Trigger Point massage products
Posted: 02/26/2005 In Category(s): Reviews :: Product Reviews
Whether you're an athlete, a casual exerciser, or just someone who gets a few tight muscles from stress, a massage is always a real feel-good. But getting to one – or paying for one – isn't always possible.
We've seen a lot of self-massage products of all shapes and sizes, all of which say they are the answer to anybody's problems. The problems in most cases are, one, knowing how to use them and, two, being comfortable using them. Sometimes they are a hard plastic or wood that is just too much of an "ouch" to be very encouraging. Plus, many may be great for one area of the body, but can't effectively get to another very well – at least not as a self-massage. We know a good number of exercisers who use tennis balls or racquet balls to put acupressure-like treatment on some muscles. Not a bad solution.
| TP massage set |
The Trigger Point Technologies company has come to the rescue (no more absconding with errant racquet balls at the gym!). Founded by an athlete who has fibromyalgia (a muscle-centered pain syndrome with distinct trigger points but as yet no cure), TPT offers a series of products to help put pressure just where it's needed, but with a softer, patent-pending material that allegedly changes shape to mold to your muscle in about 5 to 7 seconds, allowing it to better penetrate the muscle belly for effective therapy. The Massage Ball is about the size and shape of a tennis ball, while the FootBaller and QuadBaller are shaped a bit like dumbbells, but with center rods that are fatter in the center and thinner toward the rubber discs at the ends – and of course all made of that soft material. These three work together with a block that is the same as a yoga block stretching aid but in this case it called a BallerBlock (OK, bad name, but we didn't let that influence us).
We put the package of the three massage products and the block in a common area where they would be handy and waited to see if we'd go for it. Funny thing is, we did, although some products saw more use than others.
The smaller FootBaller was a delight on tired calves as well as on feet, and easy to use while sitting. One tester used it on arches and tired feet and felt refreshed after a few minutes. The larger Quadballer was great on hamstrings and gluteals, as well as the back of the neck, but despite its name was a bit awkward to lie on face-down for a quad massage. One of our testers used it with great success to massage a very tight calf muscle -- and work out kinks and a knot -- the result of a torn muscle months before. The simple Massage Ball could be used while lying down (prone) to pinpoint sore muscles anywhere in the back, shoulders, hips, gluteals and hams, as well as with pressure applied by the hand on quads and neck. The soft material made it more comfortable than a racquet ball too. The Block? Well, hmm. It's a bit difficult to master as a way to use the Footballer on your Achilles or calf (it's used to raise your lower leg while you're sitting, but one movement that's too large or a bit crooked and your foot falls off the block). Still, it's a fine stretching aid although not new.
The short (9-minute) DVD that accompanies the packages is a nice intro but not truly a follow-the-leader education, which would be something the company should consider offering perhaps for an additional charge – a 30-minute DVD or even a small booklet with pictures. In the intro DVD, founder Cassidy Phillips discusses the massage therapy, but gets a bit too wrapped up with tech-geek talk like muscles names (psoas, rectus femoris, TFL, etc., which most normal people don't know) and physiology techie talk like "elasticity equals wattage and power or general comfort" (wattage? Is this a light bulb?), both of which would be best avoided. Pictures of recommended ways to use the products are on the website, so folks would most likely be forced to print out a bunch of pages, none of which are really formatted for functional printing.
All those minor nits aside, the products – either separate or as a package – would be a solid addition to anyone's workout bag no matter at what level they train.
SNEWS® Applause Meter: 4.5 hands clapping (1 to 5 hands clapping possible, with 5 clapping hands representing functional and design perfection)
Suggested Retail: $130 (package with all four products). Separate items or smaller kits available for $10-$70.
For more information: www.tpmassageball.com or 1-888-31.BALLS (1-888-312-2557)
| Rating: | ![]() |
To learn more about how SNEWS® conducts product reviews, click here. |
|
|
Makoto Xergame Jun 29, 2009 When the current owners of Makoto USA saw the game that would become Makoto at an arcade in 2002, they immediately realized its potential to provide both physical and mental fitness for anyone, from athletes to the elderly to folks in rehab. The SNEWS® team first saw a Makoto at the Health & Fitness Business show in Denver several years ago and, after playing it (over and over, we must admit), we had to get one for the office. |
|
|
Coleman LED Quad Lantern Jun 22, 2009 Pardon the pun, but Coleman's LED Quad Lantern presents one of the brightest ideas we've seen when it comes to lighting. It's unique because the body of the lantern has four detachable panels, each of which has six 5 mm, white LED lights. We tested the lantern during several car-camping trips and found that it was really handy when we had several people sharing a campsite. |
|
|
Teva Sunkosi 2 water shoe Jun 15, 2009 As a concept, water shoes are a fine idea. But we've suffered painful scrapes and blisters from poorly designed amphibious footwear, and frowned over many models that didn't dry as quickly as advertised. But Teva's Sunkosi 2 performed well, and proved to be exceptionally comfortable during numerous paddling trips, including an 18-day rafting journey down the Grand Canyon. Our testers said these shoes were not only easy on the feet, but they were also some of the most durable water shoes they've worn. |
|
|
Santini Carbon Bike Bib May 8, 2009 Knitwear pioneer ESCHLER introduces an innovative fabric development for bikewear |
|
|
Rockbound Ridge Pant Apr 25, 2009 Designed with a two-way stretch ripstop fabric, The North Face Rockbound Ridge Pant’s stretchy material is extremely resilient |
|
|
Mo Room™ Tent 2P & 3P Dec 16, 2008 The Mo Room tent (2P and 3P) is the epitome of livability. |
Purchasing and Inventory Manager - Osprey Packs
Listed - 07/03/2009
Velo Vie Bicycles - Velo Vie Bicycles
Listed - 07/02/2009
Accounting - Niner Bikes
Listed - 07/02/2009
Category Business Manager, Top-of-Car - Yakima Products, Inc.
Listed - 07/02/2009
Kodiak Boots / Terra Footwear / Unity - Kodiak-Terra USA, Inc.
Listed - 07/01/2009
Mechanical Draftsperson - Crank Brothers
Listed - 06/25/2009
Retail Store Manager- Lincoln City, OR - Columbia Sportswear Company
Listed - 06/23/2009