| jakethefake |
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So a bunch of my running friends have been trying to convince me to start rolling my muscles/tendons with a pvc pipe/rolling pin/foam roller after runs. My question is, is this just a fad or is there any merit to this? Does this help prevent/heal injuries? Most of what I have read doesn't seem very scientific. So I am on the fence as to whether I want to start this? |
| boomheadshot |
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My IT band says "Yay." |
| Mr. Dr. Professor. Patrick |
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yay |
| havana |
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You are fcuking crazy of you're NOT foam rolling imo. |
| Middle Distance Coach |
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Not everything in life has a scientific basis that can always be proved. Give it a try and see for yourself. |
| simply orange |
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1) I was introduced to foam rolling by physicians and PTs who work on Olympic athletes. 2) It works for my IT Band, quads and tight calves. That trumps "science." Tip: buy the black/hard foam roller, not the softer white one. Tip 2: try a lacrosse ball for more concentrated pressure. |
| Los Soles |
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Pretty standard practice at all different levels: certainly more than a "fad." But apparently there is recent research that suggests it doesn't seem to do much. I haven't read enough of the research from either camp to really know. But I've definitely heard numerous examples of runners who swear it helped them. I've felt like it releases tightness in hot-spots when I hold it there, but a tennis ball or self-massage sometimes works just as well or better depending on the spot. |
| prajna101 |
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Absolutely! It is the only thing that works for my IT band. If you are crying, you are doing it right. Todd My blog: http://staggerforwardrejoicing.com Ultrarunning & Parenting: There is no finish line. |
| agip |
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yay. I had to cut runs short, run in pain until I started foam rolling. I am a convert. Foam roller is a real person. |
| rollin' |
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foam roller: meh trigger point roller: absolutely |
| Boyahz |
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I do it, and have done it semi-regularly for the last 1.5 years. I'm still undecided about how effective it is for IT problems. I had ITbS in high school. PT + massage weren't that helpful. I was still dealing with it 6+ months after first having it. Nowadays, I do hip exercises, stretches, rolling etc but the ITbs seems like it comes and goes as it pleases. |
| WD40 |
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If you do enough of it, you'll get a good core workout. Core strength helps prevent injury. There's the science! |
| Clam Evans |
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It's spelled "yea". Do you really think when Congress is taking votes they are deciding between "no" and "yippee"? |
| boyahz |
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Re: 'its science' There a many possible mechanism that cause ITBS. Weak hips being one of them, but whether or not foam rolling or hip exercises work will depend on the specific mechanism. This guy thinks it is often range of motion issues that lead to overloading the IT...Particularly in the ankle and hip flexor. http://www.mobilitywod.com/2012/01/episode-361-pathomechanics-and-it-band-hell.html And again, I've done the standard PT stuff and still struggled with it for months after. I've even had periods when I wasn't having ITBS, doing lots of core work and then ITBS starts back suddently. When I first did the PT in highschool my hips were very weak. I could barely do 15 reps of lateral leg lifts. After a few months of PT (and virtually no running) and working up to doing sets of 30 reps with 5 lbs weights strapped to my ankles (and getting regular IT massages) I was still having problems. 2 years ago, I started foam rolling regularly hoping that would be a magic bullet but it wasn't (possibly b/c the IT band won't actually stretch, and the real issue is biomechanical) |
| boyahz |
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| wait wait. |
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I like the RumbleRoller http://www.rumbleroller.com/ Smooth rollers just don't do it for me any more. |
| Skeptic4 |
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Gonna go ahead and back up foam rolling, using a lacrosse ball for tighter areas, and the mwods (despite their crossfit themed approach). |