As women, we often carry tension in our necks, shoulders, and upper back. While a bit of tension is natural, this can progress into stiffness and pain. Our backs can carry extra stress and strain, especially in our tech-obsessed culture that has us hunch down over our computers and phones. I still feel that neck and upper back tension. The benefits of massage extend far beyond muscle soreness and pain.
Data shows that abdominal massage has been correlated with reducing constipation, athletes have shown quicker recoveries and increased performances, and there has been improved symptom management and sleep in patients.
It also helps with lymphatic flow and getting water into our fascia, hydrating us from the inside out. There are so many benefits to regular deep tissue work, even if you just do it yourself! Trust me, I get itโyou can try to use your own hands to dig into your neck, but somehow you can never quuuuuite get the area of tension. I first bought DIY massage tools in my days as a competitive runnerโI was so diligent about rolling out and digging into tight muscles after workouts to increase blood flow, speed up recovery, and decrease tightness.
And while my speedy running days are behind me, I still prioritize this musculoskeletal habit nearly every day. From my neck to my leggies all the way to the bottoms of the feet, I am a firm believer in a regular massage practiceโand these tools make it a lot easier. As always, check with your primary care provider or chiropractor to see what they recommend for you and your needs.
It is magical. I have one for at home and one in my desk drawer at work. Trust me, homieโif you spend 2โ3 minutes focusing on your neck with this , you will instantly feel more relaxed and less tense. This little contraption is SO great and digging into tight shoulders. The cane-like shape allows you to dig into those hard-to-reach areas on your back and relieve some of that tension. I am obsessed with this thing.
