Anyone use a foam roller for loosening their muscles?

TimmyO

Was wondering about getting one - anyone used one and give it a thumbs up? 

kuro

Use one a couple of times a week. Hurts like hell if you do it right.
I also use a hard tennis ball type thing to really focus on smaller areas like the spine side of my shoulder blades.
Hurts just as much.
Wait till you try rolling the IT band. Have someone video you. For educational purposes, natch.

Gassage

Yes- fabulous, and also good for warming down. Make sure you get right hardness and diameter for your weight.

TimmyO

ta. I'm 15.5 - 16 stone - what does that mean re required size? 

ThorpyFX

TimmyO said:

Was wondering about getting one - anyone used one and give it a thumbs up? 

yes, i use one on my lower back after a deadlift session, cannot recommend it highly enough. really gets the knots out.

axisus

I got some but can't really get on with them. Seems like too much of a faff. Used for a week, put away for 6 months.

TimmyO

kuro said:

Use one a couple of times a week. Hurts like hell if you do it right.
I also use a hard tennis ball type thing to really focus on smaller areas like the spine side of my shoulder blades.
Hurts just as much.
Wait till you try rolling the IT band. Have someone video you. For educational purposes, natch.

you roll muscles not tendons - even I know that. Nice try :-) 

Gassage

TimmyO said:

ta. I'm 15.5 - 16 stone - what does that mean re required size? 

This is the firm one

http://www.physioroom.com/product/PhysioRoom.com_Elite_Dual_Density_Foam_Roller_15_x_45cm/3437/39382.html

octatonic

I have a couple- they are great (read: painful) to use after running.

guitarfishbay

Yes. I've got a the grid, it's fantastic.

mcsdan

Yes, all the time.

Good set of videos here how to use them

Emp_Fab

@Grunfeld  Oli - I get aches in my calves and down the front and outer sides of my thighs in the evenings only.  It's down to the statins I'm on.  Would something like this help do you think ?  Ta Mucka. ;-)

Grunfeld

@Emp_Fab ;; I think it's "suck it and see" I'm afraid.  Some patients swear by them and it won't do any harm.  Statins are known for that.

With the other stuff mentioned on here plantar fascia problems are frequently down to a mechanical overload problem; and ITB problems can possibly be linked to a couple of the hip abductors not working optimally so, if those are implicated then I generally see best results by getting the patient to sort that out rather than foam rolling, ice rolling etc. But rolling is without side effects as far as I know -- just pain.  Some people like it!

Sambostar

No, I use a hairbrush to scratch my arse with though.  I find it very relaxing.

Nitefly

Sambostar said:

No, I use a hairbrush to scratch my arse with though.  I find it very relaxing.

... and a bottle-brush for the Chalfonts 

snakemanStoo

I use one after all exercise.  I swear both at it and by it.

Sambostar

Nitefly said:

Sambostar said:

No, I use a hairbrush to scratch my arse with though.  I find it very relaxing.

... and a bottle-brush for the Chalfonts 

Damn I thought I was special, guess I'm just getting old.

Hootsmon

TTBZ

I get really bad knee pains sometimes and I've heard rollers help, kinda scared to try it though as I think it's my IT band!

TimmyO

TTBZ said:

I get really bad knee pains sometimes and I've heard rollers help, kinda scared to try it though as I think it's my IT band!

I used to get IT band trouble when I did a half marathon. 

I've been reading up on foam rollers today - make sure you don't roll your actual IT band - work the muscles higher up that attach to it

pintspiller

Does.it work for ham strings? I thought my arthritis had got to me knees, but Podiatrist assures me I just have tight ham strings.