When I started increasing my running mileage in training for OCS, I remember how sore my calves and shins got. Hydration and ballistic stretching helped in my recovery, but the greatest boost to recovery and pain relief was massage. Now, 30 minute sessions can go for $50 in some places, so I was on a mission for a cheap and effective alternative.
Solution: Self-Massage Made Easy
The product I found was The Stick. It’s a stiff yet springy bar surrounded by freely rotating sections, to provide a near “frictionless” massage. You can just
grab it and massage up and down muscles in your legs, or pretty much anywhere else on your legs or body. I combined my Stick usage with yoga and stretching and have performed my routine nearly nightly ever since. My stick still functions good as new, years later.
So Does it Work?
In a word, Yes! Relief is instant. The massage quality is not quite as good as a human, but it is very satisfying and effective. My stick is very sturdy, and has lasted fine for three years. It gets rid of most shin splints and is miraculous in loosening up my ITB or tight quads. On very sore and freshly worked muscles, the stick can get very painful on inflammation. I recommend an ice bath or cold water soak to get the inflammation down after your run, or some ibuprofen if you don’t mind the drugs.
My brother is currently starting week 3 of his 10-week OCC @ OCS. My question is if I buy The Stick for him for his birthday next week and he picks it up on libo, will he be able to take it with him to OCS or will it be locked up till graduation?
He definitely can use it on liberty over the weekend, and may have to keep it in his car. It depends on his staff whether he can keep it in his foot locker or in his luggage bag. Either way, they won’t take it away from him, so it would be a very nice gift at OCS!
Thanks so much for the info, and the tip! The Stick is gonna make him a very happy candidate!
If you bring the stick to OCS, will they let you keep it, or will they take it away?
I was found to be NPQ at OCC212 due to a stress fracture in my hip in week 8. Anyway, our platoon’s medical foot locker contained at least one or two of these sticks along with a few foam rollers.