Why I Love Lacrosse (Balls)

Lacrosse is Canada's summer sport. That's why.

Okay not quite. I have scoliosis, which is a curve in a my spine. It's minor, but it's enough that I get minor chronic pain in my midback, especially if I'm sitting still all day.
I bought a lacrosse ball a few years ago now, and it was the best purchase I have ever made with regard to my back pain. Just 30 seconds rolling my back on it at night does wonders to loosen everything up. I mostly focus on my back, but it's great for any other muscle group you want to stretch out or get some more circulation to. I think it cost me 4 or $5 and it has paid for itself hundreds of times over now.

I remember I tried tennis balls and hockey balls before buying, and I didn't like either as much. The tennis balls didn't 'dig in' quite enough, and the hockey ball was too hard. For me the lacrosse ball is great because it's hard enough to dig in but it's so a tiny bit of squishiness to it as well. So any of you with back pain out there, this may help!

I was having a problem with planar fascitiis in my foot, a lacrosse ball alleviated the pain and it hasn't returned.

Robert Ray wrote:I was having a problem with planar fascitiis in my foot, a lacrosse ball alleviated the pain and it hasn't returned.

I do think they're one of the best non drug interventions I can think of for muscle tightness or soreness. And super cheap too!

I do the same with racket balls I found in a resale shop. They're great for self massage - almost any body part, easy to travel with, and I love that they're entirely human powered! One of my favorite uses lately, is foot massage!

Carla Burke wrote:I do the same with racket balls I found in a resale shop. They're great for self massage - almost any body part, easy to travel with, and I love that they're entirely human powered! One of my favorite uses lately, is foot massage!

There is something just right about the balls that usually get smacked with racquets. They're just the right texture for massaging!

Another plug for raquetballs.  I carry one with me always, to massage if I have sudden pain, and I've given many away to people I meet or know, who seem open to learning how to massage themselves.

They eventually split along the seam, but they are cheap enough, light enough, and effective enough, that I value them dearly.