Tension in the muscles can result from bad posture, muscle strain, or even stress, and if not addressed quickly and efficiently it can lead to trigger points developing.
But often times trigger points will develop in the hardest-to-reach places and cause tightness that you can never seem to get relief from.
Enter the PSO-RITE – a versatile, full-body massage tool specifically designed to release tension and trigger points in hard-to-reach places such as the hip flexors, lower back, neck, hamstrings, groin, shoulders etc.
You may have heard about PSO RITE, but might still be in limbo regarding whether or not it’s the best self-massager for you.
Fortunately, my aim today is to divulge everything you need to know about the PSO-RITE, to help you decide if this gadget is worth your time and money.
Not only that, but I’ll take it for a test drive to see if it really works, or whether it is just an overhyped piece of plastic.
What is the PSO-RITE?
The PSO-RITE is a manual full-body massage tool designed to help release tightness in the body.
The unique, patented design of this PSO-RITE mimics the hand and the elbow of a masseuse, creating the effect of a deep tissue massage.
The PSO-RITE presses deeper into your hard-to-reach areas than any other massager on the market.
It is so named because it targets the PSOAS (pronounced SO-AS) muscles, which are the most vital muscles in your body, not just for your physical health, but also for your psychological well-being.
The PSO-RITE was created to reach and massage the PSOAS muscle to ensure it stays healthy and functional, and at the same time, improve your overall health and mood.
As discussed above, it is primarily marketed to work on the PSOAS muscle however it can be used all over the body – targeting the neck, thighs, inner groin, glutes, shoulders, hamstrings, calves, lower, middle and upper back, rotator cuff, and chest.
The lightweight device is available in a variety and colours, and there is also a PSO-MINI which you can take with you anywhere.
PSO-RITE Review: Contents & First Impression
Now that we’re done with the specs let’s get down to unboxing the PSO-RITE.
When you first receive your PSO-RITE there’s nothing overly special about it that stands out.
It comes wrapped up in clear plastic with a disclaimer on it, alongside one sheet of card with images of the different areas of the body the PSO-RITE can be used on.
It doesn’t come with any box except the box it is delivered in. The first impression of the whole package of the PSO-RITE is… basic. It’s as basic and bare-bones as you can get.
When analysing the actual PSO-RITE itself it doesn’t get any more exciting than what you see in the sales pictures.
It is simply one piece of large moulded plastic.
But what it looks like doesn’t matter as long as it works, but does it?
PSO-RITE: Trying it Out for the First Time
Whenever I try out a myofascial release tool I have set areas of my body I always try them out on first.
These are my trouble areas which are the adductors/inner thigh area, and my calves. Also certain areas along my back especially the muscles along my spine (Erector Spinae).
All these areas are noticeably fleshy areas where many massage tools such as foam rollers and massage balls don’t seem to work for me.
On the other hand, the PSO-RITE did work pretty well in my trouble areas.
The PSO-RITE was able to hit the deepest parts of these fleshy areas and allow me to apply my own body weight.
That’s what I liked most about the PSO-RITE.
The ridges are raised quite high off the ground and the product is strong and sturdy enough for me to apply a lot of pressure and not have to worry about it toppling over.
At first, I was using the PSO-RITE in one direction, however, when I started getting a little more inventive (rotating it 90 degrees) with it I realised just how versatile it really is.
I found the PSO-RITE worked best for me on my calves, adductors and my back.
However, the PSO-RITE is called the PSO-RITE for a reason, it is primarily designed to be used on the PSOAS. So does it work in that area?
To be honest, I didn’t feel any benefits.
I massaged the area and found it didn’t really do anything for me. So I don’t really understand the hype it gets.
Perhaps, I’m not tight in that area or I’m not the right size for the tool, but it really did nothing for me in this area.
Conclusion: Should You Buy the PSO-RITE?
If you scour the web you’ll find a lot of satisfied users of the PSO-RITE who have successfully used it to release their PSOAS and gained all kinds of benefits beyond what they ever imagined.
I have to admit, I’m not one of these overly exuberant users.
I didn’t find the PSO-RITE did anything for my PSOAS muscle, but then again it’s such a mysterious hidden muscle that maybe I never needed a PSOAS release in the first place (when I stretch my PSOAS using a traditional hip flexor stretch I never find it overly tight anyway).
Therefore, if you take away the main selling point of the PSO-RITE, it’s just another massage tool like many others already on the market.
I did find it useful in other areas of the body, particularly since it has such high ridges and is sturdy enough to apply a lot of your own body weight onto it, but I didn’t think it was particularly life-changing.
You’ve also got to factor in the price of the PSO-RITE.
It’s not exactly a cheap massage tool. In fact, it’s pretty expensive for what it is.
When you first take it out of the box, you may even be a little annoyed, as at the end of the day it really is just a piece of moulded plastic.
That being said, it is well constructed and made in such a way that it is sturdy and will not wobble when you’re using it.
I personally think a much fairer price would be around $19.99, which is way lower than what it costs at the time of writing (currently $79.99).
Over time I imagine that the cost will come down because competitors will start flooding the market with cheaper alternatives.
Keep an eye out for competitor products to flood the market, and perhaps for the PSO-RITE price to drop as a result.
For now, the PSO-RITE brand can get away with charging high prices.
At the end of the day, if you know you have trouble with your PSOAS muscle and you’ve tried many tools and nothing works, then the PSO-RITE may well be worth a go.
Furthermore, if it works for you, then the high price may well be justified in the end.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who doesn’t have chronic hip tightness and is just looking for another massage tool you may be off saving your money and trying something else.
PSO-RITE
Related: The Best Massage Tools
