Body Back Buddy

The Body Back Buddy is by far the best hook massage tool in my collection for a number of reasons.

First off, I also own the standard S-Hook as well as the Theracane and from my experience with all three, this one is the winner by a long shot.

The S-Hook's main advantage is the ability to take it apart, which makes it very compact for travel purposes. But even still, I like to take the BBB with me unless compact space is absolutely critical.

The Thera-Cane's main advantage is its simplicity. It is one-sided and fairly light-weight compared to the BBB.

Now for the real review, the Body Back Buddy has many advantages over the above mentioned tools.

- 11 knobs in assorted sizes and shapes from small to round to pointy
- Large enough to command and control comfortably
- Handles are angled for better leverage compared to other tools
- Can use on practically every muscle group from abs, chest, shoulders, whole back, quads, hams, feet, neck, etc...
- Great conversation starter

Summary:
When I say I take my BBB with me everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE! It's that awesome! I'm at a computer for 10 hours-a-day almost every day and before I found the BBB, I had a hard time releasing tight muscles and trigger points. Although I did have the S-Hook and Theracane, I found myself not using them as much as I do the BBB. My best guess is that it just wasn't as effective and I quickly got tired of effort required. It's true that you can use your body weight and larger muscle groups to leverage the pressure on the aforementioned tools, but the BBB is just much better at it.

I especially love the pointy knobs for really digging into deep trigger points in the back, shoulder and feet. The center knob does a great job of releasing tension in the Multifidus muscles along the spine all the way up to the back of your neck.

TIPS:
- I highly recommend picking up The Frozen Shoulder Workbook and the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook if you're serious about learning how trigger points affect your body. The combination of the BBB and those books make a highly effective solution if you suffer from musculoskeletal issues. This combination helped me recover from a severe snowboarding accident as well as empower me to help myself AND learn about my body.
- There are so many creative ways to use this tool, years later, I still discover new uses!
- Try using the handle knobs to get your chest, abdomen areas. I've noticed that people often just ignore the handle knobs, myself included in the beginning.
- Breathing is crucial to getting that "release" or "squishing" on trigger points. Try to breathe and massage synergistically, focusing on expanding the area you're working on with the breath.

There is only one thing that I wish this tool would be and that is more travel friendly. It is a bit odd shaped and difficult to fit into a small to medium-sized gym bag and back pack. Otherwise I'd take it with me everywhere. It is very effective at getting rid of all the aches and pains developed after sleeping in a bad position, working long hours, sitting at a computer for too long, traveling, and over-exertion. I must have saved several hundred dollars in massage therapy and pain killer medication costs in the past year and a half that I've owned this.

First off, I usually have tightness in my shoulders and neck (probably from spending too much time in front of a computer all day at work). I also have stiffness in my lower back from time to time. The BBB is really effective at reaching all my knots and bringing relief through hitting those pressure points (on the neck, upper and lower shoulder blade, and all along the spine). What makes it so good is that when you position the "ball points" on those areas, the tool is designed so that you can use just modest leverage to get to the deep tissue. This is key because you can use this for quite a while and not get tired. I can't stress the importance of this enough. I find that with proper positioning, I can really get a lot of pressure by simply using my arm weight with modest effort.

Also, I find that with some practice you can actually slide the ball points along your tight areas, which more effectively mimics a real massage vs. just getting point pressure (which I find brings less relief). For instance, by gently laying on top of the bbb (facing up), I can get a very deep lower back massage - and all by myself!

The bbb is also very sturdy. Takes a little bit of experimentation to get used to it, but all in all, it's one of my favorite self-massage tools and I would highly recommend it.

That was my question to friends who have this crazy-looking self-massage tool. After 10 minutes, I was "hooked". The best thing is that you can relax--as one should when trying to reduce pain--and even laugh while you tie yourself in a pretzel exploring the impact of each knob on each pain spot. And it's incredibly versatile. Neck pain? Got it! Cramp in the arch of your foot? Fixed. Muscle knot that you can't reach yourself? No worries. Besides, even if it doesn't work, what a great conversation starter on a cold rainy night in the Pacific Northwest: "Top 10 ways to use the Buddy Massage Cane that aren't found in the directions."

So I bought this as I have a tweaked neck from too much Basketball. I was massaging my own neck where it hurt but this made things worse. I realized one day how tight the muscles around my shoulder blade have gotten. My wife tried but too delicate and although I realized these pressure points and muscles where the ones responsible for my neck pain she just couldn't get enough pressure on them. This Back Buddy is great and I've used it for 3 days now and already my neck and back feel better, more loose, etc...

I'd like to mention this is more like giving yourself a deep tissue massage. It's not the gentle rubbing that some people prefer. The plastic contact points are rather small (end of your thumb) and although there are some bigger ones this tool seems to lean towards the firm touch massage. I guess if they had some larger points of contact I would like to try that too (4 stars for this instead of 5) but this is exactly what I needed for rock solid, knotted muscles. Also it's very easy to use and apply more than enough pressure if needed. You can easily work on your back, shoulder blades, etc... for a solid hour without tiring as it's leverage and design works that well. Be cautious not to overdue it the first few days though. I found it works best with shirt off and some massage oil or lotion. Through the clothes works but you can't slide it around as well so this requires a bit more effort.

I highly recommend this for those wanting a firm massage ! Also shipping was fast and this thing is super durable. I'm loving it!

this works really well at getting at those pressure points...especially
in the traps area. i just wish there were more detailed usage pictures
on the different ways to use each point or nub. otherwise...great product
and more versatile than the theracane i used in OT.

This is the best self massage tool I have ever used! It really works and it is very versatile. I love the therapy knobs. It does not require a great deal of exertion to apply pressure. I feel super relaxed after working on myself for a short amount of time! Saves money on pro massages too!

I've known I have trigger points for years (Thanks, Clair Davies!), but since I have a Knobble, a boyfriend, and some sharp edges on my granite countertops, I thought a Back Buddy type tool would be redundant. How wrong I was! I've been having a lot of tension headaches lately, and finally thought I'd give the Back Buddy a try.

This incredibly bright blue tool arrived larger than I had imagined. It's great for digging into all sorts of area that the booklet doesn't illustrate. For instance, sit at your kitchen table, using the table to support the Back Buddy ,and lean one of the long pokey parts into your neck to apply pressure to your sternocleidomastoid muscles. You can also balance the tool on the ground, kneel, and lean into the same pokey bit to massage sore hip muscles. Be creative! I've used it to help stretch and to unplug an item behind a large appliance.

When not in use to massage sore muscles, you could probably also keep it around to club a burglar in the night.

Oh- and be forewarned: It has an incredibly phallic portion that *will* provoke your friends to inquire about your actual intentions for the tool's usage.

The upper right quadrant of my back is really messed up, with a couple of major pain trigger points. One of my best friends had one of these and I had toyed around with it a few times and was impressed with how effective it was. Then a few months ago I started getting regular manipulations from a doctor. She recommended that I get a Body Back Buddy to help loosen up my back and shoulder. Along with a roller foam that I use to help arch my back a bit, it has helped reduce the pain in my back.

I frankly can't imagine anyone not wanting one of these. If you have pain, it will help you deal with it. But even if you don't have any spots where you have actual pain, it will help you relax and stretch. And heck, it just feels good. And the Body Back Buddy is so well designed that it can be adapted for just about any spot on your body, from the arch of your feel to your upper or lower back, to your calves, to the back of your neck, to your upper shoulders. I strongly recommend using the BBB in conjunction with one of the books available about pressure points.

You should definitely get one of these. Yes, they work. A bargain for the price.

One other thing. There is a similar product, the Theracane. I have toyed around with both. I definitely recommend the Body Back Buddy over the Theracane for a couple of reasons. One is that the double hooks, one ending in a ball and the other ending in a sharper point, to give very different kinds of pressure points. I just found that you could do more things with the BBB than the Theracane. Though frankly, either is going to do your body a lot of good.

So I've owned this for less than one week. I have had neck, shoulder and lower back pain for quite some time. I have been in some kind of constant 24/7 pain in my lower back for the past year and a half, Chiropractic doesn't help. My shoulders and neck have been extremely stiff and painful for the past 6-7 months. I had an episode of vertigo in July due to it.
I was getting ready to have my doctor get me back into physical therapy where they have done TPT (trigger point therapy) on me before with great results. Then I bought this.
I know this is going to sound over the top, or maybe that I am exagerating, but I'm not. Working my trigger points several times a day I have all but eliminated the tightness and stiffness in my neck and my lower back pain is almost non-existent. But, you have to keep it up, not over do it, and do it consistently. That being said, two days after I received this, I went out and bought Clair Davies book, The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook. I recommend this because it helps to know what you are looking for and how to address it. There is A LOT to learn, and I figure if I am going to poke and prod around on myself then I want to have a good idea on what I should do and how I should do it. Being to physical therapy before I learned from them, too, and already had an idea of what I was looking for with trigger points. In general though, remember for TPT to work, the trigger point is generally located away from the site of where you are experiencing pain, and also located on the same side of the body.

Muscle wise, this is the best I have felt in a long time (and in such a short period of time) and I would recommend this tool. I would also recommend Clair Davies workbook (or any good TPT book) to go with it as a must have. Learn as much as you can so you can use it successfully.

This has made a huge difference in my life!! I keep telling others about it, but I can't even get my husband to try it. It works!! It took a couple months of consistent use for me to finally get rid of the back pain I have had for years. I would suggest also buying a book on Trigger point therapy. I bought two: The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition (Paperback)by Clair Davies and Trigger Point Therapy for Headaches & Migraines: Your Self-Treatment Workbook for Pain Relief (Paperback) Valerie Delaune (Author) . What I have gleaned from these is that you have to learn about your own body. For me, I can trigger migraines when too aggressive in my neck and head and can only use my hands lightly for these. The back buddy I use for my shoulders and back and use ice afterwards when the pain is more acute, its a learning process. I want to emphasize this, we are all different and you need to find what works for you, how much pressure, how long to hold the trigger point, how often to use the Backbuddy etc. The book is great because many times the trigger point is NOT where the pain is. After sitting for 2 months, when I was off work due to back pain and migraines, I ended up with some low back pain and some leg pain that also responded fairly quickly to the trigger point therapy since it had not been chronic. Acute pain ( new onset) may respond quicker than pain you have had for a long time. What I am dealing with now is because I stopped using the back buddy for 6-8 weeks at the end of the year because I had no pain, and my migraines had stopped!! yeah, but they came back, so like I said this is a process of learning about your own body. I guess I need to use the back buddy for maintenance when not having pain. Now, one month after the migraines started up again, and the back pain, the migraines have decreased considerably, but I still have many tender trigger points on my back. I was originally using the backbuddy for 30-60 secs for each trigger point when I first bought it August of 2009. This time I did not want to trigger a migraine since I was so tender, and started with 10 seconds. The books state 10- 60 seconds. I am now doing maybe 10-20 seconds and it seems enough. Another important point from the book is if pain is only on one side of your body you need to use the back buddy on BOTH sides. One of the books also states the trigger point should not be over a 7/10 pain with the back buddy- lighten up if too intense of a pain. After 3 months off and returning to work last year , my feet also hurt and I had a muscle at the side of my knee / calf that felt like I pulled it and hurt frequently. It took a couple months, but this pain also went away and the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook was necessary to know where the trigger points are for these areas. Now, I just go across my shoulders, down my spine and under my scapula and any other area on my back that is sore. Low back pain though has trigger points in buttocks and hips that the book really helped with identifying.

I have waited 6 months to write a review, so I could give a thorough review. I have had Migraines for about 20 years, they probably started earlier but were not frequent. I always had headaches, so did my Mom and sister. After working as a nursing assistant for 4 1/2 years after high school then another 30 years as an RN, I did manage to protect my low back, which is a common back problem, however my upper back, neck and shoulders ache. I have gone to massage for about 10 years and just tried to manage the migraines and ignore the back pain, not realizing how much ignoring the pain would be an issue. Finally last year, it became so bad I literally could not move without starting a migraine. Just standing up, going to the kitchen made the pain go from a 2 to 6/10 and taking a shower made it go to a level 10/10 pain. I ended up in Physical therapy for 2 months which helped me identify the cause of the pain which was just lifting my right arm. My whole time in Physical therapy was spent on relaxing the muscles with me having to ask for exercise after the first month, when my Doctor asked how much I could lift etc. I always thought physical therapy was about exercising, but my muscles were too tight I guess and they spent the time trying to relax my muscles. the first exercise I tried, I could feel the pain down my neck and down my back when I lifted my arm and pulled down with resistance.One physical therapist did spinal mobilization which helped me a lot, but its difficult to find someone trained in this. On my last day, I asked how I was going to manage the pain. It was better but not totally gone, and my massage therapist said my muscles felt so much better, but I could still feel the pain. The physical therapist suggested the theracane, and when I searched this on Amazon the Back Buddy came up also. This has made a HUGE difference in my life !! It is not expensive and even the books I mentioned are not expensive I especially recommend the first book Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, . The Backbuddy is supposed to come with instructions, but mine came with nothing and I looked it up online and the information that comes with the Backbuddy is very minimal. I think the book is essential to understanding Trigger Point therapy and how to use it to manage your pain. The books actually arrived a day or two before the backbuddy which gave me time to read first. Even though I ordered it all at the same time and I have Amazon Prime , I could not get support to understand all the products should have the same arrival date :) It worked out ok anyway. Now I am looking at The Original Backnobber II for travel ( it comes apart ). I use the point on the Backbuddy that points inward. I like this more than the round one and the Backnobber II only has the round ends, but it may be better than nothing. The Backbuddy is a bit large for travel, depending on where you are going. Hope this review helps, The backbuddy has been a lifesaver for me and I wish I had know about it years ago! I am using it in the morning and in the evening while I watch TV :)

UPDATE: I still like this thing, but if I could go back in time I think I'd get the kind that's not double-sided like this one. (Like, cut off 2/3rds of the way down.) The reason being that with that shorter one you could hang it over the arm of your couch and it would stay out of the way but would always be handy. This one is so big and awkward that there's no good place for me to keep it. It's still an excellent product, but if I had the other one (like a friend of mine has) then I would use it more often because I would be able to keep it in a handier location.

-------

This thing is JUST what I needed. I also bought three other products, the "AccuMassage Self Massage Tool", the "Back Roller", and the "Davinci Tool" (All sold through Amazon by BodyBackBuddy). So far, this one is by FAR the best--at least for what I need. It allows me to dig into the sore spots under my shoulder blades and work on them as if I could step outside my body and massage my own back.

The other three tools that I mentioned above aren't that great, at least not so far. I was especially disappointed in the AccuMassage. It looked like it would be great for doing my neck, but doesn't actually squeeze mine the way I'm needing.

I purchased the Body Back Buddy because it looked like an improvement over the Theracane. Unfortunately, it's the exact opposite! The Body Back Buddy is enormous, provides inadequate leverage, and the knobs are too large. It looks like it's built for the Hulk, not my medium sized frame.

It is with deep regret that I didn't purchase the Theracane, which I've used quite successfully during physical therapy. The Theracane is perfectly sized. The knobs actually get into the tight spots in my back, and the length is just right for applying the right amount of pressure. The Theracane is simple, yet extremely effective.

When I was contemplating whether or not to buy this, one of my main concerns was the quality of the material. I also wasn't sure whether to buy this or the TheraCane.

After receiving this in the mail, I am very pleased with the quality of the product. It is somewhat heavy and the plastic feels very strong and solid to me. It is not cheap toy plastic for sure. I talked to one of my friends who has tried TheraCane as well as this one. He said the TheraCane is too short and due to the bigger curve, it was more wobbly/flexible than back buddy. So I am very happy that I went with this.
It is very easy to use and can be held in any way you like to reach hard to reach places on the back by myself.

This item was supposed to include a manual which was not shipped and the company made no mention of missing manual. Contacted them asking for the manual. Turns out they ran out of manuals and offered $6 back for missing manual. I didn't like the fact that they just ommitted the manual hoping that I wouldn't notice it. To me that's poor service.

On a positive note, it is the best back massaging tool (non-electric) I have ever used and is far better than theracane imho. I own both and this one gives a lot more leverage and have more versatility than theracane. Only advantage of theracane is that is is easier to pack away in a tote to take on a trip. I would give this product even 6 stars if it weren't for their lousy service. I ordered 3 more sets of this w/ accumassage. Had to pay $20 for shipping and they estimated 3-5 days shipping. 6 business days have passed (10 days total) and nothing yet. The tool delivers, but the company doesn't.

I can get to the tight knots behind my own shoulder blades, as hard as I need. I love my new tool.

The back buddy is a great invention, you can really get to to those hard to reach spots with as much pressure as you want by yourself. While it won't beat a good massage... there's no waiting! A smart buy

I purchased this product specifically to target the area between my shoulder blades. Although it reaches this spot, there are a few issues. First, "the device", as it is called in my household, shipped without any instructions of any kind. Nothing. You can, however, BUY books that tell you how to use it... completely unacceptable in my book. I contemplated giving it one star just for this. Second, because you need at least one hand to manipulate, it's harder to reach my trouble area than it is for, say, a tennis ball. Finally, it's hard plastic and not as comfortable as a tennis ball.

I gave "the device" three stars since it basically does what it's supposed to, just not up to my expectations. My advice... buy some tennis balls or base balls.

I am a massage therapist. This simple versatile tool, used correctly, is invaluable for relieving tension and pain. You can be as inventive as you want with it. I personally like to lay on the floor and lever my body against it to break up really hard areas of tension, such as the quadratus lumborum (the source of many people's low back pain). With this tool and some practice you can get to a lot of muscles that you just wouldn't be able to get to without a massage therapist doing some deep tissue.

Here is how I recommend using it: an inanimate object is no replacement for hands, so if possible, feel the area of tension with your fingers and figure out which angle (important) to apply the pressure. Then just maneuver the tool around to that spot, and dig in slowly, making sure not to engage the same muscle you are digging into. Muscles under tension take time to relax, so be prepared to spend some time on that spot, gradually increasing the pressure while breathing, and feeling again with your fingers for progress afterward. Less tension or pain, better range of motion, and improved blood flow to the area are all signs of tense muscles releasing. The spot might be sore afterward which is normal, so don't overdo it.

Helpful notes - Tingling and "falling asleep" feelings are signs of impeded blood flow (oops, you're on a blood vessel or vein). Pain that shoots down a limb and gets worse with sustained pressure is a sign of nerve irritation (oops, you're on a nerve). Numbness in the area, even after you are off the area, is a sign that you disturbed the nerve by trying to go WAY too deep.

I've been using it now for over a year.... the more you use it, the better you get at it, and therefore the more effective it is.

If you always find yourself trying to rub "that spot" after a long day, this will help you.

I get so tight in my neck and back, and it's hard to massage that away by myself. This thing looks funny, but man, it packs a punch. The pressure points are small, so be careful if you're not into deep tissue. There are pointed spots and more rounded spots, so if you like it on the lighter side, use one of the rounder spots. I use both. I tied a satin sheath over one of the protruding "branches" and that works great for sliding the thing around (over a shirt/blouse), without "sticking" when it comes to the plastic/skin contact. I can get rid of the tension in my neck and back very well with this thing. It sometimes hurts the day afterward, and I don't care. I just use it again, and the muscles are loose again.

If you like it gentle, be careful with this. If you're like me, and aren't that delicate, then get this thing. It's well worth the $20.

I have killer chronic back pain because of a car accident years ago and a bulging disc. I can't get to a massage therapist as often as I need to, so having a way to hit pressure points on my own back is really nice. The little knobbies that are supposed to do your neck don't really work for me, but for getting under my shoulder blades and even running up and down the sides of my spine, the pointy end really works. It has more bumps than I use, but once I got used to how it works, it really works.

I can't live without my Buddy! I can fix the pinched muscle under my shoulder blade now.

The Body Back Buddy was recommended for me by my physical therapist. I live alone and am on a limited income - so I don't have a partner to help with accupressure or massage and I don't have extra money to hit the spa. The Body Back Buddy works very well - you can get a surprisingly steady firm pressure on unreachable back pressure points with it, which helps me a lot. I have severe fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis and this helps quite a bit.

Wow! this product works wonders. It delivers such exquisite results that it even dulls the pain that comes with the knowledge that I have no friends or loved ones to rub my back for me. The warranty should last at least until my next purchase, Neck Noose Buddy, arrives. Oh, happy day.

The cane is great for getting at places you can't on your own and for applying pressure without wearing out your hands in the process. However, you really have to experiment with the device to figure out how to use it best. With all the curves and knobs, for me it took some time. The little booklet that is provided with purchase is just a few pages.

You can also easily apply too much pressure, but that too comes with practice. A useful device, a bit overpriced, but effective with practice.

I've bought the cane 2 months ago and I consider it the best product I ever had for my back pain. It's inexpensive and very effective not only for low back pain. I am using it after sitting long hours in front of computer or after "bad" night sleep. It took only 5 or 10 minutes a day and pain that I had more than 2 years gone. Amazing tool!

I cannot compare this to the TheraCane which I have never used but both the Body Back Buddy I gave as a gift and the one I first tried out at home seems to have pleased everyone who has used it - and it was not a flash in the pan but continues weeks after arrival to be used. It not only is a great help for reaching points in one's back and neck or in places in front of the torso where it can give good leverage compared to when one attempts to use their hands on themselves, but it also is very convenient for trigger points on the legs, including difficult ones on the sides of the thighs (where one can 'hook' it over the other leg using one of the little perpendicular 'handles' and by slightly spreading one's legs apart generate a surprisingly effective amount of pressure).

The only question I have is how it would work for someone who was much larger than average (especially in terms of thickness). While I can imagine it as still very useful for certain trigger points anyway, I wonder if it might be difficult to use it as conveniently for a really big person (like some big football linemen, say, or heavy weight powerlifters, or even someone built a bit that way). If someone is that size and wonders about it, it might be good to try one out first before ordering one to see if it works for the points they had hoped to reach with it.

Hello world...
I have to say the Body Back Buddy looks funky, and trust me, really does work.
My wife and I love and use it everyday. While you could simulate it's effects with all manner of this or that,
having fifteen varying sized and shaped points in one gadget is crazy awesome! You can get to some very hard to reach areas very easily due to it's "cane" design. Possibly the best 28$ I've spent in a long, long time.
Buy and USE it, your back and body deserve this level of attention.

I love this for myself and also gave one to my mother as a gift and she is also pleased. Versatile and wonderful when you can't get someone else to give you a massage. You can print out an instructional guide from the internet.

Here is my story: I suffered from excruciating migraines all my life. I visited physical therapists, chiropractors as well as regular doctors. I saw all the good reviews for this product. I knew from what I was told by doctors that daily massage would be very helpful to relieve the pain I was experiencing. Well, I could not afford that kind of care. So in desperation, I ordered this product. Right away, I was able to massage away a 'real killer' by using this cane at the back of my neck and on the shoulder blades. Please consider purchasing this item if you suffer from migraines. It's a medication-free way to find relief.

Tool works great for those trigger points. A wedge on one end lets you get in behind the shoulder blades.

OK, so I expected this thing to suck. It looks dorky and the person who's using it in the pictures looks attractive and weird at the same time. Actually, she's kinda cute. Anywhoooo...
I like this thing alot. I have 2 bulging discs in my back and, because I'm old (late 30s) and run a lot, have lots of ridiculous mystery pains all over the place. I don't "massage" so much as find the muscular pain, put pressure on it and let the muscle relax. I usually use it in the morning to get rid of stiffness in my back and legs and it really works. It's akin to a masseuse finding knots and digging in with an elbow or thumb except this doesn't cost $90/hour. It's totally worth a try if you have pain like me. Right now, it's $30 and I think that's a pretty good price. Probably worth it up to about $50.
It's very sturdy plastic. Not flimsy in the least. When I hook it over my shoulder or around my back and apply pressure pushing forward, it barely bends if at all. In fact, I stubbed my toe on it the other night and had plenty of choice words (see: "SOB", "MF", "GD", et al) for it's sturdiness.
Any questions about it, let me know.

This thing is great! I have a spot alongside my shoulder-blade that likes to bug me every so often (too much time at the computer, I suppose). I grab my "buddy", give the spot some attention while I sit at my desk and viola! Relief!

This might not "cure" a problem (for that, I'd need some structural bodywork, realignment and improved posture and probably a vacation to somewhere tropical), but it gets me through the day and keeps me from "calling out" every so often, when I have more problematic pain. In that, it's a money-saver, in itself!

I wish it was a bit smaller (I know they do make a smaller version, but I thought this would be better. Turns out, it's a bit unweildly at times)

I wish there was one knob that was a bit bigger. I'm considering attaching a tennis ball to one end, for a more "widespread" touch.

In addition to the knobs and balls, I have also used the flat part to massage larger, flatter areas (directionally towards the heart, of course).

I rely on reviews here at Amazon to help me make informed buying choices. I hope this review has helped you in the same manner. :)

This item does as it says ok. I wouldn't say it saved by back or is as good as other tools that I've tried.
It is sturdy and applies nice/decent pressure to pressure points. It's not very good for rolling pressure/"massage". It's shape is a bit awkward for some-- it depends on your size and back height, I suppose. Overall, it's an ok/fine item.. but not a miracle worker. It's a bit tiring and tedious to hit the right pressure points with it. I wouldn't buy it again for my purposes, but the item itself seems to last ok. Just too awkward to use, not relaxing, and can't hit the right spots on me.

I have fibromylagia, therefore I tend to be sore all the time. I am always desperate to ease the pain. Especially in my neck and shoulders. This gizmo really does the trick! I have problems with my hands, so I worried that it would be hard to hold onto, but it isn't. The Body Back Buddy really gives me the deep tissue pressure I need. I have taken to calling it my "boyfriend", because try as he might, my husband has never been able to work on my painful areas like this contraption can.

If you have the need for deep pressure to release tight, sore, muscles I highly recommend this product!

The best thing that has happened to me in awhile. My physical therapist recommended it to me. She must have too many clients....or is a true professional. Anyway, I don't need her anymore!

This works great to get knots out - just be careful how much you use it at one time. It felt so good the firts time I used it, I kept going for too long and was really sore the next day.

This funky looking contraption is named Body Back Buddy appropriately. When used with the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Claire Davies, you can take control of your own muscle health. While its named for the back, this fabulous tool can be used on any part of your body. It's the best way I've found to get control of those hard to reach places with the least amount of effort and the most leverage. You definitely need this in your self-treatment toolbox.