Gideon™ Neck and Shoulder Therapeutic Self-Massage Tool Dual Trigger Point Deep Tissue Massage

I came back to edit my review, because I figured out what I was doing wrong. There are actually lots of points on my neck I can hit with this IF I use it lying down and put it under my head/neck. The balls are actually fantastic for hitting points on the back of my skull that I couldn't get with my peanut massage ball or tennis balls in a sock. If you are a small person and the regular massage balls are too widely spaced for you, you know what I'm talking about. This allows you to squish the balls closer or farther apart by pressing the handles. I also found that I could lever the device upwards to hit points on the back of my neck. Or, I could even stand it on end, vertically, and set my head against it for more pressure. Possibly, this was included in instructions somewhere on this page and I missed it. Or not. But I'm glad I figured this out, huge game changer. Amending my review to five stars. Original review : This is made of a great, heavy plastic and everything seems to be quite solid and well-constructed. It doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. The orange balls are made of a firm rubber with a slight texture. You can screw them in or out to get more or less pressure on your neck. I thought this product was pretty straightforward and simple to use. Unfortunately, it only hits a few of the points I need it to hit on my neck, and none of the places I need it to hit on my shoulders or shoulder blades. It gives good relief for the few points it hits. I recommend something like this over one of those electric shiatsu massages that cost $100+. I purchased one of those, and they don't hold your trigger points down to release the right muscles. What happened to me is that I massaged my muscles and pushed too many toxins into my body and gave myself a full-on flu the next day.

This works quite well for DIY massage, as there really is no other DIY way get the at sides of the neck simultaneously. I like that the balls are rubber and do not slip on your skin, and that there is enough clearance that it can reach all parts of the neck. The material does not feel super sturdy, but I am not sure if this is on purpose? Because some flex allows you to knead the muscles instead of just apply linear pressure. The flex however also limits the amount of pressure you can apply, as your extra applied force will just be bending the plastic instead of digging deeper into your neck. It hasn't broken on me yet, but I don't use it often (because I don't have chronic neck pain). When I do need to use it, it works wonders, so even if it breaks on me one day, I'd probably buy it again. lol.

This deep tissue massager is for trigger points in your neck and (upper) shoulders only, as its name indicates. Trigger points are painful knots that feel like hard bumps under your skin - working them out is not relaxing rather it is painful. This product is more a tool than something you would use for a relaxing self-massage. I tried one of those heated 'shiatsu' massagers but found it a ridiculously oversized and painful contraption-the plastic rollers did not hit anywhere I needed it to hit, even besides my neck. This product is an inexpensive low-tech tool that allows me to target the painful points in my neck or traps exactly. The rubber balls are larger and more effective than anything I can do with my hands. I find seeing it laying on the counter or table is a reminder that really, I should stop a moment and tend to myself, rather than ignoring / living with the pain. You have to put your hair up if if your hair doesn't end at your upper neck. I have only had it a couple weeks but it seems like will be a durable product to me.

I have 2 torn tendons in my shoulder, and Crepitus of my shoulder blade rubbing on my ribcage. The pain from these ailments is so intense that it radiates to my neck and tightens all my muscles. It's almost like someone took a sring and tied the muscles from my neck to the ones in my shoulder and then keeps pulling them tight. I ordered this massager 2 weeks ago, and have been using it each night before bed (and sometimes in the morning), and my pain has greatly improved each following day! It works wonders, and is so easy to use! You can move the golf balls in a variety of ways to relieve muscle ache, and I promise you IT REALLY WORKS!!! I would buy this over and over! If you're suffering from neck pain, this is the product for you!!!

I have chronic muscle knots and neck pain, and when I tried this at a friend's place, I was thrilled with the release it gave me -- so I purchased it. While this is good for hitting a few places that my lacrosse balls and peanut can't get to, the spacing of the "balls" and the device makes it very difficult for me to get to most of my neck -- perhaps it's because I'm a woman with quite a small neck? I haven't decided if I'm keeping this or returning it, but I think it's too big. I think for someone with more general aches/tightness, and for a bigger person, however, this is an excellent tool.