Sometimes, a product enters your life at exactly the right time – i.e. when you need it most. This was the case with the Muscle Angels Massager(right), a therapeutic massage tool. As discussed yesterday, I’m currently suffering from a leg muscle injury that has severely cramped myambulatory style. I’ve taken several steps to stay in the dog-walking game, and the Muscle Angels is an important one of them.

This ingenious invention mayseem low-tech – it’s a purple rubber object that looks a lot like a dog’s chew toy. Specifically, it closely resembles the Busy Buddy line of dog toys by Premier,pictured below, which are also made of purple rubber and come in eye-catching shapes. But this particular purple rubber item is no toy – it’s a serious tool to help relieve pain.

You can use it on your pet, or on yourself – theMuscle Angels was actually designed for all species to share and enjoy, from dogs to cats, humansand horses.I’ve always believed that the best thingsin life should be shared with our best friends, sothis ismy kind of product.

Whatever aches, the Muscle Angels can help lighten the pain load. Thehurt might be caused by Tendonitis, Iliospsoas muscle strains,or shoulder subluxation injuries. Muscle Angel alsoworks toreduce stress and anxiety, as well as toincrease blood circulation for better flexibility and mobility.

Using the Muscle Angels onhandicapped pets helps prevent muscle atrophy, a sad side effect when limb function is lost. And, its maker claims, it even heightens concentration and alertness -a great fringe benefitfor senior dogs – and deepens the pet-owner bond.

After all, when you receive a relaxing massage from somebody nice, doesn’t that person hold a special place in your heart? Your dog seesit the same way. Except this isn’t any ordinary back rub – it’s “all-in-one acussager” therapy that combines three effective massage techniques: Myofascial trigger point, acupressure, and deep tissue massage. So think of the Muscle Angels as a wonderful tool to help cementthe loving relationship between you and your best friend.

Last night, after finishing the evening’s final dog-walking shift, I deployedthe Muscle Angels to relieve the tension in my left leg, which was tightly, painfullycramped up afterall that exertion.I rolled it up and down my lower leg, then rolled my foot back and forth over it.I’m certain thishelped me get a decent night’s sleep.

Here’s how it works:The bright-green”sculpted nub tip” stimulates circulation and breaks up muscle knots anywhere on the body (yours or your pet’s). Meanwhile, the 290+ tiny”nubbin fingers” work to knead knotted muscles. Making things extra-easy is the ergonomic stability handle, which fitscomfortable inthe masseur’s hand. This helps prevent repetitive stress injuries – a good thing, because once you’ve tried the Muscle Angels, you’ll want to use it so often that you might risk hurting your wrist!

My dogs observed the proceedings expectantly. Hadeach one of thembeen cartoon characters, the thought bubbles over each dog’s head would’ve clearly read, “My turn next!”

I’m treating the Muscle Angels Massageras carefullyas I would a pair of irreplaceable Prada boots, keeping it on on a high shelf socertain dogs -I’m looking at you,Lazarus – won’t accidentallymistake it forthe aforementionedBusy Buddy chew toy, pictured at right.

It’s small and lightweight enough to take with you on any trip, perfectly portable and easily packable in your carry-on bag. In fact, if you find yourself in the passenger seat on your next car ride, why not bring along the Muscle Angels and make the drive more pleasant for your pet by using it to administer an en-routemassage?

Do you have a favorite tool to facilitate a relaxing rubdown? Please tell us about it in the comments!