A Routine to Massage Your Legs With “The Stick”.

Here is a video I recorded on how to massage your legs using The Stick.   I am using the Travel Stick while I roll out my legs.  The Travel Stick has a standard flexibility and is short, making it ideal for travel.

The Travel Stick

The different models of Sticks can be found here. 

 

Videos About How to Use The Stick On Horses

I found a fantastic website for Horses!  What is even more exciting, is that there is video of The Stick and The TriggerWheel being used on a horse named “Big Guy”.  The tips that are posted in the video apply to handling a horse and responding to what the horse is telling you as you massage their muscles.

I should mention that using The Stick on horses is not a new thing!  Equine or horse massage has been around for years.  Many equine Massage Therapists and Chiropractors use tools such as The Stick and TriggerWheel to help them in their work.

This is the video using The Stick

 

This is the video using The TriggerWheel

 

The Blog is called Horse Ideology.  There is loads of very good information.  I would go there if I were you!

A New Back Massage Exercise With “The Stick”.

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.

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and The Stick

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness or DOMS is the fancy name to why your muscles hurt so much after a workout or training session.  There have been many suggestions to why this happens.  Some theories include:

• The muscle itself has been damaged and therefore is sore.  Microscopic tears and lesions form throughout the muscle.
• Muscle soreness is the natural occurrence after a particular bout of exercise that has a high intensity or duration.
• Muscles need to be broken down and recover in order to get bigger and stronger.
• Muscle soreness and stiffness after exercise is most common when an exercise/training program has been implemented or altered.

Needless to say, I think anyone who has experienced a tough training session can expect some soreness over the next 24 -48 hours.  The key question is how to alleviate that muscle pain!!  The Stick can help.  I know this because new research out of Australia has suggested that simply stretching out the next day is not very effective at all.  Here are some ideas from Elizabeth Quinn who is a sports medicine expert: (I Have placed “The Stick”beside the tips that apply to using this great massage tool.)

Here are some tips for dealing with soreness after exercise:

• Try an Ice Bath or Contrast Water Bath. Although no clear evidence proves they are effective, many pro athletes use them and claim they work to reduce soreness.
• Use active recovery techniques. This strategy does have some support in the research. Perform some easy low-impact aerobic exercise to increase blood flow “The Stick”. This may help diminish muscle soreness.
• Use the RICE method of treating injuries. Rest,Ice,Compression,Elevation
• Although research doesn’t find gentle stretching reduces soreness, some people find it simply feels good.
• Gently massage the affected muscles. Some research has found that massage was effective in alleviating DOMS by approximately 30% and reducing swelling, but it had no effects on muscle function. “The Stick”
• Try using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (aspirin or ibuprofen) to reduce the soreness temporarily, though they won’t actually speed healing.
• There is some evidence that performing Yoga may reduce DOMS.
• Avoid any vigorous activity that increases pain. “The Stick”
• Allow the soreness to subside thoroughly before performing any vigorous exercise.
• Don’t forget to warm up completely before your next exercise session. There is some research that supports that a warm-up performed immediately prior to unaccustomed eccentric exercise produces small reductions in delayed-onset muscle soreness (but cool-down performed after exercise does not). “The Stick”
• If your pain persists longer than about 7 days or increases despite these measures, consult your physician.
• Learn something from the experience! Use prevention first. 

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness – Prevention
While DOMS is common and annoying, it is not a necessary part of exercise. There are many things you can do to prevent, avoid and shorten the duration of DOMS:

• Warm up thoroughly before activity and cool down completely afterward. “The Stick”
• Cool Down with gentle stretching after exercise. “The Stick”
• Follow the Ten Percent Rule. When beginning a new activity start gradually and build up your time and intensity no more than ten percent per week.
• Start a new weight lifting routine with light weights and high reps (10-12) and gradually increase the amount you lift over several weeks.
• Avoid making sudden major changes in the type of exercise you do.
• Avoid making sudden major changes in the amount of time that you exercise.

As you can see “The Stick” can be instrumental in reducing muscle soreness.

To read the full article from Elizabeth Quinn click here.

Zealous Vitality Contest Winners

We have invited people and organizations to become members on my website @ www.thestick.ca for almost a month.  The results have been great.  In that time, we have offered a few prizes for members who have signed up.  Currently, I am waiting on the winners to get back to me and give me the OK to publish their names in an email, here and in a short video I will post on YouTube. 

Stay tuned for more details!!

You may be wondering what the membership thing is all about?  Let me explain.

• It is FREE!!
• We will give a way FREE stuff.
• It is a great way to stay in touch with us and you.
• We do send out information periodically about updates on our website .
• Did I mention we will hold contests?
• We love to find new ideas, tips and tricks and share them with you.
• We also would like to give you information about The Sticks and Specialty Products.
• We also know that sometimes you need reminders to stay motivated. 
• It is a great way to take advantage of promotions.
• One more thing….. we won’t bug you with constant emails!!!

I promise that we will not flood your in-boxes with emails and junk.  We will simply contact you from time to time. Your information is safe with us and we promise we will not share or sell your information to anyone!!  We hate spam as well. 

The information we post on our website and this blog is intended to help you make informed decisions about health, fitness and wellness.

Please sign-up on our front page of The Stick provided by Zealous Vitality Inc.  You will not be disappointed!

Keep Rollin’

How To Get The Most From The Stick

This post is really part 2 of the post I did on October 20, 2008.  Here are some great tips on using The Stick.

General Tips for Use:

• Keep muscles relaxed during rollout.
• Use on skin or through light clothing.
• The Stick is waterproof and designed to bend without fear of breaking.
• It is not necessary to hurt the muscle in order to help the muscle.
• Most effective when used before, during and after periods of activity.
• For pin-point rollout, slide hands onto spindles.
• Excessive use may cause muscle soreness.

General Instructions:

• A typical warm-up for healthy muscle tissue is about 20 progressively deeper passes over each muscle group (about 30 seconds per area).
• Discomfort or pain is experienced when the spindles locate a bump or tender knot in the muscle – this is known as a trigger point.
• Muscles containing trigger points are often weak, stiff and sore. They are frequently tight, easily tire and often hurt.
• Muscles containing chronic trigger points need 20 additional passes over the involved area, and may require attention several times daily.

To fully understand how to use The Stick,visit my Specific Techniques page.  You will find FREE DOWLOADABLE PDF files!

IT Band Syndrome

I have noticed an interesting statistic.

It turns out that many people who visit my website – Zealous Vitality Inc. Featuring: THE STICK  are downloading my IT Band Specific Technique PDF file.  This tells me, there are many people out there who suffer from Iliotibial Band Sydrome (ITBS).

I know The Stick can help!  How do I know?  The answer is……… because The Stick offers deep penetrating massage!!!  There are articles, upon articles that agree and disagree with each other on how to treat ITBS.  The bottom line is they all agree that massage therapy works!

To save you time, here are a few resources:

• ITBS Help Site – Very informative!!!
• Iliotibial Band Syndrome – About.com – Orthopedic Review
• eMecine Article – An excellent research based website.
• SaveYourself.ca – An amazing website written by a Canadian!!!

The Stick is a perfect tool to help with ITBS.  When I help people decide what Stick is best for them, I always ask them if they have IT Band problems.  If so, I recommend a stiffer model like The Sprinter Stick so that they can massage their IT Bands anytime, anyplace!!

The Sprinter Stick

IT Band and The Stick – More Good Information!

How to Use The Stick!

 

Hello,

Here are a few introductory pictures an how to use The Stick .

Rolling your quads while sitting on the ground.

Here is kneeling position to roll out your IT Band.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see more pictures, click here.

The master plan is to post video, pictures and tips on how to use The Stick.

Please contact me @ ken@zealousvitality.ca

Keep your muscles happy by rolling them!!!

Travelling with The Stick

 

Travelling with The Stick is easy!  I have posted some helpful tips when travelling.

Depending on what model you have, your experience should be fantastic.  On road trips, I would keep the Trigger Wheel and a Stick very handy when you stop to grab a snack or coffee or even that unscheduled washroom break.  Roll out your neck, back, forearms and legs for a quick rejuvenation.

Fantastic for the neck and smaller muscles.

 

 

As for flights.  I have some suggestions when it comes to security. 

The Trigger Wheel should be fine in your carry on.  A Stick, may be questionable since security may categorize it as a baton!  Until I get more feedback, go with the Trigger Wheel in your carry on and pack your Stick in your check-in luggage.

All this being said, I have a colleague who shared this testimonial with me:

Ken

I took my stick with me to the Kelowna Marathon. (Airport security was very curious.) After  the race I was having difficulty moving around as my legs were getting stiff and were starting to cramp up. A short session with the stick I was moving with ease and was good for the rest of the day. The stick defiantly sped up my recovery and is keeping me running.

Thanks

 

 

Hello Stick Users!

I have created this blog to help users of The Stick gain more information about the type of Stick they are using or want to use.  Here are some basic tips abou using this great device.  Basically, the model of Stick is based on it’s length and flexibility.  Long Sticks like the Original Body Stick or Stiff Stick allow more maneuverability and can reach more places.  Shorter Sticks like the Travel Stick or Marathon Stick are easily portable.

As for stiffness, the Stiff Stick is super rigid and offers a deep massage.  The Marathon Stick is very flexible and can contour to the body part you are rolling.  The Sprinter Stickmeets the requirements of travel-ability and stiffness all in one.  It is quite rigid and short for portability.

The stiffer models are very popular with people who want a deep massage.  Particularly people with IT Band problems love The Sprinter Stick.

All The Sticks can get wet and are easily cleaned.

PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE @ www.ZealousVitality.ca

I am in Alberta, Canada

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