Thera Cane Massager Stick

Don't let painful knots and tender spots slow you down or rob you of your energy. You can find relief with the TheraCane Massager.

So, just what is the Thera Cane, and how does it work?

The Thera Cane Massager is a hand-held tool made from fiberglass and is lightweight, checking in at only 1 pound. Shaped like a cane, with a crook on one end, you can use this tool to reach every sore spot on your body. Six massage balls, placed at strategic locations along the cane, help deliver relief to every point. Two four-inch extenders are on one side (pointing away from the crook), and two short extenders point inward.

The TheraCane Therapeutic Massaging Tool works using just a small, gentle amount of pressure and limited arm movements. Place one of the balls on a trigger point, apply pressure for five to ten seconds, and then move the tool away. The pressure helps bring the maximum flow of oxygenated blood to your muscle. It also helps to break up the adhesions - fibrous tissue that grows when small tears happen - and knots that cause pain.

What Causes Trigger Points?

Trigger points can develop after an acute injury or trauma, overuse or repetitive motion, and strains - such as those that come from structural problems, bad body mechanics (think poor posture), lack of proper nutrition, and stress.

These injuries cause tears in the surrounding soft tissue. During the healing process, the tissue shrinks and weakens, often becoming twisted and knotted as a result. The knots slow down blood flow to muscles, leading to more rapid muscle fatigue. The muscle moves less to protect itself from further injury, limiting the range of motion. Tender or trigger points often follow.

If not treated properly, such injuries (even small ones) become chronic pain. Chronic pain can lead to more tender points, which can turn into a never-ending cycle.

Trigger points can occur anywhere in the body but most often show up in the back, the neck, and the shoulders.

A Self-Massage Like No Other

The TheraCane Trigger Point Massager gives you the capability to work out those tender points whether they are in the neck, the shoulders, between your shoulder blades, your arms, every part of your back, your buttocks, your legs, and your feet.

Thera Cane Massager Instructions

• Neck (Side)
  • (Method 1)
    1. Stand
    2. Place the end of the crook against your neck.
    3. Lean into the ball.
    4. Move your neck around while holding your hands and cane still.
    5. Try working your neck while lying down with your head on a small pillow.
    6. *Do not use the cane on the front of your neck. Use your fingers instead.
  • (Method 2)
    1. Stand
    2. Place the short knob closest to the straight end of the cane against your neck.
    3. Grab the cane with your fingers surrounding the other short knob.
    4. Hold the middle of the crook with your other hand.
    5. Push down with the hand holding the crook.
    6. Move your neck around.

• Neck (Back)
  • 1. Stand.
    2. Place the cane behind your neck, with the crook looping around to your front.
    3. Hold the end of the crook with one hand.
    4. Grasp the straight end with your other hand.
    5. Place the small know that is closest to the crook (about midway down the straight end) against the back of your neck.
    6. Lean into the knob with your neck and move your neck around.

• Shoulders

  

  • (Method 1)
    1. Stand.
    2. Place the end of the crook on the top of your shoulder.
    3. Using your hands or arms, push down on the cane.
    4. Move the cane about (1 to 2 inches over the muscle).
    5. Keep your arms and hands close to your core to preserve energy.
  • (Method 2)
    1. Sit on a chair.
    2. Place the end of the straight section of the cane on the leg opposite the shoulder you wish to work.
    3. Put the end of the crook on your shoulder.
    4. Hold the four-inch extender closest to the straight end with the hand on that side.
    5. Drape your other arm over the four-inch extender that is closest to the crock.
    6. Push downward and move your top arm around.
  • (Method 3)
    1. Sit on a chair.
    2. Place the straight end on the leg on the same side as the shoulder you wish to work.
    3. Put the end of the crook on your shoulder.
    4. Drape the arm closest to that shoulder over the four-inch extender that is closest to the crook.
    5. Grasp the middle of the crook with your opposite hand.
    6. Push down with both arms.
    7. Move the cane about if desired.

• Back
• 
  
  • Upper Back
    • (Method 1)
      1. Stand.
      2. Loop the crook over the opposite shoulder from the shoulder blade you wish to work.
      3. Grab the upper four-inch extender with the closest hand.
      4. Hold the bottom of the cane with the opposite hand and push forward.
    • (Method 2)
      1. Stand.
      2. Hold the cane with the crook facing down.
      3. Place the tool behind you, with one hand holding the straight end above your shoulder, and the other hand holding the end of the crook as it extends below your armpit.
      4. Move the hand above the shoulder forward.

  

  • Mid-Back
    • (Method 1)
      • Use Method 2 from above, but with the massage ball held lower down on the back.
    • (Method 2)
      1. Sit on a chair about two to three inches from the back of the chair.
      2. Loop the crook under an arm and around the back.
      3. Elevate the opposite end of the cane so that it is pointing upward at an angle.
      4. Grasp the lower four-inch extender with the hand closest to the crook.
      5. Hold the upper-end of the cane with the opposite hand.
      6. Push forward with the upper hand and downward on the extender with your other hand.
    • (Method 3)
      1. Sit on a chair about two to three inches from the back of the chair.
      2. Place the crook on your thigh.
      3. Put the cane behind you with the straight end pointing up.
      4. Grasp near the middle of the crook with the nearest hand.
      5. Reaching across your lap, grab near the end of the crook with the other hand.
      6. Pushing down with your crossed hand, press the short knob nearest the straight end into your back.
    • (Method 4)
      1. Lay on your back with your head on a pillow.
      2. Loop the crook under your back.
      3. Hold the extender closest to the crook with one hand. Hold the opposite end of the cane with the other.
      4. Wiggle the straight end of the cane around.
  • Lower Back
    • (Method 1)
      1. Sit on a chair about two to three inches from the back of the chair.
      2. Place the crook around back with the cane resting on your thigh.
      3. Hold the four-inch extender closest to the crook with one hand.
      4. Grab the straight end of the cane with your other hand.
      5. Lift the straight end of the cane so that your hand is parallel to your mid-chest.
      6. Move the cane from side to side.
    • (Method 2)
      1. Sit on a chair about two to three inches from the back of the chair.
      2. Place the four-inch extender closest to the straight end of the can against your lower back.
      3. Hold the other extender with one hand.
      4. Grasp the end of the crook with your other hand (the curve should point away from your body).
      5. Move the end of the crook up and down.
• Arms



m
• 
  
  • Upper Arms
    • (Method 1)
      1. Sit sideways on a chair.
      2. Place the crook on your lap.
      3. Rest the straight part of the cane against the back of the chair (the end should point upwards).
      4. Hold the end of the crook with the hand closest to it.
      5. Reach across your lap and place your other hand next to the first.
      6. Use the short knob nearest the straight end of the cane to massage trigger points in your upper arm.
    • (Method 2)
      1. Sit on a chair.
      2. Place the crook under one leg.
      3. Hold the straight end of the cane with the hand above the crook.
      4. Place your other arm on top of the four-inch extender that is closest to the straight end.
      5. Move the straight end around.
  • Forearms and Hands
    • 1. Sit on a chair.
      2. Lay the cane across your lap so that the four-inch extenders are on the outside of each leg.
      3. Push your legs apart to hold the cane in place
      4. Put one forearm against the short knob that is closer to the crook.
      5. Place your other hand on top of your arm (above the knob).
      6. Press downward.
      7. For hands, place your hand on the knob instead of your arm and work the trigger points.
• Legs
• 
  
  • Upper Legs - Front
    • 1. Sit sideways on a chair.
      2. Loop the crook over the opposite leg.
      3. Hold the crook with the hand above the opposite leg.
      4. Grasp the straight end of the cane.
      5. Push the short knob that is closest to the crook into the leg.

  

  • Upper Legs - Back
    • 1. Sit on a short stool.
      2. Place both ends of the cane on the floor, with the four-inch extenders pointing up.
      3. Hold the cane so that it is stable.
      4. Lower the leg closest to the crook onto the four-inch extender located nearest the curved end.
      5. Move your side to side.
  • Upper Legs - Outside
    • 1. Sit on a chair.
      2. Lay the cane across your lap, with the crook point upwards.
      3. Push your legs outward until they are pressing against the four-inch extenders.
      4. Press the massage ball at the end of an extender into the trigger points.
  • Upper Legs - Outside Front
    • 1. Sit on a short stool.
      2. Loop the crook around the opposite leg from the one you wish to work.
      3. Hold the crook with the hand that is on that side.
      4. Grasp the straight end of the cane with the hand on the side you are working.
      5. Press the short knob that is closest to the crook.
      6. Move the cane around.
  • Lower Legs - Back
    • 1. Sit on a short stool.
      2. Place the cane behind your legs.
      3. Loop the crook around the leg opposite of the one you wish to work.
      4. Grab the end of the crook.
      5. Hold the four-inch extender with the hand on the side you wish to work.
      6. Press the short knob that is closest to the crook into the back of your leg (calf).
  • Legs - Inside
    • 1. Sit on the floor with one leg bent so that your foot is behind you.
      2. Bend the leg you are working on so that your foot is in front of you.
      3. Place that knee close to the floor.
      4. Put your hand on that side onto the floor for balance.
      5. Rest the straight end of the cane on the spot you wish to work.
      6. Hold the four-inch extender closest to the straight end with your opposite hand.
      7. The cane should rest between your side and under your upper arm.
      8. Press into the trigger point.
• Feet
  • (Method 1)
    1. Sit on a chair.
    2. Place the straight end of the cane on the floor.
    3. Tip the cane so that the nearest four-inch extender rests on the floor as well.
    4. Pin the extender with your opposite foot.
    5. Hold the crook to stabilize the cane.
    6. Place the foot your working onto the short knob that is closest to the floor.
  • (Method 2)
    1. Sit on a chair.
    2. Place the straight end of the cane on the floor.
    3. Loop the crook around the thigh of the opposite leg.
    4. Use the opposite foot to stabilize the cane.
    5. Place the foot you are working onto the four-inch extender that is closest to the floor.
• Chest and Abdomen

  

  • 1. Stand.
    2. Hold the cane so that the straight end points toward the floor.
    3. Have the crook curve away from your body. (The four-inch extenders
    4. Grasp the straight end with the hand opposite the side you wish to work.
    5. Grab near the end of the crook with your other hand.
    6. Press the extender that is closest to the crook into your chest.
    7. *For the abdomen, use the same positioning as above, but use the lower extender instead.
• Backside
  • 1. Stand.
    2. Hold the cane behind your buttocks with the crook curving around to the front. (Opposite from the side you wish to work.)
    3. Grasp the end of the crook with the opposite hand.
    4. Hold the straight end of the cane with the hand on the side you wish to work.
    5. Place the short knob nearest the crook against your buttocks.
    6. Lean back into the ball.
    7. Move the cane around.
• Hips
  • 1. Sit on a chair about two or three inches from the back of the chair.
    2. Place the end of the crook on your hip.
    3. Pin the cane to your thigh with the nearest hand.
    4. Hold the straight end of the cane at about mid-chest level with the opposite hand.



• Ribs
  • 1. Stand.
    2. Place the end of the crook against your ribs.
    3. Hold the cane in front of you so that it is parallel to the floor.
    4. Put the hand closest to the crook on the nearest four-inch extender.
    5. Grab the straight end of the cane with the opposite hand.
    6. Push forward with the opposite hand.

Precautions

• Start with short sessions when you first begin usage.
• If you work too long, you may experience soreness for 24 to 48 yours.
• Do not use on the spinal column or sciatic nerve.
• Avoid swollen or hot spots.
• If bruising happens, stop use at once.
• Not for use by children. Keep out of their reach.
• Not intended for use with serious injuries or medical conditions.

General Usage Instructions for the Thera Cane

1. Notes for beginning users
   • Start with light pressure over a short amount of time
   • Gradually build up the amount of pressure and the length of time
2. Stretch the muscles (helps locate trigger or tender points)
3. Place one of the knobs of the tool on the knot
4. Increase the pressure on the spot by following the directions for the selected exercise
5. Remove the device after the designated time
6. Repeat as necessary
7. *If your massage irritates your skin, you can apply massage lotion to help if you would like

Features and Benefits

• Lightweight: easy to hold
• Sturdy: Holds up over time
• Reaches every spot on the body: Eliminates the need for help
• 6 Massage balls: No need to change tools, saves time
• Curved end: Reaches back with ease
• Massages Muscles: Relief from Pain

Specifications

• Manufacturer: TheraCane Company
• Width: 15"
• Length: 24"
• HCPCS: E0100
• Product Number: JBR159
• For Self Massage
• Warranty: Limited Lifetime

Product Videos

Myofascial Release & Self Massage with a Theracane (6:18 Minutes)







Medical Studies

•     Harvard Health. Therapeutic Massage for Pain Relief 2016.



•     Mayo Clinic Staff. Massage: Get in touch with its many benefits



•     Mayo Clinic Staff. Myofascial pain syndrome



•     Field, T., Diego, M., Delgado, J., Garcia, D., & Funk. C. (2011). Hand pain is reduced by massage therapy. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 17(4), 226-229.



•     Sherman, K., Cook, A., Wellman, R., Hawkes, R., Kahn, J., Deyo, R., & Cherkin, D. (2014). Five-Week Outcomes From a Dosing Trial of Therapeutic Massage for Chronic Neck Pain. Annals of Family Medicine, 12(2), 112-120.