Back Nodger and my Trigger Point Toolbox
I’ll be honest about the Back Nodger. Initially, I played around with this obscure looking tool and thought to myself “Seriously?”. I wondered how it would differ from my current range of spikey balls, pocket physios, acupressure balls and my precious RumbleRoller.
For those that know me personally, I have quite broad shoulders for a female – I’m pretty muscly. I’m an ex swimmer who spends most of her spare time lifting her own bodyweight for fun. My initial impression of the Back Nodger was that it just wouldn’t get into my muscles and give me the relief everyone had been raving about in the UK. I’ll admit it could have been my ego, but I just wasn’t a huge fan and it sat on my desk buried under some paperwork for a couple of weeks.
Until I felt tight in my traps…
I’m not going to lie; when I first felt that knot appear, I went straight for my trusted Pocket Physio because of its compact and angled size. But I couldn’t negotiate that into where I needed it to be, even if I was lying down. Next I tried my Accupressure Ball (the firm one) but it too wasn’t getting the job done – it felt too bulky and it was hard to relax into. My beloved RumbleRoller (I’ve recently upgraded to the black one – yeah I’m hardcore!) worked wonders throughout my mid to upper back but was just too bulky to dig right into my traps no matter how hard I pushed or what angle I was laying on it. I made do with what little relief I had achieved and went back to sit at my desk. It was then that my attention turned to the Back Nodger.
I scoured its odd shape and laughed to myself at the thought that I’d have to “nodge” this knot out. (That’s Back Nodger’s terms by the way. If you happen to be on Twitter, check out #addictedtonodging! Pure craziness). I positioned the end piece over the hard to reach knot located somewhere in my right trap, breathed in and on the exhale I pulled on the handle to apply pressure. I needed a fair few deep breaths and a couple of small relocations of the tool to get that bad boy out but by jove; once it had gone, it was like I’d just regained an entire limb out of nowhere. I’m sure those who attack their trigger points regularly know this feeling quite well, but for those that don’t; you’re in for a treat. It’s one of the best feelings ever!
It’s taken three full months of regular use for me to fully commit to loving the Back Nodger, but I’ve added it to my little Trigger Point Tool Kit, and I play with it every day.
Check out the Back Nodger videos on YouTube, and if you happen to have a niggling that requires a nodge, you can purchase a Back Nodger on our website for $50 inc GST and delivery. Maybe you too will become #addictedtonodging! Get in contact with us and tell us what’s in your Trigger Point Toolbox and why!
Blog post by Kat, PhysioSupplies Australia. Keep up with Kat on Twitter and Facebook.