RS Recommends

RS Recommends: These Are the Best Manual Massage Tools to Try Right Now

From treating back pain to providing a relaxing foot massage, these tools have you covered

By Natalli Amato

Natalli Amato

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October 1, 2021

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If you suffer from back, neck, or other body pain, you’ve likely turned to massage to experience relief. While a massage can be extremely beneficial, it’s not necessarily practical to schedule one every time you’re experiencing muscle pain or soreness. That’s why at-home manual massage tools are so important. These simple, easy-to-use tools help you ease and (hopefully) dissolve your muscle pain yourself.

How Do Manual Massage Tools Work?

The best manual massage tools come in a wide variety of forms, depending on their intended use. Some manual massage tools look similar to rolling pins, and they let you roll out parts of your body like your back, calves, or hamstrings. Other manual massage tools are small, handheld devices that let you focus on a specific area of your body that you can reach, like your neck.

While it’s true that you can’t always reach every part of your body yourself, that doesn’t have to limit your use of manual massage tools – some tools are designed to be wrap-around structures that do the reaching for you.

When you’re shopping for the best manual massage tool, make sure that the tool you’re considering matches your personal needs. The best manual massage tools are specialized to a certain degree. You wouldn’t use the same tool that’s designed to treat your neck to also give yourself a foot massage. It’s wiser to choose multiple specialized tools rather than use a tool improperly.

Luckily, there are a number of brands making effective manual massage tools and equipment these days, that can be easily purchased online and used at home. Whether you’re targeting a sore spot after a workout, or just want to sink into your couch for some R&R, these are the best manual massage devices to try right now.

1. Body Back Buddy Elite

This full-body manual massager is the perfect manual massage tool for those who may not already know how to address trigger points themselves. It has numbered knobs that correlate with each trigger point – an included poster outlines these pairings for you.

The two-hooked design helps you work with areas in your back, neck, shoulders, legs, feet, and thighs. Plus, the two-hook design lets you apply more leverage to certain parts of your body if needed.

best manual massage tools

Buy Body Back Buddy Elite $34.95

2. Liitrton Manual Fascia Massage Roller

Made from smooth natural wood, this massage roller comes with nine rotatable rollers designed to help your muscles relax. Plus, it helps to relieve trigger points by simply sliding your joints over the rollers. This is the perfect roller to use when you’re warming up and cooling down during exercise. Using this roller on your muscles can help prevent injuries, release muscle tension, and improve blood circulation. And, it barely takes up any room.

best manual massage tools

Buy Liitrton Manual Fascia Massage Roller $7.99

3. ZONGS Massage Balls

Those with constant pain know that you don’t leave it behind when you travel. In fact, traveling can oftentimes make muscle pain in your neck or back feel even worse. This pair of compact, easy-to-use massage balls are great for travel. They fit comfortably in your palm, have a secure grip, and feature a 360-degree spin design that gives you a soothing massage when rolled over knots. These work particularly well on your neck and shoulders.

best manual massage tools

4. TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller

Whether you just want to relax or your feet suffer from aches and pains, this is the best manual foot massage tool for taking care of your feet. It specifically targets the trigger points in the arch of your foot and the heels, using the principles of reflexology to help reduce tension.

Simply roll your feet over the nubs and grooves on the roller kneads to experience a stimulating and relaxing deep-tissue massage. You can even do both feet at once. We like that this is slim and discreet enough to tuck under your desk or table too, to enjoy a relaxing foot massage while you work.

manual massage tool

Buy TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller $7.99

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