What if I told you that you could get a free massage in your own home or office that would take away your back pain and relieve those tension headaches in less than 2 minutes? This secret tells you how!
How often have you found yourself sitting in front of your computer, rubbing your shoulders or craning your head from side to side to help relieve pain and discomfort in your neck or back? If you’re like most people, you probably do this several times a day without even realizing it. Here’s a helpful massage secret that has helped people relieve their tension headaches and back pain in just 2 minutes. It’s very simple: you can prevent these annoying problems with the help of an ordinary household toy that costs less than a cup of coffee.
This is what you need:
a tennis ball
When used correctly, this little ball of happiness can make a world of difference. I have been a huge fan of tennis ball massage ever since it helped me cure rotator cuff tendinitis. I even now use a tennis ball every day to soothe my upper back muscles and prevent tension headaches from occurring. Be careful, though. If tennis balls are used incorrectly, they may not be as effective, so be sure to follow the instructions below to get the most out of this health prevention secret:
The tennis ball massage:
1. Find a house tennis ball. Don’t use one that the dog has been chewing on for years…it will be too soft (and moist!). The best ones to get are from the dollar store. They are terrible for tennis, but since they are harder, they work perfectly for tennis ball massage.
2. Choose a place to perform the massage. The best option is a blank wall or door (the harder the wall or door, the better). I’ve known a few people who have created dents in old drywall, so try to find a hard surface that you know you won’t ruin. People always ask if it is okay to perform this massage on the floor. I advise against it because the process can be uncomfortable and quite intense for a novice. You have a lot more control if you’re standing up, so stay on your feet.
3. Stand with your back against a flat, sturdy surface. Position the tennis ball between your upper back and the wall so that the tennis ball rests between one of your shoulder blades and your spine. For example, if you want to start on the upper right side of your back, the tennis ball should be between your spine and your right shoulder blade, resting on your long back muscles. Placing the tennis ball on the bone is not fun; it won’t be comfortable and you won’t get much benefit.
4. Once the ball is in the right place, lean against the wall and place one foot slightly in front of the other (to push off more easily) and gently lean into the wall. You should feel comfortable pressure on your back where the tennis ball is. Depending on how much pressure you want, lean or push yourself against the wall with more or less force. This should feel good, so if it hurts, calm down!
5. Once you have mastered the “tilt technique”, you are ready for the “swing technique”. Bend your knees slightly up and down so that the tennis ball rolls up and down in the space between your shoulder blades and your spine. This is my favorite and it’s incredibly effective at reducing tension!
I guarantee that if you use this secret at home or in the office, you will experience less aches and pains associated with computer-related stress. Most tennis ball packages come with three balls; keep one at home, in the car and at the office. Please pass this information around the office and I promise you will enjoy a happy group of co-workers and see many more smiles at the water cooler.
Do you know someone who suffers from headaches or neck pain from being in front of a computer all day? Help them out and send them a link to this article!