1.1 Soft massage tools
Soft, pliable devices are suitable for
- Beginners and people who are less active
- Elderly people
- Sensitive individuals
- Relieving tension
- Relaxing the muscles
- Improving mobility
- Stimulating the circulation
There are over 100 different massagers for trigger points and fascia to choose from.
Choosing one can be daunting. To help you out, I have tested different devices for you and will show you the ones that are worth your money and those that are not.
The awareness of trigger points and fascia has exploded in recent years, and so have the offers for self-massage tools.
You now have an extensive choice of products ranging from the inexpensive to rather expensive devices.
You might be wondering:
These are the types of questions that I will try to answer in this section. Write to me or give me a call if you have any suggestions for improvement.
Massage tools differ in two main respects; namely, where they are used and their degree of hardness.
Soft, pliable devices are suitable for
Harder devices are designed for
If you are not sure, then opt for a soft massager.
You won’t be disappointed!
So many people have gone out and bought a hard foam roller, then never use it because it was just a bit too hard to start with.
That is a shame. Fact is, if they don’t use it, they won’t be able to enjoy the smooth and supple muscles they procure.
Of course, you can always “upgrade” at any time and add another self-massager to your collection.
Unfortunately, so many myofascial release tools are being touted as all-in-one devices. This is especially true of massage rollers, which are supposedly able to massage all areas of the body.
However, although that’s not an outright lie, it is not the entire truth. Each device has is strengths and its weaknesses.
For instance, you cannot massage your lower back with a massage roller as precisely and effective as with a massage stick.
The effectiveness of a glut massage using a massage ball cannot be matched by one with a roller. When it comes to the legs though, foam rollers are the clear winners!
Massage sticks are in a class of their own. Nothing is better at relieving tension and trigger points in the…
No roller or massage ball that I know of even comes close.
In short
There are countless foam rollers out there. They come in different shapes, surface textures and levels of hardness.
One thing they all have in common is being the best tool for relieving tension and trigger points in the legs.
That said, all foam rollers are suitable for the full range of functional pain in the legs, whether knee pain, leg pain, leg cramps, or otherwise.
Massage balls are the only true all-round massage devices.
Here you could almost speak of a panacea.
The balls are small, light, inexpensive and fit into your pocket. With these small wonders, you can release tension and trigger points in almost any area of the body.
What is important to know? The ball should be non-slip and should not smell!
If it is too slippery, it will fall too often, especially if you are massaging yourself with it against a smooth wall (wood, wallpaper, etc.). There is simply no fun in that!
The massage ball should also not smell. I have already come across (rubber) balls with an unbearable smell that weeks later still hasn’t faded!
I just can’t imagine massaging myself with something like that.
