Foam rollers any use?

G-Money

A certain little birdy who shall remain nameless has suggested I use a foam roller for my tight quads. It's also been suggested to me in the past that tight quads can be part of the reason for a lot of knee injuries and niggles and the like.

I've never used one of these things before. Are they any good and in your experience has it helped prevent injury?

emerald007

Best 20 quid I ever spent was on my foam roller.

McCruiskeen

This might just be the single best thing I have ever bought.

Works out all those little niggles you get. I don't know specifically about tight quads but I would expect that this would really help.

There are some great videos available on Youtube on how to use a foam roller for different parts of the body.

greenplain

Foam rollers are wonderful things

RubyK

I get a niggley right quad now and again. I find the foam roller a must after every run. I also find quad guards great for recovery

http://www.simplyrun.co.uk/products/brands-compressport/jul1159-compressport-compression-quad-guard-(quad-black).html

BeepBeep67

Essential piece of kit and you can combine self massage with core work.
Good techniques here also: http://www.youtube.com/user/tptherapyAU

rom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJLxruO3su0 Excellent, if it hurts it works

G-Money

Where can you buy these online? Did a quick search of Wiggle and didnt see any...

Taltos

Got mine too late to prevent my knee injury - been off the road now on and off for the guts of a year. Any of my mates that run I am constantly at them to get one. So far no-one has listened to me though

If your thigh is tight - watch out the first time you use one. Let's just say the air was blue with my exhaltations. As someone else above said - best 20squid I have spent in a while.

CardinalJ

G-Money wrote: »

Where can you buy these online? Did a quick search of Wiggle and didnt see any...

Just ordered one off physiosupplies.ie

dev123

Foam rollers will eventually soften over time. The Grid from Triggerpoint is pretty much indestructible. I got it for itbs and have started using it on the calves and quads. At 50 quid it ain't cheap but it will outlast 10 foam rollers. And I haven't seen a physio for the itbs since

The Bad Pawn

Foam Roller = great investment. (there's an element of pain involved, but it's worth it! )

G-Money

There seems to be short and long rollers. Which type should I go for if using them on my quads?

The Bad Pawn

Not too sure re: the specific measurements of other rollers, but the one I use is about 1.5/2 feet in length and works very well for both my quads and calves. (to clarify - not at the same time - I do one each side:)

RacoonQueen

If you're just doing your legs the short one should be fine. You only do one leg at a time anyway. The longer ones can be used in pilates and to work on your back.

TFBubendorfer

This might cause offence, but what the heck.

What you really need to do is lose some significant amount of weight. Using foam rollers, or anything else for that matter, will never get to the root of the issue.

Oryx

I have a long one, my only problem is I dont use it enough. Great things, they do what a physio does, but cheaper.

McCruiskeen

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

This might cause offence, but what the heck.

What you really need to do is lose some significant amount of weight. Using foam rollers, or anything else for that matter, will never get to the root of the issue.

I don't think you know what a foam roller is. It is for smoothing out and massaging muscles. It has nothing to do with weight loss.

dernipper

I think they are a huge benefit and certainly help but important to note that they should only be one component part of an overall stretching regime I.E dont skip the stretching and substitute a session with the foam roller instead, talking from experience as I sometime have a tendency to do this when pushed for time god forgive me lazy !!

G-Money wrote: »

A certain little birdy who shall remain nameless has suggested I use a foam roller for my tight quads. It's also been suggested to me in the past that tight quads can be part of the reason for a lot of knee injuries and niggles and the like.

I've never used one of these things before. Are they any good and in your experience has it helped prevent injury?

TFBubendorfer

McCruiskeen wrote: »

I don't think you know what a foam roller is. It is for smoothing out and massaging muscles. It has nothing to do with weight loss.

Just how stupid do you think I am? :mad:

I know what a foam roller is. My point is that his muscle problems are caused by excess weight, and no amount of massage is going to fix that problem.

McCruiskeen

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Just how stupid do you think I am? :mad:

I know what a foam roller is. My point is that his muscle problems are caused by excess weight, and no amount of massage is going to fix that problem.

I never said you were stupid

I don't think many muscle problems are caused by excess weight.

What do you mean by excess weight? On your muscles? I have no fat at all on my legs like a lot of runners and find the foam roller great so I don't understand what you mean by excess weight?

RacoonQueen

McCruiskeen wrote: »

I never said you were stupid

I don't think many muscle problems are caused by excess weight.

What do you mean by excess weight? On your muscles? I have no fat at all on my legs like a lot of runners and find the foam roller great so I don't understand what you mean by excess weight?

The thread starter is very open about the fact he is overweight. TBF is suggesting his knee problems are caused by this rather than tight muscles.

McCruiskeen

RacoonQueen wrote: »

The thread starter is very open about the fact he is overweight. TBF is suggesting his knee problems are caused by this rather than tight muscles.

The OP didn't state this in his post. I don't automatically know the BMI of everyone on boards so it just seemed strange why weight was brought up.

Anyway this is off topic and pointless so ciao!

TFBubendorfer

McCruiskeen wrote: »

The OP didn't state this in his post. I don't automatically know the BMI of everyone on boards so it just seemed strange why weight was brought up.

No, the OP did not say that in this thread, but he is very open and honest about it in another one. That's why I came up with my previous statement.

I don't think many muscle problems are caused by excess weight.

Well, I do. We just have to disagree on that one.

dahat

I use wavvin pipe.........that really hurts,theory is the same though..

Just curious OP how much excess are you carrying?It was also suggested to me to shift weight too as this will solve all my running problems,they may be right but it is a bit of a general statement.
I know a lad who is 10.5 stone, 6 ft who has all the same injuries i have so weight alone will not solve your injury woes.......

GKiraly

I use wavvin pipe.........that really hurts,theory is the same though..

+1
I use wavvin pipe too, far better than foam rollers IMO, gets in harder and does the job. Best 20 quid I ever spent on sorting out my ITB, quad/knee trouble, and it was spent in a hardware store! Havent had any trouble with ITB or quad/knee since.

Id also suggest accompanying this with some quad stretches, kneeling quad stretch I find hits the spot perfectly, except I add to it by then raising my heel up towards my ass and holding

dahat

GKiraly wrote: »

+1
I use wavvin pipe too, far better than foam rollers IMO, gets in harder and does the job. Best 20 quid I ever spent on sorting out my ITB, quad/knee trouble, and it was spent in a hardware store! Havent had any trouble with ITB or quad/knee since.

Id also suggest accompanying this with some quad stretches, kneeling quad stretch I find hits the spot perfectly, except I add to it by then raising my heel up towards my ass and holding

I robbed mine from work!!!....do you use 4" or 6"?I am still at the really really hurts stage,hard to bear it for more than 10 over and back rolls...

GKiraly

I robbed mine from work!!!....do you use 4" or 6"?I am still at the really really hurts stage,hard to bear it for more than 10 over and back rolls...

You're hittin the spot so! I was like that for a while when I first started, especially certain parts of the ITB and quad but the physio told me stick with it coz thats a sign of the pipe getting to work on the trouble spots, now it doesnt bother me at all, my gait has improved drastically and injuries reduced dramatically!! im using the 6" one, I use it few times a week, even just for a few minutes, keep everything softened out.

dahat

GKiraly wrote: »

You're hittin the spot so! I was like that for a while when I first started, especially certain parts of the ITB and quad but the physio told me stick with it coz thats a sign of the pipe getting to work on the trouble spots, now it doesnt bother me at all, my gait has improved drastically and injuries reduced dramatically!! im using the 6" one, I use it few times a week, even just for a few minutes, keep everything softened out.

Glad it worked out for ya,encouragement for me to keep going then,i suppose it has to hurt really to have any sort of effect.
When i get back running it will be worth the totrture of it.........

couerdelion

Oryx wrote: »

I have a long one, my only problem is I dont use it enough.

I have that problem too

Cartman78

Bought a foam roller about 6 weeks ago and would recommend it 1,000,000%

Used to go for maintenance trips to physio every few weeks when glutes and calves tightened up but haven't had to do this since investing in a foam roller.

Would also highly recommend using foam practice golf balls for massaging the soles of your feet, toes etc.

Perfect for use in the office and have found that you can even get a glute/ITB massage in too if you can get the angles right

Sport101

Cartman78 wrote: »

Perfect for use in the office and have found that you can even get a glute/ITB massage in too if you can get the angles right

If you don't mind everyone in the office thinking you have bad piles that is!

Cartman78

Sport101 wrote: »

If you don't mind everyone in the office thinking you have bad piles that is!

True....but I've long since gone past caring what everyone in my office thinks

People still seemed stunned and amazed that I make my own lunches and eat fruit rather than eating reheated slops from the greasy spoon canteen.