Singing the Praises of Foam Rollers

Holy cow. I'm going to buy one tonight. I'm for anything that will work out the knot in my lower back and that weird painful tightness at the side of my butt (left leg) I think it's called piraformis tightness(?). All these testimonials have sold me on the versatility of foam rollers.
 
Kathryn--when I use the foam roller before a workout, I try to hit the tightest spots, the ones that aggravate me during a workout and pull on my knee. That loosens them up so they don't pull on my knee during the workout. Then afterwards I may do a more thorough stretch when the muscles are warm. Maybe others can tell you what they do. My strategy is to roll more BEFORE a cardio workout, to get lose before the fast motion, and then to roll more AFTER a weight workout because I've tightened up the muscles. That's the strategy that works well for me. I don't necessarily think it's "THE" way to do things, though.

Calvillo--I'm with you. I had heard of these things for ages before I actually tried one. Now I'm hooked.
 
Thanks for the tip, Laura.
Rolling more before cardio, and more after weights, sounds like a good idea.

(I really should get out my roller more often. Last time I used it (which was actually fairly recently) was after I got back from walking all-day, every-day for 5 days in Europe. And it really helped loosen things up (though did nothing for my blisters, LOL!)

Even once or twice a week with those things would be beneficial, IMO. I just have to put it out somewhere so it's right in my line of vision, and calls to me to use it (like my scratching posts call to my cats to use them).
 
I noticed Perform Better has a ball too. I'm frequently tight in the shoulders and between the shoulder blades ~ that may be just the thing for me (and would get my husband off the hook, since I bug him for massages).

I tried the kids' soccer ball, but it was too deflated. :confused:
 
This is the one that I have...

http://www.performbetter.com/detail.aspx_Q_ID_E_4278_A_CategoryID_E_394 (but mine is black)

I bought one after having severe IT band issues after running a marathon (it actually hit me around mile 15!!!). I went to physical therapy and they recommended the foam roller. I used it there and almost cried it hurt soooo bad. I think I only used it for a couple minutes the first time.

I still use it trying to keep the IT injury away, it's awesome for getting a deep massage in the bands/ tendons. I highly recommend them!
 
You're welcome, Kathryn. I'm just tickled pink to have had any kind of input to give you. You're the one always handing out good advice to the rest of us, Ms. Decathelete! :D
 
LaughingWater said:
Was/Is anyone sore after just starting to use the foam roller? I think I have a little DOMS. (I'm being gentle too.)
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I definitely wasn't sore at all. I remember wondering if it counted as a triceps workout since I was trying SO hard to hold myself up to make it easier when I was rolling my legs. But nope, no DOMS. You didn't try any new workout that day? Or push yourself further since you just felt so loose and wonderful? :D
 
LauraR said:
You're welcome, Kathryn. I'm just tickled pink to have had any kind of input to give you. You're the one always handing out good advice to the rest of us, Ms. Decathelete! :D
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LOL!

(I'm currentlly working on seeing if there is a title beyond "decathelete";)).
 
LaughingWater said:
Was/Is anyone sore after just starting to use the foam roller? I think I have a little DOMS. (I'm being gentle too.)
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I can't remember (definitely sore DURING, but not after as I recall).

I think with deep foam rolling, as with massage, it's a good idea to drink a lot of water, to flush out toxins that may be released from the muscle during the work. That's the advice I've gotten whenever getting a massage.

For DOMS, a nice soak in a bath with Epsom salts is wonderful. (If you're more ambitious: Epsom salts with ginger and clay).
 
Another believer here! Great for ITB problems -- I swear this is the only thing that has been instrumental for me getting back into running with all my IT band issues. Got mine at Target for about $20-25 - money very well spent!

Lots of good youtube videos on instruction...

Heidi
 
I haven't had any DOMS either, but ditto to the pain in the rest of my body trying to hold myself up! :D I was actually wondering if I got credit for a CORE workout--that's where it gets me, rather than the triceps.

Laughing Water, my only guess on the DOMS is that it's the fact that you're using PVC rather than foam. I can't imagine . . . it's painful enough on the foam roller! You're brave. Or, as Nadja Z said, maybe you happened to have done a new workout that day. But no DOMS for me--only during.
 
kathryn said:
Is that Australia?

(I don't know where you're at, but Australians seem to have some pretty cool ideas for exercise and incorporating tools in ways we don't...yet)
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Hi, just log on here after a long while away. I am from Singapore and most of us here actually use Michael Boyle's functional exercise to train our core first before doing lifting weights. It makes really lots of difference. Core stability is so important if one want to be sure to do well in lifting weights without injury. It was from there that we learned about foam rolling too.

For foam rollers, they come in different density. Mine is a very hard one because I wanted it to last a long time. Got to warn you that it is really painful using the high density roller but once you are used to it, the lighter roller does not give the same kick anymore.

Hope it helps to explain here.

Shelly
 
Foam rollers

You can actually view online on youtube on how to do foamrolling without buying any dvds. It is actually very easy after a while. Here is a link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCIHZsESxOU.

Also, you can use tennis balls, golf balls, baseballs instead of foam rollers too. I use all of those for different parts of the body. You can foam roll before and after workout or when you have stiff joint pain. I had very tight knee joint problem after workout and I used to use a tennis ball to go over the front and back of the thigh to release all the tension for the knee pain.

Here is the link to learn how to use the tennis ball to roll.
http://laurensfitness.com/2008/02/24/tennis-ball-part-1-a-tool-you-never-knew-you-had/

Cheers
 
Shellynfree said:
Also, you can use tennis balls, golf balls, baseballs instead of foam rollers too. I use all of those for different parts of the body.
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Golf balls? I've tried tennis balls, and that was a bit much (though they are wonderful to roll ones foot over. In one foam-rolling DVD, the instructor shows how flexibility to touch the toes is improved immediately just by rolling the feet on a tennis ball. I've tried it, and it works!).

You are a hard-core, advanced-rolling machine!
Ouch...hurts just thinking about it!
 
Is it hard to manoeuvre yourself around on a foam-roller when working on your back? I've got Petrone Balls & you just lie still on those and wait for something to happen!:)

Emma
 
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