Hi Susan,

I have started using a foam roller and it does seem to help loosen the muscles, there are various excercises that you can find quite easily on the internet.

However, the use of one is not a substitute for stretching. They simulate a massage and help loosen the muscles you have but do not lengthen them in the way stretching does.

I am only reiterating what I have read on websites, if you find out anything different please let me know...

Cheers

Hi Trig

Thanks for sharing the info you have found out, I will bear that in mind and remember to stretch as well if I buy one.

It takes time to do them properly and it can be really quite uncomfortable as the rollor isnt soft as you would imagine more like a rollong pin just bigger

Did mine yesterday and feel less knotted today

mike G

They are good but it is a self-torture activity!

I have the black beastly rumbleroller. I have to say I do mine twice a week, the quads are the worst. What is annoying is I never feel any better for it either during or immediately afterwards so never know if I have done it correctly.

Agree with Trig - Compliments stretching.

I'm entirely in agreement; they're great, a good form of self torture, and they do the job after a good stretch, of getting the knots out!

I've only been using one for a few days, but it seems to be doing what it says it's meant to!

Enjoy :S

Tracey.

They are very good, as others have said they replicate a massage.

You should always roll towards the heart.

If you want a particular level of torture do your IT band, takes a bit of practice to get into the position for it. Hurts like I don't know what though!

Enjoy the release :)

I have recently purchased one and it hurt like hell...in a weirdly good way. I think it is going to be very beneficial!

McFluff's Top Tip of the day:  Using a Foam Roller is NOT a spectator sport.  

Really, make sure you are in no danger of being observed when Foam Rolling - it is a most inelegant activity. LOL

BUT it is a great way of ironing out tight spots in hard-working muscles.  It seems to work best if you're warmed up to start with, and do some proper stretches of the rolled muscles afterwards.  If a particular muscle doesn't hurt when you foam-roll it, you didn't need to do it!

I got a roller for Christmas and use it regularly now.  I did find some rather painful spots the first couple of times!  Luckily it's been fairly painless since then.  Like Mcfluff says, you should stretch after doing the foam roller, so I do workout, roller and then stretch.

Oh, I've only rolled muscles so far, not tried the ITB - that might hurt!  Need to look up info on that.  Is it a good idea to foam roller the ITB?  I do see it mentioned often, but it isn't a muscle and isn't the foam roller intended to massage muscles?

I have done it as this is what I have most trouble with on long runs. Hurt like I don't know what but certainly felt better afterwards.