The Stick

{ November 30, 2009 @ 2:51 pm } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: massage, muscle knots, running, the stick }

Through-out track and cross-country in high school, my coaches always made us use “The Stick” after a work out or before a big race.

I know “the stick” is a very indistinct term, but I’m sure you’ve seen one before and probably even used one. That is the stick… and it works wonders.

The Stick is made out of plastic beads that roll as you massage it over your sore muscles. It compresses the muscle and disperses the lactic acid build up after a work out or run. In that sense, The Stick helps accelerate muscle recovery.

After I left high school, I had to buy a Stick of my own. It sits in my closet, and I generally use it about 3 or 4 times a week, especially when I my muscle knots get really bad. Its a quick and easy self-massage.

I use it mostly on my legs, but you can use it on your back, shoulders, neck, or arms. Sometimes, my room mate will rub my shoulders/ upper back with it because I carry a lot of tension there and get horrible knots. The stick would call this a “Trigger point,” and requires additional attention to work out the kinks.

You can buy the stick online, or any running store should have them.

I highly recommend every runner owns one. You’ll be amazed at the difference you feel in places you didn’t even know were carrying tension.

Keep Running
-Strider

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