The foam roller

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Replies

  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    use a tennis ball to get at your traps. a tennis ball (or golf ball for the truly bad *kitten* among us), will get those areas very well and will work the normal areas (IT band, glutes, quads, hams) with additional intensity once if the regular roller isn't enough.

    I highly recommend the Rumble Roller Black for foam rolling

    Thanks.

    I saw the Rumble Roller Black roller and was a little unsure about it. Good to know.
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    I got a foam roller a few weeks ago and I agree that it works wonders. I also have "The Stick" to use on my calves.

    I had to look up "the Stick", very cool.

    Looks convenient for traveling.
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    after every run..foam roll,foam roll,foam roll. it's a mantra :-)

    I think I might have to start this routine.
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    Try a lacrosse ball or softball for the trap/levator scapulae region.

    Never thought to use a lacrosse ball.

    Thank you!
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    I just bought one of these! I'm glad to hear they work!! How do you use yours?

    I have watched A LOT of youtube videos and read tons of blogs, so I do it all different ways.

    My favorite is having it horizontal and just rolling it up at down my back and moving my shoulders and arms (reaching and stuff) as I do. And I also love laying on it along my spine and rocking it back and forth between my shoulder blades and hips.
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    I don't know how many times I've said that the foam roller is the single best thing I ever purchased. If I could marry it, I would. :D

    Agreed!
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    Good thread. I've been thinking about getting one. What do you think the benefits are for you?

    There are numerous benefits. There are blogs written about them. Some include keeping flexibility, preventing injury, increase blood flow, helps improve spinal alignment, and I know for me, it helps with pain.
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    what is it??

    https://www.google.com/search?q=foam+roller+&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    Both my trainer & my chiropractor recommend it, so I don't classify it as a "fad." I personally classify it as a torture device, along with my very innocent-looking tennis ball.

    hahaha

    I think if you have enough built up tightness, it can be. Just work through it.
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    Get a tennis ball too and here is an AWESOME website to help use it:

    http://www.athletestreatingathletes.com

    I got it when I had an over use injury in my hip and my hip is 100% okay now; also I have repeatedly pulled my right hamstring for years but since using this (and the tennis ball); my hamstring has been truly performing without pulls!! Whether you are aware or not, once you pull a muscle (specifically the hamstring); you have a propensity to pull it over and over again. I have to say since using my foam roller and tennis ball, I haven't felt any pull in my hamstring and its been about 6 months - super YAY! Oh and I run 3-4x per week and weight train 3x per week.

    I have two tennis balls. I look forward to looking at that and applying it.

    Thank you so much!
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    Length of PVC pipe, covered in old hiking mat or thick yoga mat, lots of duct tape = supercheap foam roller. Make a couple in different sizes for all the different muscles. Awesome.

    [edited for typo]

    Very crafty and smart!
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    This is one of the dumbest exercise fads yet.

    It's not an exercise.

    It is mostly used for stretching and working out muscles. However, I see that some people do use it for exercises, as well.


    I find nothing dumb about it.
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    Used one as part of PT rehab, and loved it. Now it's a part of my regular routine.

    Awesome.
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    Ohhhh, this is interesting! Thanks for posting.
    I sometimes use dryer machine balls on my feet (I have flat feet, so rolling on them feels really nice after high impact workouts), so I had thought of getting a foam roller to try to achieve the same on my back and hammies. I will look into buying one now :)

    Do it, do it, do it!!!
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    great. next you'll be telling me that i'm wasting my money on deep tissue massages because i don't actually feel better after and if i do, it's just a placebo effect. and then you'll probably go after the easter bunny

    Don't get my started on the benefits of deep tissue massages. AHHHHHH!! :happy:
  • tarashley13
    tarashley13 Posts: 114 Member
    I bought one and used it for a few weeks. I followed the useless video that was included, but the roller is so thick and my arms are so short that I couldn't comfortably hold myself in the positions. Curses, being short. I tried some really well-described set of moves from a site recommended on the MFP boards. I ended up with lots of bruised areas. I would rather get properly beat up by my (deep tissue) massage therapist, because she knows how to dig in to the right muscle to work a knot loose, instead of bruising the whole area. Now *that* is pain with a purpose! Not that I can afford it anymore...

    I'm short, so I understand what you are getting at.

    I have not bruised myself... maybe you were pushing too hard or something. Hmmmm...:huh:

    Maybe give it another chance. There are tons of great blogs on it.
  • CoachDreesTraining
    CoachDreesTraining Posts: 223 Member
    Rather than arguing with you, and breaking down why foam rolling works for ITB syndrome I'll just post the first 2 Google articles I found. The goal is not to lengthen the ITB, but the fascia and muscles surrounding it.

    http://www.runnersworld.com/injury-treatment/almost-magical-foam-roller
    http://drbenkim.com/how-foam-roll-IT-band.htm

    You seriously must be joking. The first link you provided cites no sources and just throws out claims as facts to be believed on faith. It refers to the IT band as "the outside of the thigh" (wrong), it calls stretching "very beneficial" (wrong). It makes the claim, "your IT Band will loosen up" which makes no sense in the context of anatomy (PLEASE read what the IT band is, you will easily understand why it doesn't make sense to "loosen" it up).

    I'm not going to spend too much time on the second link you provided because if you can't see the absurdity on the face of it then you're beyond help. Suffice it to say that the author is a chiropractor and acupuncturist (while we're on the topic of things that have no evidence to back them up...) and HE SELLS FOAM ROLLERS. He has a stake in you wanting to use them.

    I took the time to read your links, if you would take the time I would genuinely appreciate it if you'd read just one of mine. Maybe it will change your mind, maybe not.

    http://www.thebodymechanic.ca/2012/03/17/stop-foam-rolling-your-it-band-it-can-not-lengthen-and-it-is-not-tight/
    Please feel free to click the "Greg Lehman" link at the top and check the author's credentials - he is the real deal.

    (I'd also like to point out that I Googled the author of your first article. Guess what? He also sells foam rollers. The second author sells not only foam rollers, but instructional DVDs on how to use foam rollers).

    I didn't even read the articles. The point is that every competent personal trainer, PT, chiropractor, and masseuse use release techniques. There are many ways to restore a muscle to its normal length, but foam rolling is a cheap and easy way for any person to feel/perform better.

    I would encourage YOU to research what an ITB is, and its function. Also spend some time researching autogenic inhibition.

    Foam rolling does not stretch or lengthen the muscle, or the ITB, it restore it to it's resting length. This is also known as "toning down" or reducing the density of muscles.

    If you'd like a further explanation you can PM me instead of throwing out false information on a message board for everyone to read.

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