscle is the opposite end of the muscle that attaches to bone where the most movement takes place. Here is a great website for muscle origins and insertions.
Now that we have some basic understanding of compliant and non-compliant muscles, there are some tough questions to answer:
The above hypothetical questions all have one common answer. That is… myofascial lesions in the form of barrier trigger points. Myofascia is the tissue that surrounds all muscles. I like to describe it like the substance that holds sausages together. Barrier trigger points are inflexible bands of muscle, usually containing knots. These trigger points (knots) set an artificial ceiling on optimal muscle performance by restricting blood flow to the muscle(s). Muscles need unrestricted blood flow for both high performance and full recovery from muscle activity regardless of the type (athletic, work related or a muscular condition). Simply put, barrier trigger points are usually the primary cause of non-compliant muscles.
Here is where The Stick comes in…
The STICK allows a person to self-administer general as well as segmental therapeutic practices with a great deal of accuracy. By rolling over the muscles with The Stick, muscles become compliant and ready for activity. Due to the bio-mechanical rolling, stretching and compressing of muscle tissue, barrier trigger points become diffused and rehabilitation of non-compliant muscles takes place. Remember that a compliant muscle will perform much better than a non-compliant muscle.
Stay tuned for Part 3 of The Stick as a Recovery Tool.
Hello everyone,
I have taken a little time off of blogging to concentrate on getting the word out about The Stick in Alberta, Canada. I am now back to my schedule of providing great material and tips for Stick users.
Here is a video that explains how to use The Body Stick to massage that hard to reach place in the middle of your back. The massage technique can be done anywhere at anytime. People who spend a lot of time at their computers may be especially interested in this video.
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
Since I live in an area in Alberta, Canada where there has been a substantial amount of snowfall and cold weather this year, I decided to experiment a little with The Stick as a warm-up and cool-down tool in cold weather. Here are some relevant Stick tips.
Here is what we know already about The Stick as a warm-up/cool-down tool:
Here is what I have been doing:
My findings have been very impressive. I feel fantastic! Due to the fact that I warm-up with The Stick, my muscles are prepared for exercise without expending energy. This is a real benefit since the cold and snow already zap a lot of energy to begin with. I can start my run right away without spending extra time outside “warming-up”. My muscles are primed and ready to go.
You may notice that when you do exercise outside that your muscles due become stiff and cold even though you are exercising. This is really apparent when your done your workout. Typically your legs are a little cold and stiff. This is where The Stick is even more impressive. By rolling over your muscles, you actually are speeding up circulation by bringing blood flow to the area you are rolling. Your legs actually warm-up a little at the same time you are flushing out the lactic acid that has built up from your training session.
Needless to say, The Stick is amazing!!
P.S.- My wife, who is the real runner, loves using The Stick too!!
P.S.S – These same results will work for your pets and horses!!
Yes, you read it correctly! The Stick is awesome for our equine friends.
Just like humans, horses react to exercise and develop soreness and trigger points like we do. The only difference is they don’t complain about it as much as we do. In fact, equine massage is big business! Around where I live (Alberta, Canada), there are ranchers, rodeo enthusiasts, dressage participants and the like. If they care about their horses, then they are having their horses being treated by chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathics and even acupuncturists.
I still say that nothing will replace the human touch, but The Stick is the next best thing. The best part, is you can work on your horse anytime, anywhere! Because this amazing tool is non-motorized, you do not need a plug in, it can get wet and dirty and it is very easy to transport.
Due to the fact that horses are like athletes, we treat them the same way. You simply roll The Stick over the horses muscles!! I recommend using the Stiff Stick.
We recommend this Stick because it is stiff and longer for more leverage. A horses muscles are quite dense!
What Can “The Stick” Do for Horses?
By increasing circulation and breaking down Trigger Points (muscle knots), “The Stick” can:
Improve Strength
Increase Flexibility
Extend Endurance
Accelerate Recovery Time
Reduce Muscle Soreness, Stiffness & Pain
Prepare Muscles for Rigors of Activity
Flushes Muscles from the Rigors of Activity
Please visit here for more details!!
There are many, many, many fitness and wellness products out there! In fact, there a loads of products that promise and offer the same benefits and results as The Stick. The logical question is “Ok, which one is right for me?” My opinion is The Stick!
Please do not get me wrong. The other products on the market are valuable and may also do the job! Here a 10 simple facts about The Stick:
In addition to the 10 points above, the cost of a Stick is very attractive as well. The average massage therapist charges around $50.00 for one session. In my opinion, this is very reasonable and there is nothing on the market that can replace the hands, knuckles and elbows of a human. Let’s face it, the human touch has been proven time and time again to heal! The average cost of a Stick is around $40.00. The difference is, you can use The Stick 3 times a day if you want!!!!
So, I think you can agree that nothing can replace the human touch, but I can attest that The Stick just could be the next best thing!!
Click here to find a Stick that is right for you!
Have a great day!!
Have you got all your holiday shopping done yet?
Why not purchase a Stick for anyone on your list? I gaurantee that they won’t be able to tell what it is when it is all wrapped up. In addition, the one liner jokes and hints you could write on the gift tag could be endless! You could say stuff like:
Ok, Ok, I know they are getting pretty bad. I will stop. Please feel free to make a comment below if you have other good ones!!
Ok, seriously….. The Stick does make a great gift for anyone. It really is the gift that keeps on giving!
If you are wondering what model to purchase, please click here to visit my site.
