If you can’t go for an in-person massage — or simply prefer them in the comfort of your home — having the right tools can make all the difference. We’ve written about several effective massagers: There’s the Theragun (and its mini), percussive massage-therapy devices beloved by professional athletes and beauty writers alike. But both of those will run you a couple hundred bucks and neither really have the reach for one person to massage the most out-of-the-way sore spots without another set of hands. Foam rollers (or the more intense Chirp Wheels) can help soothe back aches, but not always with the precision necessary for the most hard-to-reach spots. That’s why this oddly shaped wand has held its place in our arsenal of the best massage tools ever since Chris Black first told us about (a slightly different) one five years ago. Its ergonomic hooks help you wrap the massager around your back, neck, and shoulders to target knots, tightness, myofascial trigger points, and other sore spots that need relief. As Black notes, the tool’s five knobs are part of why it’s so effective: “Because you’re using the treatment balls to hit problem points, it allows the user to target problem areas even more effectively than a foam roller.” At more than half off, this cane massager’s price is now just $15, making it affordable enough to buy one for yourself and another to give to the dad (or anyone) who has a bad back after a year of working from home.
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