About a month ago I got moderately painful TOFP (top of the foot pain) in my left foot. At first I thought it was a stress reaction in my metatarsals, but then I re-read Jimmy Hart's piece on top-of-the-foot-pain (http://gobarefooting.wordpress.com/2010/04/21/injury-top-of-the-foot-pain/), and realized the cause might be muscle stiffness in my lower leg. So I ordered 'the stick.' I got both the 'sprinter stick', which is quite stiff:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Stick-Sprinter/dp/B000P7LY1W/ref=pd_sim_sg_2
And the 'marathon stick', which is a bit more flexible:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P7NWLM/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
I haven't decided which works better for me, but I like the idea of having one in my office and one in the garage where I keep my weights and workout stuff.
I can't remember where I heard about it, but this thing has been a lifesaver for me. I now use it before a run, right afterwards, and then a few more times throughout the day. The stick massage along with a good stretching out of the foot has gotten rid of most of my top-of-the-foot-pain in less than a week. I can't recommend this simple device enough.
It's very easy to use. Just run it up and down your calves when they're in a relaxed position, like when you're sitting down, and along the outside of the front of your lower leg too (massaging the Peroneus Longus, Peroneus Brevis, and Extensor Digitorum Longus muscles--did I pronounce those correctly?), especially down towards the ankle, but not directly on the shin. It may be a bit painful on the front of the leg, but the relief it provides is worth it. I can actually feel the tension being released in my feet as I do so. You can then follow-up with some trigger point stuff using your thumb or fingers for a deeper massage, or a little foot roller/massager for the soles. I can't believe it took me a year and a half to start using one of these.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Stick-Sprinter/dp/B000P7LY1W/ref=pd_sim_sg_2
And the 'marathon stick', which is a bit more flexible:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P7NWLM/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
I haven't decided which works better for me, but I like the idea of having one in my office and one in the garage where I keep my weights and workout stuff.
I can't remember where I heard about it, but this thing has been a lifesaver for me. I now use it before a run, right afterwards, and then a few more times throughout the day. The stick massage along with a good stretching out of the foot has gotten rid of most of my top-of-the-foot-pain in less than a week. I can't recommend this simple device enough.
It's very easy to use. Just run it up and down your calves when they're in a relaxed position, like when you're sitting down, and along the outside of the front of your lower leg too (massaging the Peroneus Longus, Peroneus Brevis, and Extensor Digitorum Longus muscles--did I pronounce those correctly?), especially down towards the ankle, but not directly on the shin. It may be a bit painful on the front of the leg, but the relief it provides is worth it. I can actually feel the tension being released in my feet as I do so. You can then follow-up with some trigger point stuff using your thumb or fingers for a deeper massage, or a little foot roller/massager for the soles. I can't believe it took me a year and a half to start using one of these.
