Like many runners, from the hobby jogger to the elite, I spend numerous hours a week on tending to various knots and soreness in my legs. I owned various therapy devices, lacrosse balls, softballs, foam rollers, you name it I had it.
The foam roller that I previously owned was too soft and at the time I was not looking to spend $70- $80 dollars on one of those fancy shmancy new foam rollers. So I got online and started reading about various other types of massage therapy and decided to purchase the Tiger Tail.
Tender “knots” in the muscle can prevent full range of motion, while causing aches, discomfort and early muscle fatigue. These tender muscle knots come in various sizes and can cause different kinds of issues for every runner. The goal of the Tiger Tail is to rid the muscles of those pesky knots.
Since Purchasing the Tiger tail I decided to take a 3 week reprieve from using my foam roller and other types of massage therapy, strictly use only my tiger tail for a month. Here’s what I found.
Design
When looking at the Tiger Tail a few things should stick out to you that separate it from other rolling massagers of its kind. The Tiger Tails Firm design won’t bend – apply as little or as much pressure as needed. My use varied from extreme pressure to mild rolling, and the tiger tail never bent or changed shape. One feature that really sticks out is the soft cushy cover around the massage rod that will not pull hair on your legs, (trust me its great) and helps makes for an extremely comfortable roll.
Use the Handles too?
The handles at each end of the Tiger Tail feature built-in muscle knot release tools called the “Thumb Tools” offering the firmness and density of the human thumb. The Tiger Tail Thumb Tool saves thumb, finger and hand fatigue. Use the Thumb Tools to work muscle knots in difficult to reach spots or in areas you may otherwise have difficulty applying pressure. This feature eliminates the use of Softballs, lacrosse balls and various other tools that can take up room in your home, and can be replaced by this simple feature of the tiger tail.
How Does it Work?
According to the instructions that come with each tiger tail you should apply pressure with both hands. For best results disengage or try to relax your muscles when using the Tiger Tail. This allows you to massage into the belly of the muscle. Every person is different so you are always the best judge for how much pressure you should apply, keeping this in mind, each muscle is different and only you will know exactly how big each knot feels. A “good sore hurt” is what you should strive for. This “good sore hurt” according to the instructions should be between a level 5 and level 7 of discomfort. Always follow muscle paths. Roll gently over bones such as the spine, shoulder blades, collar bones, shin bones, etc. For myself, I typically take 20-30 seconds over each muscle group to warm up healthy muscles. To be most effective, it works best to progressively press deeper into the muscle area with each roll.
Where does it Lack?
The feet. As was explained in a previous review, scar tissue usually forms in athletes in response to an injury. This change of muscle/fascia tissue will feel tight, “crunchy”, and can refer pain throughout an area. With plantar fasciitis, scar tissue can be the chief cause of discomfort among runners who have suffered from the injury for more than a few weeks as the arch attempts to heal. At this point, the common malady of plantar fasciitis (an inflammatory condition) really becomes a fasciosis, or a deadening of healthy tissue due to reduced circulation. These particular areas are hard to work other than with the handles which often times will not get as deep as may be required.
Conclusion
Tiger Tail uses the phrase Happy Muscles as their slogan and they are correct, just three weeks with the tiger tail and I learned that if need be I could ditch the foam roller and just use the tiger tail. I would highly recommend the Tiger Tail to any reader who is suffering from knots and looking for a quick and efficient way to work them out. This massager is extremely versatile and you’ll find yourself using it on more than just your sore legs.
The tiger tail may be a little more expensive than other massagers of its class, but the price is worth every penny because of its ability to go through heavy use without bending or breaking. The Tiger tail comes in two lengths, 18” ($34.95) and 22” ($39.95). If you’re wondering how to choose between the 18″ and the 22″, the only difference in construction is length. The 22″ offers 4″ more of massage surface. The 18″ offers 10″ of massage surface and the 22″ offers 14″ of massage surface (4″ handles x 2).
The Tiger Tail Rolling Massager Review was provided by our very own Chad Hirschauer
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