foam rolling

[bigDman]

I have gotten to the point where I feel nothing while foam rolling. Like the only time I feel anything is when I am extremely sore from starting a new program and foam roll or I have a specific injury. Should I even bother foam rolling if I don't feel anything? Should I just foam roll specific injuries and when I'm sore or should I keep doing it all the time even if I don't feel anything

[jvernacchio]

Reduce the amount of times you are doing it per week you are at the point most people want to achieve when it comes to foam rolling.

[Phaedrus49er]

Or get a sturdier/harder roller. I had to go from a standard foam roller to one with a PVC pipe core. Rarely a rolling session when I don't hit some good spots

[Rawgrip]

Progression. once i passed past foam rolling i started using a tennis ball, golf balls etc..

[justinbass]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

Or get a sturdier/harder roller. I had to go from a standard foam roller to one with a PVC pipe core. Rarely a rolling session when I don't hit some good spots

These are great!

[bigDman]

I use PVC pipe and lacrosse balls already :-P

[Kevin T.]

Stick with it! Things can quickly go downhill, especially being an in season athlete, as you are. I've been negligent and haven't foam rolled in a few weeks. One week into the regular season, and already I'm ridiculously tight in my hamstrings and my legs feel sore as anything. While it may not feel like you're not making progress, you're preventing your body from regressing back to a tighter state. I'd stick with it during the season.

[bigDman]

Originally Posted by Kevin T.

Stick with it! Things can quickly go downhill, especially being an in season athlete, as you are. I've been negligent and haven't foam rolled in a few weeks. One week into the regular season, and already I'm ridiculously tight in my hamstrings and my legs feel sore as anything. While it may not feel like you're not making progress, you're preventing your body from regressing back to a tighter state. I'd stick with it during the season.

very good point. Just what I was looking for

[Rawgrip]

If you have the money and know a good physiotherapist get some myofascial release done, it works wonders compared to the DIY crap.

[dmw]

Originally Posted by bigDman

I use PVC pipe and lacrosse balls already :-P

Then I think you should use a steel bar and rocks.

[bigDman]

Originally Posted by Rawgrip

If you have the money and know a good physiotherapist get some myofascial release done, it works wonders compared to the DIY crap.

yea I'm a poor teenager. Not happening

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

Or get a sturdier/harder roller. I had to go from a standard foam roller to one with a PVC pipe core. Rarely a rolling session when I don't hit some good spots

No. John Izzo posted a piece a while back on NOT going to more resistant rollers. I agreed with it. The idea is to crush out the knots, break up the scar tissue and adhesion...not flatten the muscle or beat it down like you would tenderize a steak.

If it's not hurting, you're doing good. Reduce it to fewer times a week.

[Mon]

have you tried using a softball to roll?

[Kevin T.]

Originally Posted by Cynic

No. John Izzo posted a piece a while back on NOT going to more resistant rollers. I agreed with it. The idea is to crush out the knots, break up the scar tissue and adhesion...not flatten the muscle or beat it down like you would tenderize a steak.

If it's not hurting, you're doing good. Reduce it to fewer times a week.

This is my opinion, based a lot on my personal experiences: Paul is an athlete, and a big one at that: 6', 215. I know personally that a normal foam roller does nothing for me anymore. I could roll all day and the knots will still be there. I switched up to a PVC pipe and the knots go away. PVC pipe, baseballs, and lax balls work for me; the foam doesn't. I do recall reading John Izzo's piece, but my take is that, for the normal everyday lifter, a foam roller is more than enough. For others, however, sometimes more is needed, which is where the PVC and lax balls come into play.

[Phaedrus49er]

Originally Posted by Kevin T.

This is my opinion, based a lot on my personal experiences: Paul is an athlete, and a big one at that: 6', 215. I know personally that a normal foam roller does nothing for me anymore. I could roll all day and the knots will still be there. I switched up to a PVC pipe and the knots go away. PVC pipe, baseballs, and lax balls work for me; the foam doesn't. I do recall reading John Izzo's piece, but my take is that, for the normal everyday lifter, a foam roller is more than enough. For others, however, sometimes more is needed, which is where the PVC and lax balls come into play.

+1

I'm not pin-rolling my muscles into pancakes per se--it really does take something a little firmer than just foam to work my knots out. My foam roller acquired the consistency of merely a tightly-rolled bath towel from overuse

[pjb923]

I know you are beyond this point, but for others reading this thread there is a nice half way point between a regular foam roller and straight PVC.

It's a PVC core with a 1" thick foam covering. It may be more expensive than a standard roller, but I have been using mine semi-regularly for 2 years now and it has shown almost no signs of wear.
Product - Foam Roller Plus

[Phaedrus49er]

Originally Posted by pjb923

I know you are beyond this point, but for others reading this thread there is a nice half way point between a regular foam roller and straight PVC.

It's a PVC core with a 1" thick foam covering. It may be more expensive than a standard roller, but I have been using mine semi-regularly for 2 years now and it has shown almost no signs of wear.
Product - Foam Roller Plus

That's what I have. I <3 it.