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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 62 found the following review helpful:
 Excellent for runners Mar 20, 2011
By Stephen M. Charme
I am a serious runner (1200 miles a year) and am always looking for products that will help me with my running. The stick marathon is definitely one of them. Before I address why this works for me, let me talk about selecting the right stick.
If you go to the product website (the stick dot com) you will see that there are many different kinds of sticks depending on your needs. There is even a stick selector into which you can enter your height, weight, age, areas you want to massage, and whether or not you prefer a deep or light massage. I strongly suggest going to that site before you purchase this product or a different stick. A number of the negative reviews complaining that the stick marathon is too soft or will not provide a deep massage simply ignore that different stick products work differently, and this is not one size fits all needs.
Here is why I like the stick marathon:
1. I am primarily interested in massaging my hamstrings and calves, and do NOT want a deep tissue massage. This is just the right length, easily fits in a suitcase or gym bag, and works well to loosen "knots" in those muscle groups.
2. Do NOT buy this if you want a deep tissue massage. It is not intended to do that, and has too much flex to let you apply the kind of pressure needed for a deep tissue massage. However, I find that a light massage is all that I need before and after my runs to reduce soreness.
3. Due to a bad cold, I had not been able to run for a couple of weeks, and when I went on my first 10 mile run I felt really sore in my hamstrings and calves. This product worked great to relieve the soreness, and enabled me to run an additional 35 miles over the next four days.
4. This product comes with minimal instructions, but if you go to the website there are instructional videos.
5. The product is well constructed and does not appear in any danger of breaking when pressure is applied (as one negative review suggests). It consists of 11 PVC spindles that rotate for the massage. I read one review that claimed you could just go to Home Depot and buy a piece of PVC pipe for much less money and accomplish the same thing. Don't believe it. I have a foam roller without spindles, and it does not work the same.
Bottom line: For runners who have lean muscle mass and want a light massage for sore muscles this works great. If you have other needs, check out the other sticks that are available.
30 of 32 found the following review helpful:
 Too much flex Aug 12, 2008
By Michael Kuntz
"gadget guru"
I already own 'The Big Stick' and it's a great product. This one however falls short.
I picked this one up so I could have something small at work to use since I'm terrible with getting around to using it at home.
The size is good and all, however there is far too much flex on this thing which does not allow me to get enough pressure on my target areas. The core rod is thinner than the larger models and therefore causes all this flex. I would say stick with something larger. This may be good for light work, but not for heavy tension such as I have.
14 of 14 found the following review helpful:
also great for swimmers Jan 09, 2009
By kb
I am a college swimmer, and my coach has a few of these on deck that are available for use post-practice. The stick is great for working out leg cramps, but I also use it on my shoulders, neck, and back. I find that this particular model of the stick is the best match for massaging body parts other than my legs (esp. shoulders) due to its flexibility. This is a great buy for any athlete.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Best Pain You'll Ever Love! Get one! Mar 05, 2009
By Gemela
I recently started training for my first marathon, and I learned immediately about "the stick." Apparently, I was one of the few that DIDN'T know about this amazing product. Most people write "love" on one side and "hate" on the other side of the stick. The stick definitely gives you a chance to dig in and massage any muscle, bringing blood flow back to the muscle to heal it. It really is so nice to get a massage after running.
Just an FYI, the yellow handle stick is great for those beginning out in the sport. It's a little more flexible and the length a tad bit longer than some of the professional lengths. I highly recommend it!
UPDATE: Yes, I completed the marathon, and yes, I still use this stick. It really does help break up knots, and it's one of the first things I recommend to anyone that plans to start running. The stick is still in great shape and looks new, even months after I first bought it. Make sure to follow online guides for use...several different websites give ideas for how to use them correctly. I think the "use" is fairly obvious, but it does help to get some ideas, too. Enjoy!
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Great for sore muscles and tension relief! Dec 21, 2007
By L. Beyer
The stick absolutely makes a difference in how I feel the day after a long bike ride. I ride 2-3 times a week for an hour or more and commute to work, and this keeps my legs feeling fresh every day.
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