The Backstrap was created by a physical therapist. (Read more below)Functions as a yoga strap, lumbar support and a massage tool. Release tight muscles and joints anywhere on your body. Easy to use- pick a ball, place it in the strap and lay on it, sit on it or lean up against it- you decide. Includes thermal balls that can be heated or cooled for therapy. Comes with: 1 BackStrap 1 Small Precision Ball 2 Medium Precision Balls 2 Medium Myofascial Balls 2 Large Myofascial Balls 2 Medium White Thermal Balls 2 Large Blue Thermal Balls 1 Pump 1 Carry Case This set is used but in very nice condition. Non-smoking and pet-free home. Comes with everything pictured. Sold as is. Ask if you have a question. Package will ship within 48 business hours of payment. Thanks! The BackStrap is made by: Tracy Halmos, MPT, ATC, CSCS, has been a physical therapist for nine years and co-founded Individualized PT, Morgan Hill, CA, with her husband, Zsolt, about six years ago. Interview- ADVANCE: How did you create a prototype? Halmos: It was an interesting process. My idea was to develop something that patients can do at home similar to what I did with them in treatment. I've had a successful practice conducting manual therapy with a lot of sustained hold and pressure, finding restrictions and releasing them out - basically a combination of joint and soft-tissue mobilization. And then of course assigning home exercise programs. So for the duration of an appointment, I'm really trying to release restrictions. Then I thought, what's the next step? I wanted patients to have something to do at home, so I was cutting up foam rollers and using tennis balls, but they just couldn't get in there the way I wanted and didn't suit all patients. I came to the conclusion that a ball offers the best shape to provide release because it will hit the spot no matter where you lay on it. But the size of the ball made a difference. So I decided I needed balls of different sizes and densities, offering varying levels of firmness. For example, most people can't lie down on a hard ball on the floor. I thought I needed something that was tennis ball size but very soft. Then a harder ball for people who have more muscle tissue, a bigger one for larger muscle groups and a small one for the feet and hands. I was really trying to create a kit that all patients, from senior citizens to athletes, could use to find a ball that suited their needs, from firm to soft. And then thermal balls came into the picture because I found some I liked online. So I talked with the developer and we just incorporated that into our kit since they were the appropriate sizes. Balls you can heat or freeze have been a great adjunct to my practice itself. So I truly feel like we offer the whole package as far as choices for people. Then there is the strap, which I knew early on was a unique tool. It secures all the balls in the kit and also has Velcro on each end so you can fasten it to a chair or around your waist. In addition, patients can pull it over their shoulder to release the top of the shoulder and first rib. You can easily adjust it over the body anywhere so that those with shoulder or back problems don't have to twist awkwardly to get a ball in the correct place. You can use it against a wall, on the floor or in a chair. It just provides versatility that a ball alone doesn't. Initially the strap was designed simply to hold the balls in place but some patients had difficulty mobilizing the first rib and releasing the top of their shoulder. I could get in there with my thumb and fingers or they could lie on the floor and press into that area with a ball and stick, but that's not for everybody. So I added extra reinforcement to part of the strap. That way, they don't have to pull down very hard on it to get a really nice force into the top of the shoulder. They can also do it in coordination with breathing exercises to release the first rib and top of the shoulder. I've had great success with that exercise. Just the comfort of gravity pulling down on the strap. One of my philosophies of release is getting patients to relax into my holds. So when I teach them to release themselves over these balls and the strap, I tell them to let go. I don't want them to pull on the strap or force anything, but rather easily get into position to provide the release. Letting their body sink into it will bring more success as far as relieving soft tissue, easing pain and encouraging correct joint movement. Now in my clinic we give everybody The BackStrap when they come in and let them use it over the course of therapy. If they decide they want to keep it after their therapy has been completed, we bill them. If they don't, they can return it. But either way, during the course of therapy I know they're using a tool that will help me mobilize and treat them. ADVANCE: What material is the strap made of? Halmos: It's very strong nylon about two and a half inches thick, which is wider and a little harder than a traditional yoga strap. That nylon strap is also tripled over in the area that's reinforced and there are heavily stitched elastic and spandex components forming pockets that hold the balls. Another nice feature about the strap is you can use it like a yoga strap, doing hamstring stretches by pulling the legs over your head. You can also execute other movements with assistance from the strap because it's easy to put your feet into the loops where you place your hands. ADVANCE: How long is the strap? Halmos: About three-and-a-half feet. The idea was it should be long enough to fit around most people. However, patients generally don't secure it around themselves so now I teach them to just fasten the strap around a chair. Because it's easier for patients to get up and move around. Then they can sit down and have it there for lumbar support, which is great. So fastening it around your waist is a nice option but you don't need to. ADVANCE: What are the balls made of? Halmos: For the two hard balls, one is foam and one is rubber. The others are air-filled to a certain density when we get them. Then we pump them up or let air out according to our needs, to make sure they're the right density. For example, I like to squish down the smaller blue-colored balls to about three-fourths their size. The larger orange balls are pretty firm so you can't squeeze them as much. However, with the deluxe kit we now include a pump. Any air-filled ball will lose air eventually so it's nice to have that because you can keep a ball well inflated or modify the inflation. If somebody likes the size of the blue ball but wants it to be firmer, air can always be added. That provides so many more choices for density or firmness.
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