I’m a massage therapist, and this is the one at-home move that relieves a sore back stat
You don't need to run to a pro massage therapist every time your back starts to feel sore. Here, a masseuse reveals how to massage back pain on your own.
I’m a massage therapist, and this is the one at-home move that relieves a sore back stat
You don't need to run to a pro massage therapist every time your back starts to feel sore. Here, a masseuse reveals how to massage back pain on your own.
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Of all the treat yourself-style treatments out there, getting a massage is one that is always worth justifying. Whether you’re working out as if you’re training for the Olympics or just sitting at a desk all day, signing your body up for a little extra love is one of the kinder things you can do for your muscles… especially if you’re like me and regularly deal with back soreness (thanks a lot, weak core). But while I am very pro-massage, I am also very pro-“not regularly spending $100+ on something I can do myself at home.” And so, I asked a massage therapist what I could do for my back pain in-between pro treatments. Her tip? Grab a physio ball.
“As a supplement to massage therapy, lying over a large physio ball for soreness is a good temporary at-home fix,” says Karen Kochanski, a licensed massage therapist with Zeel (physio balls are the large, bouncy stability balls you typically see in a gym). Drape yourself over the ball so that it’s directly under the area of your back that needs relief. Extend your arms and knees toward the floor, but make sure they don’t touch so that “gravity can work its magic,” says Kochanski. Hang out for 10 to 15 minutes (… maybe pop in a podcast?), and you’ll get a nice, natural stretch and a slow release of the muscle.
If you don’t have a physio ball, reaching for your trusty foam roller is another option—lie on top of it lengthwise for a nice chest-opening stretch similar to what you’d get on the ball. One very important caveat, though, is that you should never, ever use a foam roller to actually roll out your back—particularly your lower back. “[Foam rolling the lower back] can be potentially dangerous, as it often forces the spine into more extension than it can handle,” Danielle Weis, PT, previously told Well+Good. “Too much extension in these cases decreases the space of the spinal and foraminal canals and can lead to spinal cord and nerve impingement, and a multitude of issues can arise like shooting pain or weakness.” So consider this an excuse to lie on top of the roller and do nothing besides c-h-i-l-l.
To turn your at-home massage session into a full-on luxury spa treatment, Kochanski suggests finishing it off with a warm Epsom salt bath to “draw out excess lactic acid and toxins that may be causing inflammation.” If things are really bothering you, though, book an appointment with an actual masseuse. A physio ball and an Epsom salt bath are great, but it’s hard to pass up a pro-approved excuse for pampering. Every once in a while, at least.
Some other nice things you can do for your back? Decompress with these spine-lengthening moves, or give it a stretch by literallyhanging out.
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Thanks to innovations in health and wellness tech, you don’t have to book an expensive lymphatic drainage massage to give your system a boost. Dry brushes, gua sha tools, foam rollers—they’re all readily available and more accessible than the cost of manual lymph work. And now, apparently, we can add “lymphatic drainage onesie” to the list of recovery tools out there that can potentially give your lymph nodes some love.
bioregulator medical expert at the BioMed Center in Scottsdale
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I was skeptical when I first heard about Heat Healer’s Activated Lymphatic Onesie ($200), a one-piece jumpsuit that claims to reduce bloating, improve recovery, and increase circulation just by wearing it. It sounded too good to be true. But as someone training for a 10k and traveling frequently for work, I decided to try it for 30 days—couldn’t hurt, right?
The timing was spot on—I was about to head to Mexico City for Marriott’s Masters of the Craft, a culinary competition where I’d be eating and drinking my days away watching a cook-off between Marriott’s top talent. If there was ever a time to test a garment promising to reduce bloating and improve recovery, this was it.
About the Heat Healer Activated Lymphatic Onesie
Heat Healer’s Activated Lymphatic Onesie is effectively a compression suit that amplifies your body’s natural detox system. Using what the brand calls “Antigravity Technology,” this onesie combines strategic compression and raised fabric patterns to stimulate lymphatic flow, helping your system clear excess fluid and waste while boosting circulation and oxygenation. Think of it as a wearable self-care tool for optimizing your body’s drainage network.
“Moving lymph allows your cells to breathe ‘freely’ and is akin to doing a biological oil change,” explains Jeoff Drobot, NMD, a bioregulator medical expert in Scottsdale. He adds we filter about 5 liters of lymph daily—equivalent to our total blood volume. When this system isn’t flowing efficiently, it can leave us feeling bloated, fatigued, and sluggish. However, with proper stimulation, like that provided by lymphatic drainage techniques (or in this case, the Activated Lymphatic Onesie), people often report improved energy levels, digestion, and even better sleep.
“Lymphatic onesies can be helpful after workouts to support recovery, reduce muscle soreness, and minimize swelling,” says Carrie Riley, lymphatic massage specialist and founder of Cincinnati Massage for Mental Health. “They’re also a great option for long flights, as they can help counteract fluid retention and improve circulation during extended periods of sitting. The same is also true for someone with long hours at a desk job.”
My review
What I love
Feeling better just by wearing a jumpsuit sounded great, but could it really deliver on its claims? I was determined to find out.
I can confirm that the onesie—a short-sleeved jumpsuit with leggings—provided immediate relief, starting from the very first wear; my body felt light and floaty as if I’d somehow shed fatigue buried in my bones. During my time in Mexico City, where I sampled everything from tequila to Michelin-star tacos, the onesie was a lifesaver. Between the elevation and rich meals, my body was working overtime, but slipping this suit over my skin back at my hotel brought me a sense of recovery I didn’t expect.
Photo: Author
Its benefits were even more apparent after an especially enthusiastic evening at Handshake Speakeasy (currently ranked as the World’s Best Bar). Normally, cocktails leave me bloated and shaky the next day. But, waking up in the middle of the night with the sense of an oncoming hangover, I crawled into the onesie and collapsed back into bed, hoping for the best. By morning, I was shocked by how much better I felt—so much so that I even took a class at a local fitness studio. During my 10K training, it became an essential part of my recovery routine, easing post-run fatigue and helping me bounce back faster—I like to think that it helped me hit my personal record on race day.
I found the onesie was also a game-changer for long flights. While bathroom breaks were challenging (airplane gymnastics, anyone?), its ability to counter travel-related gastro-stress made them worth it. Over 30 days, I wore it on eight flights and experienced a level of comfort I’ve never had before. It helps that the onesie is fashionable and easy to pair with sweats or oversized button-downs. While Dr. Drobot says that the lymphatic onesies such as Heat Healer’s pale in comparison to manual lymphatic drainage from a highly-trained practitioner, I appreciated that I could take it on the go with me.
What I don’t love
Getting into the onesie requires dedication, especially that first time. I followed the recommendation to size down, and although it wasn’t as tight as shapewear, I still performed an interpretive dance just to shimmy it on. Once it was on, the effort felt worth it, but the process was still tedious.
As mentioned, bathroom breaks presented another challenge, only from a logistics standpoint. Wrestling with the onesie in an airplane bathroom felt like an Olympic event. But as soon as I stepped out of the stall and felt its effects, I forgot the inconvenience.
Final thoughts
After 30 days of testing—from excessive evenings in Mexico City to 10K training and long-haul flights—I’m convinced it’s worth a spot in your recovery routine. While it’s not a miracle solution, the lymphatic onesie supported me through bloating, recovery, and even hangovers.
Riley offers some perspective for anyone considering a lymphatic drainage onesie, “Think of the onesie as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for professional care.” That said, while lymphatic drainage has anecdotal support and some research backing, the science around wearable tools like this isn’t yet conclusive. As always, consult your doctor before trying new wellness products, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or concerns. In the meantime, while I don’t foresee myself wearing my onesie every day, I will definitely be pulling it out on days I need a little pick-me-up.
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