“Self-Massage for Athletes is brimming with information, tips, and ideas to improve athletic performance. Its 20 chapters cover the seven massage strokes necessary for effective self-massage and guide the reader through a full body massage.” –Cross Country Skier Magazine

Before I had the good fortune to read this book, I thought the only type of therapeutic massage possible was that provided by a professional massage therapist. As an avid runner, swimmer and cyclist, I frequently experience muscle stiffness, tension knots, cramps and kinks. With professional massage therapy sessions being so costly, I just lived with the aches and pains between massage appointments. After reading “Self-Massage for Athletes” my eyes have been opened to a new possibility. I can massage myself…for free!–Asti Tomsic for Athletes HI

“Author Rich Poley lays out seven simple massage strokes (nicely illustrated with more than one hundred black-and-white photographs) that together form an effective self-massage therapy for stressed and tired muscle systems.” –Midwest Book Review

“This book provides an extremely useful and straight-forward approach to massage. It is able to provide the reader with the tools necessary to effectively use self-massage to prevent injury and muscle soreness as well as to promote general well being.” –Elaine Binkley of RUN OHIO magazine

Massage Tools

Some other effective tools to increase your power and reach:

Backnobber® II
Description: The Backnobber® II may be the most effective self-massage tool available for athletes because it's versatile and portable. This attractive "S" shaped tool is about twenty inches long, ten inches wide, and weighs two pounds. It’s made of fiberglass reinforced nylon and comes in a variety of colors. Because the Backnobber® II, divides in half and easily snaps back together, it can go practically anywhere you can without sticking out of a backpack or bike bag.
How to Use: It comes with a 35-page guide describing use.
Purpose: The Backnobber® II lets you apply deep pressure with little effort to your entire back body, feet, sides, and front.
Effect: The Backnobber® II stimulates acupoints and trigger points, and can give you an effective overall massage. Highly recommended.
Distributor: The Pressure Positive Company

Thera Cane®
Description: The Thera Cane® is an extremely effective general purpose self-massage tool. It does things for you that your hands alone cannot. It’s made of green fiberglass, shaped like a cane, and sports six knobs. It’s about two feet long and fifteen inches wide.
How to Use: It comes with its own manual describing use.
Purpose: The Thera Cane® lets you apply pressure to areas that are hard to reach with your hands, like your back. It enables you to direct pressure anywhere on your body.
Effect: The Thera Cane stimulates acupoints and trigger points, and gives your back a good massage. It can give you a deep effective overall massage. Recommended.
Distributor: The Thera Cane Company

Body Back Buddy™
Description: The Body Back Buddy™ is an extremely effective general purpose self-massage tool. It does things that your hands alone cannot. It’s made of high-impact-glass-gilled nylon polymer, shaped like an “S,” and sports eleven knobs, eight rounded and three pointed. It weighs 1.5 pounds, is about two feet long and twenty inches wide.
How to Use: It comes with it’s own manual.
Purpose: The Body Back Buddy™ lets you apply pressure to areas that are hard to reach with your hands, like your back. In fact, it empowers you to direct pressure anywhere on your body.
Effect: The Body Back Buddy™ stimulates acupoints and trigger points, and gives your back a good massage. It can also give you a deeper, more effective overall massage. Recommended.
Distributor: The Body Back Company

Dolphin Massager
Description: This massage tool, shaped like a dolphin, is less than seven inches long, weighs about six ounces, and is made of hard plastic. The Dolphin Massager is an attractive and surprisingly effective self-massage tool.
How to Use: Just glide its belly along your skin to use its fins, tail, or nose to apply pressure wherever your body needs it. The Dolphin comes with its own set of instructions.
Purpose: The Dolphin works like an extension of your hand. It lets you add intensity to your stroke and do a few things your hands can’t do. It will bring intensity and vigor to your massage.
Effect: The Dolphin Massager intensifies your gliding and pressing strokes. It lets you apply more pressure with less effort. It concentrates pressure on acupoints and trigger points. It’s been known to stir some endorphin cocktails. Recommended.
Distributor: Bodycare Companions

The Knobble® II
Description: The Knobble® II is an elegant, durable polymer massage tool, shaped like a rounded wooden mushroom. It fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, is about two-and-a-quarter-inches long, and weighs about two ounces.
How to Use: Place the wide end in the palm of your hand and the narrow end on the area of your body you want to massage. Apply pressure and you’ve got it. It comes with instructions.
Purpose: The Knobbles let you focus compression on areas of your body that need it most.
Effect: The Knobbles concentrate  on acupoints and trigger points. They let you apply more intensity with less effort. They improve the power of your massage, giving you a deeper, more effective stroke. Highly recommended, especially II.
Distributor: The Pressure Positive Company

TriggerWheel®
Description: The TriggerWheel® is a cleaver compact six-inch, six-ounce tool. It appears to be little more than a handle with a two-inch wheel attached. However, the TriggerWheel® made of nylon and steel, is an exceptionally simple and powerful massager.
How to Use: Roll the wheel over the part of your body that needs attention.
Purpose: To relax tight tender muscles and improve circulation.
Effect: Relieves muscle pain and stiffness. This is a really cool tool. Recommended.
Distributor: RPI of Atlanta

Foam Roller
Description: Foam Rollers are made of hard Styrofoam, and shaped like cylinders. They come in different sizes varying from 12 x 3 inches to 48 x 4 inches (lengths and diameters). Choose one that fits your needs.
How to Use: Place the Foam Roller on the floor. Lie, sit, or stand on the Roller and roll it under your body’s weight. By pressing your weight against the rounded hard Styrofoam surface, your muscles get compressed.
Purpose: To relieve soreness in large muscles, particularly the back body and IT Bands.
Effect: The Styrofoam roller is much more helpful as an exercise and balance aid than as a massage tool. It’s especially effective as a prop in Pilates classes. I think it has been over sold to runners as a massage tool. In any event, getting off the roller will feel much better than getting on it.
Distributor: OPTP or PerformBetter.com

Every Great Workout Deserves a Massage

Phone 303.545.6462, Two Hand Press, LLC,
PO Box 4236, Boulder, Colorado 80306

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