Customer Reviews

Trigger Point Performance Ultimate 6 Total Body Self Myofascial Release and Deep Tissue Massage Kit

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow! I was on the verge of injury and was getting slower running time from stiff muscles and had done massage and a whole assortment of physio options, but this system truly provided a NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE!!! I truly couldn't believe it from something it looks like I could make myself a home (I probably still could, but it wouldn't be worth my time, and not as effective).

I would HIGHLY recommend the kit with the Ultimate 6 instructional book. I thought I knew how to use the system and tried it for a few days without reading the instructions, with no real effects, and then when I read the little booklet, started using it as they advise, and my legs have never felt so fresh!!

I only use the quad baller and the little trigger ball - I find the smaller calf roller and block a little awkward and quad baller just as easy to use on my calves. However, the booklet is really what lets you use the system properly, so I would say it's worth it to get the package just for the book.

Just for background, I first heard about this product from a buddy in college. His parents lived on the other side of the country so he flew to school which means he didn't have many belongings with him (only what he could fit into a few suitcases) and the quad baller was one of the few discretionary items he brought to college and kept in his otherwise very empty room (a testament to how useful he though it was). He also told me his mother used to be a marathon runner, but had to stop a number of years ago from injury. She tried all types of physio with no success, until just a year ago she found the TP Therapy system and within 6 weeks was running again, and just started back into her first marathon in 6 years. So, when I was start to experience pain from running, I gave it a shot, and couldn't have been happier!

My trainer uses this system and it made a huge difference in reducing soreness and muscle stress and helped in stretching out the muscles. If you have any aches, pains or soreness, this system works. My quads, calves, glutes and shoulders are worlds different. I cannot recommend this product enough!!

I love this product, but I sure wish there was a video to demonstrate how to use each item to make sure that it is being done properly. I use it at Cross Fit, but there I have instructors to make sure that I am doing the manipulation correctly. I got this to help my boyfriend and when I try to show him, of course I do it "not so good" ;-) Overall, though this is a really good product and would recommend it to anyone who suffers from muscle soreness.

I developed plantar fasciitis during the course of training for a marathon. I have been distance running for about 7 years, and the problems in my feet developed only in the past year. The pain is quite acute and simply was not going away. I tried taping and stopped running (!!!) and nothing seemed to work for more than 3 months. I saw an add for trigger point therapy and looked into it on the internet. Long story short... work with trigger point tools included in the TriggerPoint Total Body Package solved most of the discomfort within a week! I was hopeful that these tools would provide relief and allow me to begin running again, but I was surprised and quite pleased that the pain was solved in just a week! The trigger points that I had were actually in my lower calves instead of in my foot - I would not have thought that tight calf muscles would have caused foot pain, but that was certainly the case. I highly recommend this product for runners. It is not a substitute for stretching after runs, but more of an adjunct procedure to relieve trigger points that build up due to repetitive motions like distance running. The product being reviewed is fantastic... I only docked a star because the price of the product is more than it appears it should be.

The kit is a great combo and frankly a lot better then a foam roller. The foam block is probably a little over the top, but kinda fun. The only minor short coming is the ball's covering and patch don't make for great gripping, you have to put a towel down to roll around. Otherwise, great product.

My husband runs marathons and does triathlons too. he had been suffering in pain before christmas and I had seen this product advertised and had heard good things about it, so I decided to buy it. He uses it every day and can tell that it is helping. he uses it for his calves and quads mostly.

About three years ago I struggled with shin splints which led to stress fractures. I had to sit out the Country Music Marathon in 2005 in Nashville because of stress fractures. At the race expo, I saw the TP Massage booth. It honestly sounded like a gimmick and a scam. They advertised the massage baller as being able to fix every running injury it seemed. Desperate to find some relief from the shin splints and stress fractures, I bought the calf massage baller. Amazingly, it worked. Now I'm back into long distance running and love my TP Massage baller.

So I had some time this weekend to use my Hip + Lower Back kit and GRID Roller and here's my review.


A little bit of history on myself:

I've been an athlete my whole life -- basketball, football, wrestling, skateboarding, snowboarding, skimboarding, dancing, running and swimming.

I've also been a practitioner of yoga for over 10 years and actively practicing trigger point therapy and other massage techniques for almost 10 years now.

In Winter of 2003, I had a major snowboarding injury to my right hip that stretched up my entire spine from the whiplash. The immediate consequence was loss of function on my right leg for almost 2 months. The long-term residual consequence was the loss of function in my arms. This surfaced while I was attending Musician's Institute, playing my guitar for up to 10 hours-a-day. The doctors addressed the symptoms, not the cause... looking solely at my wrists and labeling it Tendonitis when in reality, the symptoms came from aggravated nerves in my neck from the whiplash.

I had a similar experience as Cassidy, finding short-term relief in all forms of specialists and treatments but nothing that lasted long-term and more importantly, nothing that empowered me to take control of my recovery in the big picture. Doctors were nudging me towards surgery and meds while also advising me to reduce arm usage. Like hell I'm going to listen to some stranger that thinks they know more about my own body than me, even if they are doctors! No offense to doctors, but I wasn't going to be a textbook case. No thanks!

So using my past experience in athletics and manual therapy, I continued to build towards a working knowledge of how the body functions in all aspects, using myself as the test subject. One of the greatest discoveries from those years of research and experiments is Trigger Point therapy. With the myriad of different angles I approached, I can confidently say that I have regained complete control and function to both my arms with more strength than I ever remember and continue to make progress in other areas of my body -- most notably, my hips and legs. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of taking care of one's muscles for a better quality of life. It is a serious endeavor, aiming to rid one's body of all muscular tension and trigger points. Even with the right tools, it can be the challenge of a life-time which is why I'm delighted to add Cassidy's products to my tool box!


Moving on to the tools:

TP Ball - The TP ball is wrapped in a soft cloth cover that allows just the right about of "give" in relation to its solid core. The end result is a very effective balance of yield and pressure. This is the perfect setting between unduly soft air-filled balls like tennis balls and exceedingly hard solid balls like lacrosse balls.

I keep these with me where ever I go. They work great in the palm of your hand against areas like the pectorals, abdomen, quads. If you have a wall nearby, they work great on the deltoids, back, glutes, etc... If you have a chair nearby, they work awesome on the hamstrings, glutes and piriformis muscles. If you want maximum pressure though, the floor works best, treating back, glutes, abs, psoas and feet muscles.


TP Footballer - The TP Footballer is also wrapped in a soft cloth cover and shares the same balance of yield and give as the TP Ball. The shape and size of the Footballer is perfect for your arches, soleus and even forearms.

I find that alternating between the TP Ball and TP Footballer works great in loosening up tight arches. Variety of movement and manipulations is key, just like in weight training. It appears that muscle-confusion works on recovery as much as growth.


TP Quadballer - The TP Quadballer is basically a larger version of the Footballer, allowing you to treat the hamstrings, glutes, quads, and neck muscles. You can also use the Quadballer to treat your arches, soleus and arms if you want less intensity than the Footballer.

The TP Quadballer replaced many tools I used prior to its discovery -- particularly the tools I used for treating my quads.

I use the TP Quadballer in combination with the GRID roller for variety. The TP Quadballer is lower to the ground, which can require more effort to get good leverage on certain muscles like the hamstrings, but it provides deeper pressure and the lower level makes it easier to treat other muscles like the quadriceps.


TP GRID Roller - The TP GRID Roller is a compact, heavy-duty roller with different patterns on the surface for a variety of manipulations and applications.

The first thing I noticed is the size -- it's much smaller than the foam roller I had before. This makes sense because you don't need that much surface to make contact when rolling. This focuses the pressure more, providing better traction and circulation. The second thing I noticed was the foam material -- once again, it's the perfect balance of pressure and yield.

It really helps that the foam wraps a hard cylinder because it will not give out under extreme loads. For example, I can get excellent traction, manipulating/adjusting my spine with a relatively easy bounce while rolling on the GRID. On my old foam roller, I had to bounce just about as hard as I could to get the same manipulation/spinal release I get on the GRID.


After using the products for a good "break in" period I have come to 2 conclusions:

1) I can tell the tools were developed by someone who "gets" it. Everything from the design, materials, heck even branding -- bottom line, if Cassidy didn't create these products.. I would have! Unless you're someone who has dealt with chronic on-going musculoskeletal or any other chronic pain for that matter, you might not understand my geeky excitement but the fact is, these tools are exactly what the patient ordered. (the doctor would have ordered pills and a scalpel)

2) I own and have used dozens of different manual therapy tools -- TPP tools have replaced a lot of my regular first choices. Which leads me to my conclusion, people need to know about these tools! I can't believe how long I've used lesser tools for the job.


Summary:

Rating: 10/10

For anyone who suffers from chronic muscle tension, is involved in performance athletics or is recovering from muscular injury, TPP products are a no-brainer. I would even be bold enough to say that these products and associated education NEED to be integrated into our public school's physical education programs. Imagine how productive and healthy our future generations could be if we taught our children how to take care of their own bodies -- if we gave them the tools AND knowledge to empower them to appreciate and respect their bodies. And lastly, what they can achieve for our future generations without being held back by unnecessary limits created by unhealthy bodies. I know my kids have a greater genuine interest in massage and their own bodies -- thanks to my influence and tools being at their disposal.

Bottom line, I recommend Trigger Point Performance to all my family and friends because I have first-hand experienced the effectiveness of their products.

I was definitely concerned about buying this product due to the many reviews that seem to be either paid or from the company itself. Overall, this product does work. It doesn't work miracles but it is of good quality and provides a fast recovery and good, self deep tissue massage. Yes, you could make something similar for cheaper, that is why only 4 stars! If you are on the fence and have the money, I would get it because it will last you a lifetime. If you will be breaking your bank, use some old glass coke bottles in a sock and a lacrosseball and you have a very similar product. Cheers...

I thought all of these things after this product arrived... I paid this much for this?!?! And what could these very slight motions possibly be doing to help my very painful ankele injury.

Backing up: the day before I got this, I had been sidelined from Mixed Martial Arts training for nearly 2 weeks after injuring my ankle sparring and exacerbating on an 8 mile city run. After talking to a triathalete, two Sport store employees (who didnt even sell this product in there stores) and a world ranked runner who raved about these products, I took the plunge and went all in with this Total Body Package.

The next morning after just one treatment, my foot is 95% better. Two days later I can hardly tell I ever injured it. I've done one MMA and one BJJ session and had 0 problems.

Worth every single penny. I still dont know how its that much better than my 'stick' or massage tools that I have... but for me anyway, this has been a miracle product. I am now preaching the gospel of TriggerPoint to everyone I train with.