Stick Insiders Punch Back!

("What Does It Do?" - Part III)

Punch back…against that injury!

You don't have to suffer through pain, discomfort, and prolonged 'down times.' Consider therapy with The Stick. No matter how you sustained your injury, The Stick can help facilitate quicker, more thorough healing.

We’ve been asked, so we want to clarify: soft tissue injuries - whether they’re twisted, knotted, bruised, or swollen - all can be minimized, mitigated, and relieved with purposeful, therapeutic use of The Stick.

Some people have questioned if The Stick is only applicable to people participating in certain sports – and the answer is a definitive, “No.” Injury is injury, no matter how it was sustained.

Into Martial Arts or MMA? The Stick is ideal for quick healing while also encouraging strength and flexibility.

Into outdoor sports such as Skiing, Mountaineering, Trekking, or Extreme Sports, including rad Skateboarding and Biking? We’ve got gnarly pros regularly using The Stick to stay optimal.

Into team sports such as Football, Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball or Soccer? Well, here, too, we’ve got collegiate trainers and locker room doctors using our Sticks. Just watch TV broadcasts closely, and you’ll often see players and trainers rolling on the sidelines, side-court, and in dugouts.

Are you a dancer, a cheerleader, or a gymnast? Your muscles need extreme pliability and flexibility, and strength at length, to keep you in your game…and, yes, we’ve got you covered there as well.

And we haven’t even mentioned runners, weightlifters, cross-fitters, and general fitness buffs: you’ve been long-time Stick Insiders, displaying fantastic results.

Point being – no matter what type of athlete you are, we’ve got The Stick to suit your needs. Muscles are muscles, and soft tissue injuries occur no matter what activity you pursue. Whether you’ve hurt an arm, a leg, a foot, or your back and neck, our different Stick models can help you heal.

So whenever…and wherever…that injury occurs, grab The Stick and punch back! You’ll immediately notice a change; and you’ll amp your healing time with regular, purposeful use of The Stick.

And, FYI, you don’t need to wait for that injury to occur before you pick up The Stick. Olympians, pros, and elite athletes alike use The Stick for performance enhancement as well as for overall health and wellness. Maybe that’s why so many doctors and therapists use it, too…but that’s a story for another time.

TeamStick Insider

What Does It Do? (Pt I)
What Does It Do? (Pt II)

40 Years of Marathons

From Chicago to New York to Boston…and beyond, Stick Insider Dave Walters has been running his race for over 40 years. Now in his 60s, he still achieves greatness by running back-to-back marathons in Chicago and New York. Runner’s World recently wrote an article, explaining how this amazing 60-year-old recovers so well that he’s prepared for the next race a mere three weeks later.

Dave explains that he has routines that enable his body to recover and prepare faster. These rituals include elliptical training between races, hydration at calculated points during marathons, and purposeful warm-ups and cool-downs. Before and after every run, he does dynamic stretching and uses both the foam roller and The Stick to reach all key areas.

Below is a testimonial Dave shared about The Stick a couple of years ago:

My name is Dave Walters and I have been running marathons for the past 42 years. This year (2012) I finished first in my Age Group (55-59) at the Chicago Marathon (2:45), 2^nd at the Boston Marathon, and was National Champion in the 5000 at the USA National Track Championships. I have been using The Stick products for 8 years now and have found them to be indispensible pieces of equipment that keep me loose and flexible. They stimulate circulation and allow me greater flexibility on my runs. They allow me to minimize pre run static stretching. The Hybrid Stick has recently become my favorite as it allows me to dig deep into the Gastroc and Soleus muscles in my calf which minimizes cramping. I carry the Sprinter Stick in my suitcase for ‘sticking’ while I travel to stimulate lower leg blood flow and fend off DVT.

I truly believe in The Stick products and gladly endorse them. I attribute the success that I have had in running recently in part to my religious use of The Stick!!

Dave Walters

Thank you, Dave, for your willingness to rave about The Stick…and we’re thrilled that The Stick has enabled you to run as a champion over the past decade. Thanks for sharing your story.

We wish you continued running greatness and more successes in the coming decades!

 TeamStick Insider

Which Stick Do I Choose?

("What Does It Do?" - Part II)

Because people come in all shapes, sizes, and masses, Doc and his team have developed different Sticks for different body types. For example, if you’re a marathon runner, you might opt for the Marathon Stick. Its internal rod has the proper amount of recommended flex, its spindles are sized accordingly for lean muscles, and the grips will fit nimble hands. On the other extreme, if you’re a bodybuilder or a football player, you may need a heftier Stick such as the Big Stick or the Stiff Stick, which have less flexible internal rods, bigger spindles, and much larger hand grips. You’ll need something tough that can penetrate deep into thick muscle mass. If you travel a lot, the Travel Stick is the ideal size for tossing into your bag and having treatment on the go. Professional cyclists often prefer these. In all, there are dozens of designs, but 3 or 4 are the most popular and fit most people’s needs. We even have a Kid’s Stick (which works wonders for small athletes going through growing pains) and a Pet Stick that your horses and dogs will love!

So how do you choose? 

It depends upon your body type and needs. See below for a quick summary or click here for more detailed descriptions.

Sports Enthusiasts

Weightlifter, Bodybuilder, Football Player: 

The Big Stick or The Stiff Stick

Tennis, Golf, Mid-range Activities and Body Types: 

The Original Body Stick

People focusing on the Lower Body and Legs: 

The Sprinter Stick

Cyclists, Trekkers and Travelers:

The Travel Stick

Long Distance, World Class Runners: 

The Marathon Stick

For Complete Body Treatments

Over 6’ tall and 180 pounds: 

The Stick Pro System for complete body treatment

Under 6’ tall and 180 pounds: 

The Stick Fitness System for total management of every major muscle group

General Wellness and Treatment

For Advanced Muscle Management:

The Power Stick (included in the Pro System)

For those with Lean Bodies and/or Limited Range of Motion in the Upper Limbs: 

The Flex Stick

For those who need the “Granddaddy of Recovery,” especially when targeting localized areas and trigger points: 

The Hybrid Stick

Have trouble with Plantar Fasciitis or your feet?

The FootWheel - your arches and your feet will thank you!

Need trigger point therapy and myofascial release, especially near joints like elbows, wrists, ankles, and knees?

The TriggerWheel - we keep these at our desks, in our cars, and everywhere a flare-up might occur.

Aid to Others

What about your children and growing athletes?

The Little Stick

What about ailing pets, such as your aging dog? Or what about your thoroughbred horse who also needs muscle care?

The Pet Stick - they’ll love you for it!

Calf Heart Attack

When was the last time you heard of a “Calf Heart Attack?” 

It may have been a while, if at all…but it’s worth mentioning again. If you don’t know about it, it’s been dubbed “a weird but serious injury.” (Parker, 1996, Running Times)

A ‘calf heart attack’ isn’t directly related to the heart muscle – but here’s how it’s like a heart attack: the outer sheath surrounding the gastrocnemius (calf muscle) isn’t flexible enough to handle the increased blood flow to the area during exercise. When this happens, the sheath can’t expand to accommodate the extra blood, and the swollen gastroc doesn’t have enough room within the constriction…and that can often become problematic, sometimes causing micro-tears (or larger) within the calf muscle. Eventually, when those torn fibers heal, they’re re-enforced with scar tissue (which is less flexible than the original muscle tissue), and that often leads to another injury. It’s a recipe for cyclical tears and recurrences…and pain.

It’s not the same as a calf pull. For those of you who have pulled a calf, that sensation is a true muscle pull, and it can be debilitating; but the “calf heart attack” is a deeper-rooted pain caused by ripped fibers that take longer to heal and are often susceptible to continued re-injury.

John L. Parker, Jr, associate publisher and editorial director of Running Times magazine, was a sufferer of this type of repetitive injury until he realized that he needed to treat it differently – and regularly – with purposeful attention and care. His treatments included down time for healing, cautious re-entry into running, attentive stretching, and regular massages with The Stick.

In addition to his normal routine, he gave focused care to those micro-rips deep in the gastroc. They needed this extra attention to promote true, long-term healing.

So if you, too, have been having recurrences of a deep calf injury that won’t seem to go away, think of the micro-tears associated with a calf heart attack. It’s not a muscle pull and it won’t heal the same way. Allow your calves ample time to rest and recover before starting your running/exercise routine; begin again slowly with caution and ease; and be sure to stretch and massage the calf, encouraging fresh oxygenated blood flow to move deeper into the area in order to activate targeted and thorough healing. Then repeat on a regular basis.

It’s an oldie but a goodie – watch out for “calf heart attacks,” and don’t let them hold you back.

Parker’s Running Times Article

TeamStick Insider

63 Marathons in 63 Days

Remember this story?

A few years ago, Tim Borland (an ultra-marathoner) was inspired by a little girl with a rare degenerative disorder. He wanted to call attention to her disease, and he did so by running a series of marathons. "Series" might be a bit of an understatement…he actually ran 63 marathons in 63 days!...all to raise awareness for A-T, also known as Ataxia-Telangiectasia. A-T combines the symptoms of muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, and cancer.

After 63 days of marathons, Tim was in excellent condition. He had lost 10 pounds, yet he had gained muscle mass; and throughout his two months of running, he had steadily improved his time, gaining over an hour and finishing his last marathon in 3:29 – mind you, he pushed a jog stroller with an A-T stricken child during most of his marathons. He said he managed to stay in such good condition due to, “Never do[ing] anything new on race day.”

It’s an amazing story that little Catherine Achilles (what an appropriate name!) inspired. Our hearts go out to her and her family; and it was Tim’s charitable heart, determined dedication, and awesome actions that brought so much hope and awareness to those battling A-T.

Stick Insiders, we’re very fortunate to have Tim Borland tell you in his own words how The Stick has been an important tool for his own running and recovery: 

TeamStick Insider

Flexibility Amplifies Speed and Power

As you return to the field or gym after a Summer of fun, you may find yourself in need of something ‘extra’ – a little help – in getting your stride back…especially if you need to regain your full playing potential quickly.

Well, look to The Stick!

But don’t take our word for it - listen to Dr. Brian M Hickey of Florida A&M University. He’s explained it brilliantly:

Speed is often the deciding and prime factor in athletic competition. It is the result of flexibility and power. When force is applied over a greater range of motion – the potential for power and speed is multiplied…

…Research shows that an increase in flexibility directly amplifies speed and power. About 25% of an athlete’s total training time should be dedicated to the use of flexibility enhancing modalities.

Dr Hickey also credits The Stick as a great tool for facilitating “general and segmented stretching with a high degree of precision.” Yes, it certainly is that…and yet The Stick also does so much more: from facilitating blood flow (which has numerous benefits) to flushing lactic acid to releasing trigger points to increasing flexibility, and more.

It’s not just a stretch; it’s not just a massage; it’s not just a trigger point eliminator; it’s a combination of all of the above…and it’s a device designed to amplify your performance by combining multiple benefits.

How long does it take? Just a few minutes per day. That’s it.

Get your stride back and throttle to full power and full speed with The Stick.

How quickly can you excel? 

Dr Hickey’s Article

TeamStick Insider 
 

Anywhere, Anytime

Use The Stick Anywhere, Anytime

Thank you, Matthew Morriss & Phil Straub, for sharing pictures of your 18-day climbing trip in Alaska!

We are proud and honored that you carried The Stick with you in your pack - and that it was well worth it.

Matthew's note to The Stick tells his story -

Dear sir or madam:

On a hunch after talking about the stick with running and cycling friends of mine, I decided to order the travel stick and pack it in my bag while on an 18 day long climbing trip in Alaska.  My partner was at first skeptical but after hauling 150 lb sleds through 6 feet of fresh snow the lack of pain after using the stick spoke volumes.



Well, Matthew, your pictures of Phil with the 11,300-ft Peak behind him are impressive, and it's quite an accomplishment...we're honored to have been a part of it! Thank you for sharing your pictures and your story.

TeamStick Insider