Foam rollers

[Road ride]

When I first read about using a foam roller for muscle soreness I could not believe that they would be any good. But after some long rides and gym sessions my calfs and IT Band where quite painful so I invested in one.
It soon arrived and I started to massage my sore muscles to say that it hurts when you first start is a understatement in fact I thought I was using it wrong It hurt so much. But after a few sessions on the roller the knots in my muscles were starting to release and now I really enjoy using it. I would say that it is no replacement for a professional sports massage but like most people I can't afford them every time I ride.
Don't know if anyone else has tried it on here but well worth giving a go if you suffer from sore legs, Mine is a trigger point Grid but there are lots of others out there too.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I have one. They look like torture devices. I use it every now and again.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I have one. They look like torture devices. I use it every now and again.

 

[Road ride]

I have one. They look like torture devices. I use it every now and again.

Did yours hurt too at first ?

 

[Yellow Fang]

Did yours hurt too at first ?

Yes, it did let up a bit after several days, but it's a chore and I can't be bothered doing it every day. I can do it for a minute or two on each leg, and that's about as much as I can do. 1) It hurts, 2) I get bored, 3) there's only so long I can hold myself up on my side on my elbow.
If you can be bothered to use the roller every day then it would probably loosen up your muscles quite well. Otherwise, a sports massage every several weeks would work better.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Had to google 'foam rollers'

I thought you meant for bike rollers :/

That would be torture

 

[jarlrmai]

The physio/biomechanics world is split on whether they actually do any good for the IT band.

For muscle release I tend to roll on a tennis ball.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

The physio/biomechanics world is split on whether they actually do any good for the IT band.

For muscle release I tend to roll on a tennis ball.

Did a great job on mine just now. Then again - so did the burly football club sport therapist on thursday night.

 

[jarlrmai]

The placebo effect caused by experiencing the discomfort of the rolling followed by the relief of not rolling anymore is often cited as a reason why people believe rolling to be effective, there is evidence that this "no pain no gain" attitude makes us believe some activities are more beneficial than they actually are.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Yeah it's all a placebo

 

[ayceejay]

So what do I get a foam roller or a placebo

 

[Road ride]

The placebo effect caused by experiencing the discomfort of the rolling followed by the relief of not rolling anymore is often cited as a reason why people believe rolling to be effective, there is evidence that this "no pain no gain" attitude makes us believe some activities are more beneficial than they actually are.

Yeah but it's not like that with rolling at first your Leg or the muscle that you work is sore but after a few days you can just find little knots that are sore and roll them out. Next day after a long ride then rolling my legs are not sore at all.
Like when you have a sports massage if done correct you really know you have had one cos the hurt but after wards your muscles feel fantastic and I would not call a sports massage a placebo.

 

[Road ride]

Had to google 'foam rollers'

I thought you meant for bike rollers :/

That would be torture

That would be funny

 

[jarlrmai]

Yeah but it's not like that with rolling at first your Leg or the muscle that you work is sore but after a few days you can just find little knots that are sore and roll them out. Next day after a long ride then rolling my legs are not sore at all.
Like when you have a sports massage if done correct you really know you have had one cos the hurt but after wards your muscles feel fantastic and I would not call a sports massage a placebo.

I'm talking about IT band only, muscles do benefit from rolling, I tend to use a tennis ball.

 

[Road ride]

I'm talking about IT band only, muscles do benefit from rolling, I tend to use a tennis ball.

Ah sorry yeah I would agree with that I think the IT band is to deep to really benefit from rolling but I do think that rolling the area of the IT band massages the soft tissue around the area making feel a little better . I will give the tennis ball a go cos the roller can be awkward in places