Foam Roller Relief or Placebo?

883xlsportster
883xlsportster Posts: 221 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've been dealing with knee pain after squats the last month. It feels a lot like runners knee and it usually clears up after 3 days. Just in time for squats again. I bought lifting shoes and sleeves to see if that would help. Not so much. I'm still playing with my stance and form to see if that will help going forward. In the meantime I came across some vids on foam rollers to relax the quads and other leg muscles. After a few sessions of Self-myofascial everything feels better. It didn't take away the pain but sure helped reduce it. Mind you it did hurt like hell rolling it over tight spots. I'm sold...I think ;-)

Replies

  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    I love my foam roller. It hurts now but not tomorrow.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    It is not a placebo. I use it for general maintenance. I did let my piriformis syndrome get so bad once that I will never not foam roll again.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,328 Member
    Not placebo. It does release those tight spots similarly to a good massage. It isn't comfortable though.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    If it hurts you're doing it right! You may also want to check out "The Stick", you can really dig in with it and get spots that you miss rolling.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Lacrosse or tennis ball too
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    edited January 2016
    BrianSharpe wrote: »
    If it hurts you're doing it right! You may also want to check out "The Stick", you can really dig in with it and get spots that you miss rolling.

    Oops sorry mixed up my massage tools. My rhomboids love the TheraCane not the stick
  • ladymeldrum82
    ladymeldrum82 Posts: 51 Member
    I love my foam rollers- have a soft one & @ firm one... My aunt is a massage therapist & sent me one to help with back(scoliosis) & knee pain (IT bands)... Also use to loosen hamstrings & fix pinched nerves in my tush...
  • sgthaggard
    sgthaggard Posts: 581 Member
    If it gives me relief, I don't really care if it's for real or all in my mind.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    Foam roller and lacrosse ball. My two best friends.
  • oh_happy_day
    oh_happy_day Posts: 1,137 Member
    Foam roller and a hard rubber ball. My body definitely rebels if I don't do it second daily at least. Back, ITB, calves, glutes etc. I also use the rubber ball on the soles of my feet - surprisingly effective. Painful but necessary. It's definitely not a placebo.
  • bluefish86
    bluefish86 Posts: 842 Member
    I have a foam roller and a couple of those spiky little balls that are about the size of a tennis ball...

    I've had a shoulder injury since July of last year that I've been receiving osteopathic treatment for, but nothing so far has worked as well as those little spiky ****ers. They hurt like a son of a gun, but in the long run they're making a big difference.
  • 883xlsportster
    883xlsportster Posts: 221 Member
    Well I'm more then convinced now. Thanks for the feedback! :-)

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