Sunday, November 3, 2013

REVIEW -- THE MARATHON STICK

What a wonderful feeling it is to finish an eight-mile run and not be in pain. I truly didn't think my calf would heal up this quickly. Last week at this time I could barely walk without feeling jolts of pain shoot up through it. Have I found a miracle cure?

I'm not sure. My Marathon Stick by www.intracell.net arrived last Thursday, and I immediately began to use it. It's basically a flexible, plastic stick with rubber handles about 21 inches long with ten rollers between the handles. I bought it from Amazon.com for $31.95. It appears to be a very simple instrument, but perhaps that is why it works so well.

 
 
As you can see, pressure can be applied to the muscle as you roll the stick up and down providing great myofacial release and trigger point therapy. The amount of pressure is determined by the user. The instructions recommend about 20 passes of the stick to warm the muscle up. you definitely experience pain when the spindles encounter knots or tender spots.
 
I used it on both legs, warming the calves, quads, and hams, then I went back again and really dug in the second time round. How do you describe something that is painful, yet in an odd way, feels good? I knew as I worked out the knots and bumps in my muscles, I was bringing blood flow to areas that needed healing.
 
I've been using the Marathon Stick twice a day for four days now. After taking a week off of running, I ran a six miler on Friday with only a few jolts of pain coming up into the calf. I cross trained on my stationary bike on Saturday (I usually only run four days a week and cross train the other days). Today I made it through an 8 miler at about 8 minutes a mile with no pain. I'm ecstatic!
 
Did the Marathon Stick increase the rapidity of the healing process? I think it did. I'm definitely a believer. I plan on using it a couple times a day as I prepare to qualify for Boston. The Stick's slogan is : A Toothbrush for Muscles. Makes sense to me. Anyway, I've gotta be on my way. It's time to brush my muscles.
My wife said I'm showing too much leg in this picture. Did I just hear someone whistle?
 
If you enjoyed this post, please repost it on Facebook or Twitter by clicking on the buttons below.
 




No comments:

Post a Comment