The Miracle Ball Method: Relieve Your Pain, Reshape Your Body, Reduce Your Stress [2 Miracle Balls Included]

4 years ago, when I was 49, I had a total hip replacement (left hip) -- before surgery, no cartilage remained in multiple places, bone spurs shaped like indian heads pierced my psoas muscle ever time I stood up. My surgeon could not believe I was able to walk for 10 minutes without passing out from pain, and I nearly ended up hospitalized before the surgery because my hip would lock and I couldn't move. The surgery was a success. But I've been in varying degrees of moderate to severely crippling pain - can't get out of bed pain - ever since. Imagine giving birth without an epidural for every hour of every day of the rest of your life. My PT explained I'm hyper-mobile and my SI joint frequently dysfunctions (as in the left side of my lower back hikes up between 2-4" higher than my right). I tried physical therapy, chiropractors, massage therapy, and yoga. PT and yoga helped, but both were expensive and offered only temporary relief. Chiropractor and deep tissue massage created more pain and were completely ineffective in reducing the pain I had. I could have gotten a script for Norco, but my work demands a clear mind and I wasn't interested in being "disabled" for the rest of my life. I stumbled across the Miracle Ball Method "surfing" Amazon. I initially hesitated, thinking how unlikely it would be that this little kit could do what all the other physician recommended treatments had failed to do. However, when I compared the price of this to the time and money I had spent on "recommended" treatments, the risk of trying this method was non-existent. Elaine Petrone and the Miracle Ball Method saved me. The instruction book is easy to follow. The balls are comfortable. And I've found a good combination of poses for me that not only permit me to realign my SI joint when it dysfunctions, they taught me which muscles are causing my pain and how to relieve it. My yoga instructor properly diagnosed the muscles that had atrophied before and during my recovery from my hip replacement, but none of the experts - MDs, DCs, yogis, and massage therapists -- devised a treatment method that offered me long-term relief for the weakness in the many muscles that had atrophied, which were leading to my pain. My hips were so tight that my body relied on the wrong parts to carry me upright and walk me forward. Following Elaine Petrone's method is fixing me, reducing my pain, strengthening my muscles and returning me to normal. I am grateful everyday Elaine Petrone and her simple, inexpensive, do it at-home method. I'm getting my life back and I love it! I am trying to do my bodywork on the balls for 30 minutes every week day (longer on weekends), but it is so relaxing I could and would love to spend hours on these movements every day. My schedule doesn't permit that. :-( I have never before had a reason to recommend any product as highly as I recommend this. And I am not affiliated in any way with Elaine Petrone or The Miracle Ball Method.

I have been in very good shape most of my adult life. After receiving an injury in my early twenties... I had learned to deal with the constant and annoying pain...nothing took it away. (A ceiling had fallen on my head and hurt my neck plus I had been kicked in the spine around age 17 which had started towards causing arthritis in the back) One morning in 2004, I awoke with a pain in my back that stayed for an entire year. I was only 28 years old and in good shape, it scared me so much! And it just wouldn't go away. It made my life miserable every morning around 5am. I wasn't getting enough sleep because I had to get out of bed so early to avoid the pain and I was too tired to chase my then 2 year old son around all day! Thank God... I found and started using this ball method and the pain is gone. Nothing had helped, I do yoga, see a wonderful chiropractor but none of that helped. ( I did also go to a wonderful certified cranial sacral therapist which I think helped the ball method also- if you are desperate like I was I highly suggest you google one in your area!) It was so easy. I read the short book...and did just what she said at first (which again was very basic and I think anyone who can read could understand her simple directions- my 4 year old could do this!), then I started to explore and just put the balls where I thought might help. For me oddly the best thing is lying on my side and putting them on the side near my ribs but below. My side muscles relax into the ball and the next day I awoke feeling long and pain free! She also mentions lying on the balls under each butt cheek (while you lie on your back) and watching TV (I lie on a mat since we don't have carpet). I am so glad I did this (about a year or more ago) in fact I am only logging in right now to buy more of these for christmas presents!) I wish this had been a class in high school or something!!! I know these is cliche for good reviews at amazon, but I can't imagine anyone regretting getting these. They are inexpensive and much more effective than ANY stretching class/dvd or yoga video I have ever taken or done. Even though I am now pain free. I still use this once a week, or once a month depending on how I feel, and it always makes me feel wonderful....so even if you don't have ANY pain, I bet if you try this method you will be surprised at how much better you feel. I really think every human being could benefit from using these. (Oh and by the way you don't have to roll around on these balls or anything, you just relax into the ball and breathe normally.) Thank you soooooo much Elaine Petrone! My life is back to what I wanted it to be...free of pain! Stephanie T. Cincinnati, Ohio

I am in my early 40s and I have chronic mid back pain in my left side which dissipates to my left arm often and also affects my left side neck often. I have had this issue for the past 9 yrs, not sure how it even started and over the yrs got worse. I live with constant stabbing pain in the mid back 24/7 and monthly visits to chiropractor and massages are only temporary help and of course a lot of medical expenses. My massage therapist suggested the miracle ball method and after I read a lot of positive reviews, I ordered one and got it last week. I was a little skeptical, but was willing to try anything that might help me manage my pain. As the author mentioned in the handbook, I went through the first two chapters, learnt the breathing methods she recommended and used it right away and tried on my mid back and rib cage. I was so impressed as I felt very little pain and stiffness as soon as I got off of these balls. I slept so well that night after many years , as tossing and rolling all night due to the mid back pain is a normal part of my night sleep. I love this method and thanks so much to the inventor. No wonder her patients love it. Second day onwards I am trying in different locations of my body - lower back, elbows, neck, knees and it is so great. First two days I did have little soreness and felt little uncomfortable to stay on the balls for more than 3 mins. But since I noticed the results right away, I ignore the soreness and continue using them and now I can stay on these balls for more than 5 minutes and not sore any more. Third day I had pain in my left arm starting from my mid back kind of felt like pinched nerve, which I get once in a while. All day at work I was bothered by that pain. As soon as I got home, I went through the hand book and went on the miracle balls for my mid back, rib cage and for my elbows. Amazing, my arm felt sooooo much better right after that. This is no wonder called miracle ball method. I am loving it and it is so easy to use. I have been telling all my friends about this and I am planning on buying as gift for my parents and also to couple of my older relatives one who has frozen shoulder. I definitely recommend this. Even if you don't have any chronic pain, this method will simply relax your muscles and it is so easy to use. For $13 nothing can beat it. I have become a Die Hard Fan of this method. Love it, love it,....

I've suffered from chronic upper back and neck/shoulder discomfort and pain for most of my adult life. The causes are many, but stem from muscle tension caused by occupational/life stress, sports, and uneven shoulders from years of carrying a very heavy backpack as a student. Every few minutes, I have to "pop" my bones and joints back into place because they feel locked in the wrong position (chiropractors will tell you it's nitrogen bubbles you are hearing, but I'm not so sure). The muscle tension keeps me from restful sleep and severely degrades my quality of life by through reduced alertness. But after spending thousands of dollars over the years seeking professional help as well as trying home apparatuses (shaped foam pillows, inversion tables, foam rollers and massage tables to sleep on), I'd almost given up the idea of having any kind of normal, pain-free life. During the years that I had insurance, I tried going to chiropractors, but found the co-pay too unaffordable for repeated visits and their treatment too ineffective. The joint-popping adjustments I've learned to do on my own, and the electrical stimulation therapy you can buy for yourself and do at home with a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device like this: Tens1000 Electronic Nerve Stimulator . That's really all they do. It's not a sustainable long-term treatment. I did a bit of research and bought this several years ago to try because it was so cheap and I had already discovered that lying down on a large round object (like a can of tomatoes under my shoulder blade) and rolling my affected muscle points over the can helps relieve some stress. Lying on cans isn't very comfortable. But this book and the balls sat unused in a corner of my house all this time until last night when I decided to try them out again. This product is just 2 soft rubber balls and a book. The idea is put the balls underneath where it hurts, lie down on them, then meditate and clear your mind so your body relaxes. The 250+ page book is pocket sized and just shows you rolling/stretching exercises with different parts of the body and ways of moving to massage yourself with the balls, so don't think it's a monster chore. It's got a lot of photos. The balls themselves are nothing special (they have a bit too much give for some people), but it's Petrone's ideas that are unconventional. She's teaching you a new way of managing and hopefully, reducing pain. I slept on them (they are quite comfortable to sleep on) and managed to sleep better than I've had in a long long time. Today I feel more alert and less tired than I normally do. I'll continue to use them for the next few weeks and update my review accordingly. I don't know why I didn't try this sooner. It's so simple and easy to do.

UPDATE! Something is wrong with my Miracle Balls! Shortly after I bought the balls, a weird black sticky spot appeared on each ball. I wiped them off, and it didn't get in the way of me using them, so I just ignored it. Now after not using them for a little while, they have developed large black sticky spots, like something is oozing out from the inside of the balls. I have always had them stored either on my carpet or on a wooden shelf, so the black sticky stuff isn't coming from anything else, but from INSIDE the ball. The latest spots are large and STICKY and very hard to clean off. I don't think I can use them anymore. Has anyone else had this problem?? If the balls are defective, can I get new ones? I bought them a long time ago, so my window for return has long been closed. Here is my previous review, before the black spots became a problem: The title is true, these balls are a miracle! Read the book and follow the instructions, and you will feel amazing! i use them often, and really notice a difference when I am done the stretches. I highly recommend this to anyone who has problem areas, or just needs a good stretch.

Sorry this is so long. So many words for two little balls...they work for me! I have been using them now for about 9 months. I have Avascular Necrosis in my hips, bulging discs in my spine, a spinal fracture, twice broken tail bone and osteo arthritis. I need both hips replaced. Hopefully, I can begin the process soon. Every movement is painful now. I am on narcotic pain medication, which I don't like a having to take it but I would have absolutely NO quality of life without it, even though I still hurt even while medicated. It is just a little more tolerable. I had the onset of this at an fairly early age. I was always on my feet- "going", working long hours, raising children as a single mom, watching and participating in sports that caused injuries. Who was it that said: "Never stand when you can sit, Never sit when you can lie (down)"? Now... that finally makes sense to me! I began using 'the balls' and studied the book, last November and can't be without them now. Amazingly the air is still in them and I have not had to air them up yet. Just getting them underneath me on the bed (it's a Tempurpedic so real firm-I am not not able to get down on the floor) is painful but once they are in the right positions I can be mostly pain free while they are under me. For me, this is big. Nothing else does this for me. Pain free moments are not part of my life. I find many times it relaxes me so much, I have gone to sleep while on them which is not a good idea-too much of a good thing! Normally I cannot fall asleep quickly like that, it takes hours. They release some pressure on my spine and hips and it is just so wonderful how it relaxes me for just that little bit of time. The pain subsides some afterward, most of the time as well. I am an extreme case so I would think most people would get relief for a longer period. The thing I have noticed as far as improvement after use of the balls is that they help my posture. It is difficult to stand up straight now, no matter how hard I try, as it is terribly painful so I bend forward when I have to walk on my walker. I cannot walk at all now without a walker. Most, but not all the time, afterwards when I get up to walk, my posture is so much better. This is the ONLY way I can walk, for a little while, with better posture. Good posture was always a 'biggie' to me. My parents were always on to me about it and modeling, as I did, it was requirement. I am so discouraged and almost in disbelief that I find it extremely difficult to walk upright at all now. So, when after using these I can get up from the bed and walk to another room with almost erect posture, and, well, it helps me to know it isn't permanent and I will be able to walk erect again in the not-so-distant future! I can only sleep on my right side, usually, so use the balls to "brace" my back. I put them behind me, against my spine and hips, they roll in and stay there. I discovered this by accident when I left one in the bed and did not put it back in the box when finished. So now, both of them stay in the bed all the time with me. I know it may seem strange but it really does help so there is no 'pull' against me to turn back over on my back. Any movement causes me pain and to wake up. Of course don't try it if you sleep on your back, under you, for the entire night. That is too much pressure against your spine and hips for too long a period. It only works if the balls are Against your side, not under you. I use the balls also at the base of my neck for headache and tension. My son uses them for back and hip pain and headaches as well. I have had the injections (be aware, these can cause Avascular Nucrosis), narcotic pain medication and other, physical therapy, traction, Tens units and I still can't believe that the only time I have gone without feeling ANY pain is those minutes while I am lying on these balls! The best pain relief I have received for chronic terrible pain has come from two very inexpensive balls. If you are suffering, please give these a try. Just remember, you have to use them and they are no good to you sitting in a drawer! This society is such a hurried one and we all need to slow down, take some time to "be still" take care of ourselves and be good to ourselves. I have found that keeping the balls within reach and accessible causes me to use them more frequently. For me, they now stay on my bed where, unfortunately, I usually am. (But...not for long)! Blessings! UPDATE 9/21/11- My sweet 35 year old Amazon Parrot decided to play with my ball and guess what?! Now I have one ball left. I thought I could do with that one for awhile but then I got that pulled "something" back pain that seems to go right trough your lung and each breath hurts. The balls fixed that for me before. I can't do without both so am ordering another set now!

As a former medical and health writer (Spotlight Health/USA Today; Max Muscle; Men's Fitness; Yoga Journal; etc.) with longstanding neuroskeletal back challenges--ruptured discs, arthritic fusing, etc., etc.-- I am skeptical of most back "cures" and have tried EVERYTHING: acupuncture, Feldenkrais, Alexander, Rosen, various hatha yoga schools, stretching programs, resistance exercises, chiropractry, Active Release Technique, visualizations, prayer, seeing numerous medical experts, and on and on. The Miracle Ball Method provides the best return on time and money investment: cheap to buy, easy to use, good results. Petrone's not the first to use soft props, her book seems to echo Awareness Through Movement (TM) guidance, and some ball placements repeated work I had formerly done with closed fists. However, she is a master at using ,materials and instructions that work. Has this "cured" my back challenges? No. But these balls have made my life manageable. I bring them to work and use them at lunch, and the relief is virtually immediate. Downside: the booklet is good, but I still can't figure out some ball placements and procedures. (Some online videos help a little.) She could have used a more critical editor. I'd even pay for local lessons. However, the three or four mainstays "exercises" I have used in the past year help[ed me through a very difficult period in which fairly serious knee injuries also impacted my back. I'm on my second pair of Miracle Balls. They seem to "grow" after a couple of years, and you do not want to place them between you and a heating pad: they distort.Those minor caveats aside, this is the best back pain investment I have made in the past few years. I'm going to buy another pair, so I don't have to keep track of them between home and office. Also, invest a few bucks in a serviceable air pump to keep the firmness level where you want it.

The item desription pretty much matches what it says it does. Miracle? Of course not. The method works and one doesn't need the "miracle ball" for the method. I say this only after having made many devices over severa years dealing with back pain. I used the methods prior to this product with success, and hoped for a better product than I have already created. (Elaine's is of much higher quality) I ordered two sets - one to keep and one to give to someone who recently injured their back. The gift was declined and I returned it, unopened, within one week of receipt. Had I known the refund would be less than the FEE (not shipping) charged to return it, I would have donated it to my surgeon's office. This might be an Amazon issue and not a vendor issue -- just a heads-up.

Item not as advertised! Should ave had 2 balls in the package1-returned

Come la forza di gravità, il controllo del respiro ed il materiale giusto servano a sciogliere tensioni...funziona davvero. Sono co0ntentissima del risuktato

j'adore - au lieu de prendre des anti-douleurs je fais les exercices recommandés - 30 à 45 minutes -c'est parfait

My physiotherapist recommended these and I have been absolutely thrilled with them. I dislocated a rib and in the resulting 6 months of physiotherapy, this has relieved so much of my pain. The balls are squishy and you wouldn't think they could be so effective, but once you are laying on them, oh. I will actually spend an hour with a ball under my back and my legs up on the bed reading, it stretches muscles so well and gently. I often keep one between my back and my computer chair, causing my posture to be better without actually having to think about it, and I feel much better sitting than I used to! I'm surprised these balls have stood up to 6 months of constant use, but they show no signs of deformation or wear. I've learned I can put my entire weight on just one and wiggle around and not worry about it blowing out. My mom has arthritis and tried these out a bit but did not find the same relief that I did, but her arthritis is in her feet. This is absolutely a great product for people with back and musculoskeletal pain, neck pain, and lower back pain. I will admit that I read through some of the accompanying book, but I get pain relief without the extra "woo" or breathing exercises, so it was really just to make sure I wasn't hurting myself when doing back work. I use other physio tools (acuball, tennis balls) for more intense and firmer targeted pain relief, but this is gentle enough to use all day. ETA: 8 years later (seriously?!). I'm still using these balls every couple of days. I've had to replace my Accu-ball once already and am down to a single lacrosse ball because A CERTAIN DOG I KNOW HAS BEEN STEALING THEM, but my Miracle Balls are staying strong! Shile I still have to do a lot of maintenance work on my back and shoulders to keep my rib in place, they've been great from everything from weight training recovery to physiotherapy (they make great replacements for yoga blocks doing chair squats etc). I have long, long, LONG since gotten my money's worth out of these. I'm sure I did within the first week of buying them. My doc still remembers them too, mentions to try to work on x or y muscle group with "your blue balls" and proceeds to crack herself up. I love her ;)

The miracle of this method consists in the positions you will sit in and the breathing technique. It is a short book, but well thought. The conceptual effort is evident and I love the feeling in my muscles after doing the exercises. Does help with back pain, but you need to put in the effort.