From Rolling Pins to Recovery: The Origin Story of the Nordstick (Newsletter Vol. 1)

What's Up Nordstick Fam!

I wanted to start the first newsletter with where this all started. 

Three years ago, I, a sports physical therapist at a D1 university in Pennsylvania, began a journey to tackle an issue common in sports – a high frequency of hamstring/knee injuries and a limited budget from the athletes. 5 years earlier, when I was in college, I was eating ramen noodles.  I couldn't afford fancy exercise equipment,  and I was not alone.  The solution? The Nordstick – was born out of a simple rolling pin and a ratchet strap.

Nordstick growing like this was never the original goal; its purpose was to serve the athletes I was working with daily who faced the same challenges – a lack of affordable solutions in fitness and rehab. Previously, to do Nordic curls – an exercise essential for hamstring strengthening and injury reduction – one had to invest in a $600 Nordic bench, an unrealistic cost for many.

The vision for Nordstick was straightforward – to provide an affordable fitness solution for athletes like me, who once had to choose between their health and their wallet. Back then, doing Nordic curls, a crucial exercise for hamstring strength and injury prevention, meant shelling out $600 for a Nordic bench. That just wasn't feasible for many of us.

My drive to create the Nordstick was deeply personal. After a soccer injury prematurely ended my athletic career, I was devastated. I vowed to help others dodge that heartache and keep their passion for sports alive.

The Nordstick isn’t just a tool; it’s a lifeline. It keeps you in the game, whether you're a pro athlete, a parent chasing after your kids, or someone just trying to carry groceries without a struggle. Our goal is to ensure you can keep doing what you love without being sidelined.

So, why Nordic curls?

Despite being under-utilized in many gyms, they are part of the FIFA 11+ program, the world's largest injury reduction plan. Nordic curls appear on every program to reduce injury, emphasizing their significance. The Nordstick made this essential exercise accessible to all.

As we grow and release new products, remember our mission: ensuring you never have to sacrifice your love for life due to time, money, or lack of understanding. We aim to lower the barrier of entry to fitness, encouraging everyone to live longer and enjoy life more.

We’d love to hear your story. If Nordstick has helped you or does in the future, please share your experience. (Send your Story to Garrett@thenordstick.com.) Your journey can inspire and support others. Going forward, our newsletters will feature expert advice on fitness complexities, helping you enhance your training experience and enjoy a more fulfilled life.

Thank you for being part of the Nordstick story.