Customer Reviews

Body Back Buddy Jr. and the BBB-Mini

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before you get this pack, be sure that you know what size you want. The back buddy comes in a few sizes, and these are the two smallest. The mini back buddy is actually more handy than the other part in the set for me, as the larger one of the set is the small of the real back buddy tools,the back buddy jr., and is meant for thinner or smaller people. Still pretty good, but if you are a larger man, I'd suggest getting one of the larger models, or the Theracane, whichever is cheaper, as they both do the same thing, allow you to reach trigger points for yourself, instead of waiting for a therapist, or begging your significant other.

This is great! My boyfriend loves this and actually depends on it when he gets muscle tension.
It requires very little leverage to really get in to the tight spots. Great for all those spots around the shoulder blade. It is like a deep tissue massage - very direct pressure- don't get it if you don't like that intense pressure.

These work exceptionally well; I wish I'd purchased them sooner. My husband has a hard time finding trigger points on me. My fingers and hands tire so easily working on his. This allows each of us to do our own work and not need help. It's probably not the same as a therapist, but finding a qualified one isn't easy, you often need to work on them when there is no therapist available, and it can be pricey to use a therapist frequently.

The small one isn't very good for mid-back trigger points, but works very well on the neck and top of the shoulders. The Jr is excellent for me, though my husband found one the knob on the middle of it to poke his front when he was working on his mid-back trigger points. I will probably end up buying the standard version to see if he prefers it. I imagine I will prefer this one as it seems near perfect to me.

We have a different model in a S-shape with wooden balls on the ends of the metal curve. Both of us prefer the Jr over it by a wide margin. The Jr seems easier to use and get leverage. Even though the Jr is the same length, for some reason both of us perceive the Jr as being smaller and easier to use.

If you're purchasing this and do not know much about myofascial trigger points, it would be helpful to read up on them; there are several websites that explain them and there are several books, too, all available here at Amazon. It's nice to have a book that has a map of where they commonly bother people. I've found those to help me resolve problems. I was missing a few points that were referring pain until I saw a map of the problem areas.

The small one is not shaped well for the use I expected. I hoped to be able to have a more portable version for travel or keeping at the office, but the shape doesn't provide great leverage. I have an "S" curve one and that is fabulous. I'm giving the larger one to a friend who borrowed my "S" and I'm sure she will like it fine.

I am so addicted to my body back buddy, that I take it with me when I travel. However, at 24.5" long, the full-size BBB will only fit the largest suitcase. I bought this Jr size because it is 2" shorter (22.5" long). It doesn't fit in my carry-on, but it fits in the next size up.

As others have noted, the BBB-Jr may not fit larger people. Its large end fits around my body, but I'm short and thin. The small end barely fits over my shoulder blade; I don't know why they made that end so pointy. So unless you are in a similar situation to mine, where you need to pack a BBB for a plane, I would not recommend the BBB-Jr. It is not as well-designed as the full-size tool. It should be an inch shorter and rounder and wider at both ends.

The BBB-mini is only good for shoulder work, but I've found that older women are more comfortable using it than the larger versions.

I have major trigger points in my upper back and shoulders and I wanted this so I could work them out. It does the job - although it does hurt a little so I don't use it as much as I should. It also reaches my feet but it is heavy and large for me. I had tried a different brand at an EMS store and it was easier to use but had viewer places to grip. This one gives me more leverage.

The Body Back Buddy is a good product, but be aware that the Jr. model is for a very small person. I'm a woman on the small side and yet the small curve doesn't even fit over my calf. The full-size version just looked so large in the pictures...

The mini's ends are not round and really poke, so may not be appropriate for all people. I've found, however, that it makes a great back scratcher and I'd buy it just for that purpose!

I love these bodyback products! They are quality products and they are really great for pressure point relief.

i'm sorry to say, i did not end up using these odd appliances. i gave the big one away, and occasionally use the small one. perhaps i'm just a slacker and did not use them as intended or diligently enough. i just did not feel any particular relief from my chronic and generalized back pain. perhaps in the hands of an expert they could be helpful.