6monk Blue Thumbby Massage Tool

Oh Thumbby, where have you been all my life? I've had a long history of back and shoulder pain and have been successful at self-management for the most part. The Theracane was my first love and helped me through the shoulder and upper back pain involved with playing the upright bass. Then I discovered the use of a simple tennis ball against a wall and later graduated to a lacrosse ball. For years the lacrosse ball has been by go-to tool for general back pain and tightness. Combined with the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook ( The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) , this combo seemed to fix any pain I experienced. It's particularly effective on the lower back and hips. I thought I'd found the ultimate solution; cheap, portable, and effective. But then the shoulder pain came. My first frozen shoulder on the right I was able to work through completely with a lacrosse ball against the wall over the course of many weeks. Then came the frozen shoulder on the left side. I've been working on it for months and can't seem to get to those hidden specific points that are causing the pain. The lacrosse ball is just too blunt to get into the nooks of my shoulder blade. I ordered Shemala Finger Massager Shemala Finger Press Massager on the recommendation of the trigger point workbook. The biggest downside to these is they look CREEPY! My family won't let me leave them in plain sight because they're so creepy. These would really be served by a design that abstracts them a bit from literal fingers. Despite the creepy design, I could reach some spots more effectively than before but still couldn't reach everything. In addition, it was difficult to reach the spots I needed and caused me to contort my other arm thereby risking the development of new trigger points. My first frozen shoulder was developed by contorting my arm backwards to massage my lower back. I feared this might happen again. Back to Amazon I went for another solution. Then it happened. I found the Thumbby (cue angelic music). It looked perfect. I could use it against the wall to get the leverage I need. The more defined tip looked like it could get to the muscles under my shoulder blade. I was a little weary that the YouTube videos that promote the product all seemed quite underwhelming and like they were from the 70s. In fact, most of them were posted 6-8 years ago so according to internet time they are quite ancient. They didn't give me a great feel for how the Thumbby sticks to the wall or how stiff the rubber is. There also weren't very many videos. Despite the lack of much social proof I made the leap. The Thumbby performed perfectly. First a description and answers to some of the questions I had like "how well does it stick to the wall," and "how hard is it." It sticks to the wall without a problem so I can really lean in. There is no adhesive. Instead the Thumbby has a slightly concave back which acts like a suction cup. It is surprising it sticks as well as it does because the curve isn't very pronounced. I've stuck it to our drywall which has a flat finish (no pronounced texturing) and to a painted bookshelf side. Because the silicone is quite grippy, the Thumbby doesn't slide, even if I push so hard the suction part comes up. I've noticed that the Thumbby will remaining sticking on the wall for quite some time. In fact, my kids stick it on the wall for fun and leave it and I've never noticed it loosing suction and falling. The silicone firmness really is in the sweet spot; not to firm, not too soft. It's way softer than a lacrosse ball but firm enough to really get good pressure on your trigger points. It's fair to say it's as firm as a thumb but that's not a great comparison as your thumb has varying consistencies depending on the pressure whereas the Thumbby has a consistent elasticity throughout. The diameter of the base is roughly a little larger than a lacrosse ball. I found the pictures portrayed the size pretty accurately assuming the hand holding the Thumbby is of average male size. Now for performance. The first time I used the Thumbby I new I had a new love. I could finally hit all the spots I hadn't been able to before. It was wonderful and agonizing at the same time. When used through clothes the Thumbby sticks to the clothes so you have to essentially move the skin with the massage stroke. This limits motion and keeps you from being able to move across your back in longer distances without re positioning. This wasn't a problem for me because I massage in shorter strokes anyway and I found I had a decent range of motion without re positioning. Re positioning isn't difficult. By just letting up on the pressure the Thumbby is easily re positioned to another spot. If you want or need a wider range of motion you can use the Thumbby directly on the skin with a little oil. I tried this using almond oil and it was fantastic. It easily glides without sticking and the oil washes off afterwards without an issue. Because the Thumbby has both the point as well as the flat sides, you can vary your angle of attack to get more or less direct pressure. It takes some practice to get familiar with your various back muscles and to work through layers of tension but a little dedicated patience can yield amazing dividends. For my specific issue I knew what movements caused shoulder pain so I would simply move my arm to trigger the pain and then try to find the muscle while the pain was being triggered. This was very effective and resulted in immediate relief and increased range of motion. Of course, trigger points like these often take repeated therapy over time, but I'm confident I can now hit the spots I need. It seems strange to be almost giddy over a simply tool like this, but it is the right tool for the job. I think a lacrosse ball will still be my go-to tool for the lower back that needs larger sweeping strokes and more generalize pressure, but for specific, targeted trigger point therapy this is neigh unto a miracle.

Thumbby is great. It sticks well to any surface. It gets right to the area of need. A little expensive, but it works.

I loved it so much I bought another. Many of my massage clients cannot even tell when I am using this since it has some softness to the material. Glides well with little or no lotion. I like that I can use it for trigger point and the sides are great for long deeper strokes. Really takes the pressure off of my hands and fingers. Cleans easily and quickly. I use it for table and for chair massage. I also use it frequently for self care on my arms and pectoral muscles. If I get a knot in my back or occiput area I place it on my bed and position the knot on it and body weight takes care of the rest. This is a "go to" tool for me on a daily basis. Very reasonably priced as well. Thanks to the genius who developed this tool! :D

This is a great tool, but I wish it was a little larger. It can be sort of hard to lie on it and get the spots in your hips because it is sort of small. It works well when it sticks to the wall and you lean against it.

Amazing tool! I am a massage therapist and have tried and used a variety of trigger point tools for my patients, and the Thumbby blows them all out of the water! I love that I can use it on ALL of my patients, no matter what the extent of their injuries (I do treatment work). You can't even tell the difference between my thumb or the Thumbby! A quick wipe down at the end of the session and it's ready for my next appt. I love that I can stick it to the wall and work out my own adhesions and trigger points, or open up my flexor or extensors while watching a movie or standing in the grocery line. I have told so many patients and colleagues about it that I really should become a reseller!

I have a wonderful husband that would push a thumb or elbow in my neck or shoulder anytime I ask, but sometimes it's hard for me to describe where I need the pressure. So I invested in this little buddy, I can place this on my mattress (it's better on a harder surface, but I'm a bit wimpy so softer is good to me), then I just aline myself according to where I need pressure....grit my teeth and try to relax(relaxing helps add more weight/pressure to the "thumbby" to get the kink to release), then I raise up, move the 'thumby' and just lay back down and feel the warmth of the rush of blood to that area....kink gone!

I use my thumbs for trigger point release of tight tendons and muscles but for really tight tendons and muscles you need something more and that something more was a thumbby. Introduced to me by my physical therapist, I came home and ordered one the same day. It will stick to your wall for those hard to reach places and will even stick to your shower to use while the warm water relaxes muscles. Great product

This is not an intensive piece of material. It's super soft and malleable. For true firm myofascia tissue issues it should have a firmer density to be effective at all.