Foam Roller?

[TiredOldMan]

I've read quite a few posts on here which mention a foam roller. Google just tries to sell me one, so can any of you tell me what one does and is it worth an old codger (who is just trying to get to the end of the program) buying one?

Thanks in advance

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Loads of folk extol the value... I don't have one, because they look scary and my legs seem fine.. But I feel advice may head your way

[TiredOldMan Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss. Yes they do look scary don't they?

I'm just getting impatient for my next run tomorrow and trawling the forums (instead of working ) the roller caught my eye as a few people have them.

[Rignold]

ypu soothe and caress your muscles with the silken balm of the foam roller's touch.

While singing out the most colourful phrases you have collected in your lifetime to express the deep joy it is releasing.

Foam rollers are for myo-fascial release. It's like self-sports massage.

Do you need it? It depends whether your muscles are ever stiff or sore. If yes then yes.

Are you too old for it? No, quite the opposite. The older you are the greater the benefit is likely to be.

is it worth it? A decent foam roller will set you back somewhere between £8-15. The price of a bottle of wine or two. It may significantly reduce muscle aches and improve your long term mobility. in terms of ROI, that s not bad.

There are loads of videos and tutorials on YouTube on the subject. This is just one I pulled off the first page:

youtube.com/watch?v=Xw2sQK3...(Not working as expected?)

[TiredOldMan Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Thanks Rignold. That's very helpful of you. I would have tried YouTube but I thought it best to use you good people as a kind of 'Spam' filter.

Much appreciated

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Haha! I love my foam rollers and have three. I have a very complicated relationship with them 😏 but they have ironed out little niggles over the years and I couldn't do without them now.

Start off with a smooth one and once you get used to that then the next stage is a nobbly one, after that I think it's a length of steel piping from B&Q 😖

Do you need one? You don't know until you try but a piece of advice - try it first alone at home and be prepared to cry 😩

[TiredOldMan Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Oh... painful are they? I'll wait for my first lot of niggles then. Or should I get one in readiness?

First world problems hey?

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to TiredOldMan]

If you're a runner then you're going to need one at some stage. But if you don't want to invest in a roller just yet then try sitting on a tennis ball or golf ball 😖 If you scream then you need a foam roller.

[TiredOldMan Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Ha ha thanks, I'll try it

[misswobble Graduate]

I only got one as per my physio. 15 quid I think. Turquoise 😃 No nobbles

I used it as per instruction too! Don't roll the side of your knee or inflamed tissue. You work up toward inflamed tissue, and away from. I could only foam roll once my inflamed tissue had abated

Take care. Use wisely 🙂

[Millsie-J Graduate]

I have one, due to tight calves and a whole lot of other niggles i got one quite early on. Its a love hate thing, I love that it does the job, hate that it is painful. But as my PT /Yogi / Osteo-massager son says, the roller takes out the pain, it doesnt put it in there. Mind you he says that when he gives me a sports massage too! So i would say start using one sooner than later, before the pain sets in!

Here's a thing, at DW Sport £18 in the sale. Absolutely same thing at Aldi, £8. The DW one went back.

Too old.....never! Im 60 now and use it regularly. Loads of instruction on Youtube.

Enjoy!