- What is the best massage balls for sciatica pain?
- Video: How to use massage balls?
- The types of massage products you should know about
- What is sciatica and what are the causes and symptoms?
- Most effective types of massage balls to relieve sciatic pain
- How to relieve sciatic pain with myofascial massage balls?
- What are the benefits of using massage balls to relieve back pain?
Sciatica is one of the most common conditions in older people and those who lead an intense and hectic lifestyle. This causes muscle tension and compression, which puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.
The pain is often difficult to localize because the sciatic nerve runs from the lower back all the way down the leg to the foot, and the pain varies depending on which end of the nerve is being pressed.
What is the best massage balls for sciatica pain?
- Sizes: S(3cm)-M(5cm)-L(6,5cm)
- Material: Rubber
- Colours: Blue, Purple, Red
- No. of Units: 3
- Pack: Book Exercise
- Latex free
- For various areas of the body
- Different sizes
- Perfect for relieving tension
- Some units may smell strongly of rubber
- Large ball too soft for some people
Don't miss this opportunity to get all the benefits of acupressure from a single product. Just choose the right ball to rub on your neck, back, hand and any other part of your body where you feel pain. It is useful for reducing stress and lowering anxiety, but keep in mind that the density and size of the smaller sphere may not be sufficient for some muscle treatments.
- For various areas of the body
- Perfect for relieving tension
- Too hard for some people
You have the option of choosing various positions of myofascial release so that, with trigger point therapy, you can reduce muscle tension. It is ideal for quick recovery from tennis elbow, low back pain and neck pain, but be aware that the size can be detrimental when applying acupressure massage to the shoulder and calf.
- Size: 5cm
- Material: Foam rubber and fabric
- Colours: Green and White
- No. of Units: 1
- Pack: Massage ball
- Ideal for small muscles
- Quality finish
- Difficult to clean
For faster recovery, use the massage ball on your living room floor or use a wall for more effective pressure rubbing. You can ask someone else to help you massage your back and neck. Their durable, easy-to-clean materials do not accumulate odour and improve blood oxygenation. Their size may be insufficient and cause pain in certain injuries.
- Perfect for trigger point therapy
- For various areas of the body
- Helps stimulate blood flow
- Pilates, Yoga, Physiotherapy and Massage Therapy
- Loses its shape after a lot of use
- Too soft for some people
They can be used individually by anyone, as no help is needed to stimulate blood circulation and reduce pain. Myofascial release occurs effectively after a workout or a long day at work because you only need to rub the balls on the affected area of the body. Don't miss this unique opportunity to get a good ally for your health, but keep in mind that their materials may slip during use.
- Size: 6cm - 2,36in
- Material: Polypropylene
- Colours: Blue, Grey, Green
- No. of Units: 3
- Pack: Carrying tube
- Perfect for acupressure and trigger point massage
- Different hardnesses
- Some units may smell for a few days
The specialists who created the massage balls thought about the quality of the materials to make them durable and the practicality of their use. You only need to press, lying down or sitting, on the affected area to stimulate blood circulation. Don't waste any more time and choose this complete set of massagers to apply on the body, although you have to consider that the density of the materials may cause more pain.
- Measurements: 6,3cm - 2,5in
- Material: Rubber
- Colours: Blue, Purple
- No. of Units: 2
- Pack: Carrying bag
- Easy to transport
- For various body areas
- Suitable for Yoga
- Perfect for various ailments
- Beginners may find the massage too intense
- Same hardness for both units
You don't need anyone to get good results, as you only need to sit or lie on the floor to rub the balls of different densities. Each of the massage balls are made of non-toxic rubber, so that they last for a long time. It is important to consider that you can use it in the gym or at home, although it is not intended for therapy for children.
- Measurements: 6,3cm - 2,5in
- Material: EVA Rubber
- Colours: Red, White, Black
- No. of Units: 1
- Pack: Massage ball
- Latex free
- For various body areas
- Layered construction in different densities
- Perfect for relieving pain and tension
- Some units may smell rubbery
- Loses its shape with prolonged use
Use this ball to stimulate circulation and improve oxygenation in the muscle tissues, which will lead to better flexibility. Note that, thanks to acupressure, you can help aerobic capacity, which is very important for the most demanding athletes. Once you start using it every day, your body will generate endorphins and oxytocin for deeper relaxation. In some cases, the material did not retain its quality after several uses.
- For various body areas
- With large carrying bag
- No dimensions specified
It is ideal for stress reflexology therapy, also to reduce anxiety and correct posture, just stimulate the trigger points of the body to soften the fascia. It can be used in elderly people or in patients with vertebrae impingement, just by lying down and feeling the softness of the materials of the balls, the effects will begin. It is necessary to know that in some cases they were difficult to use comfortably.
- Sizes: Different sizes
- Material: Rubber
- Colours: Grey, Black
- Nº of units: 4
- Pack: 4 Balls with Carrying bag
- For various body areas and types of massages
- Pack of 4 balls with carrying bag
- Some of the balls may be too hard for some people
The different components included in this set of massagers loosen muscle tension, thanks to the pressure they exert on the trigger points until myofascial release is achieved. A wide range of exercises can be combined to accelerate the recovery process for plantar fasciitis, low back pain, cervical pain, tendonitis and other disorders. The hardness changes according to the product, but in some cases the piece is not suitable for certain internal massages.
ResultSport - 3x Lacrosse Massage Ball for Back (Hard/Medium/Firm) for Plantar Fasciitis Recovery
- Different densities
- Pack with 3 pcs
- Some units may smell like rubber
They are designed to be used by athletes and people suffering from leg, hip and back discomfort. Athletes will recover faster from muscle tears and pulls. To do this, it is necessary to massage before and after training to loosen the structure of the fibres. It is important to know that they are easy to clean, but the lifespan can be short if used improperly.
Video: How to use massage balls?
The types of massage products you should know about
What is sciatica and what are the causes and symptoms?
Sciatica is different from lumbalgia. The former is a severe pain in the sciatic nerve that starts with weak signals, then a localized pain is activated.
Causes
- Postural overuse: prolonged sitting or standing is a likely cause of sciatic nerve pain, often working irregularly for days before it is recognized due to muscle compression. It is advisable to pay attention to proper posture.
- Muscle contractures: this cause is most likely to occur in people who participate in sports that place excessive stress on the back muscles, such as golf, and sports that involve a lot of physical contact, such as soccer. When the muscles are exhausted, the fibers involuntarily contract until the nerve is affected.
- Disc protrusions and herniations: Injuries such as the displacement and deformation of the intervertebral discs cause compression of the nerves in the lumbar region, triggering sciatica. Rest is sufficient at the first signs.
- Spondylolisthesis: this is the displacement of an entire vertebra forward, which also puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. The most commonly displaced vertebrae are L4 and L5, which often affects the function of the entire spinal cord.
Symptoms
- Tingling: every evil has a beginning, sciatica is a condition that starts with a slight tingling sensation in the lumbar region, which is often overlooked by patients; they prefer to rest and avoid looking for the cause of this symptom.
- Muscle weakness: the nerves send direct signals to the muscle groups and it is common to feel weakness in the legs because these electrical signals do not reach the muscle fibers properly.
- Generalized numbness: depending on the nerve compression, sufferers experience numbness of the body between the lower back, buttocks and ischial tuberosities. Pain is not usually associated with this initial symptom.
- Pain in only one leg: It is very rare to have pain in both legs at the same time. What few people know is that sciatica has this negative effect and is very often associated with muscle fatigue.
- Pain in the buttocks: this symptom is constant, more severe than the leg pain, and is usually on the same side as the pain in the thigh. At first the pain is intermittent, later it becomes continuous.
Most effective types of massage balls to relieve sciatic pain
Lacrosse Balls
When treating sciatic pain, these massage balls relieve muscle tension and stiffness that put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Start with the softer balls to adjust the body, and then use the harder balls. The massage balls release trigger points in the dense muscles of the lower back where sciatica originates. If you massage yourself at the first signs, you can certainly prevent the pain from affecting your life.
Massage balls with spikes
This model of balls allows a deeper stimulation of the back, when the muscle knots are very deep and intense. It is advisable to start with gentle routines at first. The spikes penetrate the skin without hurting, but release tension when you apply light body pressure on these balls.
Peanut ball shaped
This ball model stimulates the muscles closest to the lumbar vertebrae, where the sciatica is located. The peanut-shaped ball should be placed on the floor with your body on top of it, right where you want to apply pressure. Although the movements are more limited, bilateral massage allows you to cover a larger area without the risk of stressing the spinal cord.
Massage ball with vibrations
Using this ball has a double advantage: you can use it with one hand to reach hard-to-reach areas, and its vibrations evenly stimulate myofascial tissue and tense muscle fibers. You don't have to apply heavy pressure to your body, just let the vibrations do the work for you while you relax and enjoy the feeling of pain relief.
Foam roller
Although this is not a massage ball, it also offers benefits in relieving tension and nerve compression in the back. There are models that offer vibrations just like massage balls. So if you have this product at home, it can also be used to relieve lower back pain.
How to relieve sciatic pain with myofascial massage balls?
Here are the main points that you should consider when using massage balls in the back area:
- This type of massage should be done quietly, take your time.
- Place the softest ball on each buttock.
- Place your body on the soft ball and angle your leg to the side (as if you were making the number 4).
- Hold this position for one minute and then repeat on the other buttock.
- Place a harder ball (possibly with spikes) on the first buttock.
- Bend both legs.
- Perform slight hip movements forward and backward.
- Repeat the movement for three minutes and then pass the ball to the other buttock.
- Both exercises can be done two to three times a day.
- Repeat sessions for two and three days if you feel relief.
- Remember to always start with soft balls.
What are the benefits of using massage balls to relieve back pain?
- Improves muscle function: constant massages keep the muscles of the lower back supple and elastic.
- Relieves muscle fatigue: Massaging better prepares muscles for athletic stress and prevents injuries such as strains.
- Prevents damage to nerve endings: The spinal cord is located in the back and muscle injuries lead to dangerous compressions of the spinal cord, with massages this probability is reduced.
- Activates trigger points: You can reduce tension in trigger points with smaller, harder balls, but you need to prepare the body with the soft balls first.
- Improves blood circulation: a good massage will stimulate blood circulation and provide more oxygen and nutrients to muscles weakened by overuse.