Benefits of Vertiball Myofascial Release

Trigger points or muscle knots are involuntary tight tender spots in a contracted muscle and can be described as “myofascial pain syndrome”. These trigger points are in parts of the muscle where there is decreased circulation, increased muscle contraction, spasm and increased nerve sensitivity that causes a sharp muscle pain or constant ache.

Let's not feel like this guy...

Headaches & Neck Pain:

Scientific studies show that a high occurrence of active and latent myofascial trigger points result in patients decreased neck mobility and migraines. A higher number of trigger points in the head, neck, and shoulder muscles is associated with widespread pressure hypersensitivity in migraine population. Tenderness in myofascial tissue can be correlated with the intensity and frequencies of headaches [1-3].

Improved Circulation:

A decreased blood circulation on your body can cause many significant health problems. Studies show the difference in the blood flow with active, latent and normal trigger point sites and how myofascial trigger points compress the capillary/venous bed [4].

Increased Range of Motion:

Massage has been used for thousands of years for human body health and performance, which includes neuromuscular and connective tissue changes within the cell, system and body. Self-myofascial release with recovery devices like Vertiball has been found to increase range of motion, flexibility and athletic performance by itself. For the best results, Vertiball should be used in a combination of dynamic stretching or light walking. [5]

1 - Lipchik GL, Holroyd KA, O’Donnell FJ et al (2000) Exteroceptive suppression periods and pericranial muscle tenderness in chronic tension-type headache: effects of psychopathology, chronicity and disability. Cephalalgia 20:638–646  

2 - Buchgreitz L, Lyngberg AC, Bendtsen L et al (2006) Frequency of headache is related to sensitization: a population study. Pain 123:19–27

3 - Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Cuadrado ML, Arendt-Nielsen L et al (2007) Increased pericranial tenderness, decreased pressure pain threshold, and headache clinical parameters in chronic tension-type headache patients. Clin J Pain 23:346–352

4 - Sikdar S, Ortiz R, Gebreab T, Gerber LH, Shah JP. Understanding the vascular environment of myofascial trigger points using ultrasonic imaging and computational modeling. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2010, 5302–5305

5 - Richman E. D., Tyo B. M., Nicks C. R. (2018). Combined effects of self-myofascial release and dynamic stretching on range of motion, jump, sprint, and agility performance. J. Strength Cond. Res.