The Pressure Pointer was developed in 1997 while I was suffering from an episode of what I was calling "Mouse Shoulder". The fingers in my left hand were sore from rubbing an area on the back of my shoulder that was a tight band leading from the base of my neck along my collarbone then down into the shoulder joint, I was doing this: 

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I had been visiting therapists for years, feeling great while the treatment was occurring and for a while after, but feeling like I needed to go back several times a week to keep the pain from affecting my life. It felt 'painfully good' to have deep pressure applied for long periods of time or to have neck extension treatment. One therapist was good at working the area while I was sitting up and I would be able to stretch the hurt muscle by leaning my head to the left and forward a little while trying to reach my left knee with my right elbow. Learning the stretch itself was liberating, but doing the stretch while the therapist was applying pressure was what made me realize I didn't need the surgery that many of the other therapists and doctors had said might be necessary to stop the pain. The exercises I had been taught to strengthen various muscles and attempts at 'improving' my posture stopped. I didn't have a defect that needed improving, I was suffering from what many people I met later call trigger points.

 The definition, cause, even the existence of trigger points was and still is hotly debated, but I didn't want to wait for everyone to agree, I just knew having the ability to self apply pressure to my back/neck/shoulder was what I needed to do. I found out about, and bought one of the hand held designs. It was great! I was finally able to treat my own pain, but I was only able to do it for a few minutes at a time, my arms would get tired, and I noticed I was using many of the muscles where I was trying to apply pressure. Doing it with one arm helped with the problem of using the muscles I was trying to treat, but one arm gets tired faster than two.

Since I was a product development engineer I went to work addressing the issues I found with what was available on the market. I starting by making a hand operated one like I had bought, just bigger and longer so I could get some leverage on it with my arms extended out further. That helped, and I found I could use my knees for some extra help.

The device I made was cut out of plywood and looked like a deformed goalie stick for some unfortunate hockey player.  I taped the ski pole with the hand strap facing towards to floor, and when I put my foot in the loop of the hand strap to try it out, that was the eureka moment and the invention of the Pressure Pointer. 

Now I can do this: 

Pressure Products
9600 NCR 5
Wellington, Co. 80549

service@pressurepointer.com

Also see our new product at www.FootFaucet.net  

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