When Your Partner Isn't Available Use A Tennis Ball

Got extra tennis balls laying around? Maybe you have some stuffed away in the closet or perhaps fido can dig one up for you from the backyard. Where ever they are hiding, grab a couple and give yourself a back and foot massage.

Not just for the dogs, tennis balls are an inexpensive way to release tense muscles and the fascia that incase them. Using tennis balls as a tool to give self massages and acupressure is a method used by physical therapists to relieve all types of foot, leg, knee, and back pain. Specifically, doctors have seen an overwhelming response in patients pain levels when the ball is used to apply acupressure to certain points on the bottom of the foot.

Here are a few techniques to loosen up those sore muscles:

1.) Back Massage: Place two tennis balls in a tube sock and tie a knot to close it. Place the balls on either side of the spine and roll your way up and down the back. This can be done by leaning against a wall or by laying on them on the floor. Make sure to keep the tennis balls on the muscles, not on the spine.

2.) Foot Massage: Place a tennis ball under your foot. Start with it under your heal and push into the ball (with your body weight) to roll the ball along the arches and ball of the foot. Move side to side, up and down, whatever feels good to you. I like to place the ball between the ball of my foot and the toes and then wrap the toes around the ball while standing on it. Feels so good!

3.) Bed of Balls: Try this innovative product, which is really just a bunch of tennis balls strung together. The bed of balls allows you to align multiple tennis balls along the spine. The company recommends wrapping the string of tennis balls around the seat of your car, laying on them on the floor, and against a wall.

Tennis balls are cheap and small enough to through in your gym bag or purse. So pull out those underappreciated tennis balls and give ’em a whirl.