by Catherine L. Tully

Dancers often have sore muscles–something I don’t need to tell you I’m sure–but each person has their own way of tending to them. There are many different types of massage options out there, ranging from an actual masseuse to hand-held massage devices made out of different types of material. Today we’re going to talk a bit about one in particular…

The Muscle Angels massager has three main parts–a handle, a rounded area with 290 “nubbin fingers” and a sculpted tip. There are multiple ways to use the massager, and the company’s website actually has videos that help walk you through some of the options, which is very helpful.

I used it to relax my feet, rolling the “nubbin fingers” under my arch, and I have to say it did feel terrific. The tip is great for working out knots, and I think overall the Muscle Angel would be a useful tool for dancers who enjoy self-massage.

It’s fairly compact (although it is not light), and would tuck inside a dance bag easily. The “nubbin fingers” reminded me of those slip-on shoes that have the massaging bumps on the bottom, which I think feel terrific.

I’m not a medical professional so I’ll stay away from endorsing any of the uses in terms of treating physical problems you may have, but I can tell you that as a relaxation tool it worked for me. (And I used it on my dog, who really liked it too!)