Foam roller - should it be this painful!?

Funky_Monkey7

Oscar - you're incorrect re lactic acid. It's breaking down muscle tissue. If you're foam rolling your ITB along the outside of the thigh, it's usually very tight and will be more painful than most other parts. The pain will ease with time as the tissues are looser.

butterfly72

Funky_Monkey7 wrote: »

If you're foam rolling your ITB along the outside of the thigh, it's usually very tight and will be more painful than most other parts. The pain will ease with time as the tissues are looser.

Reading about the ITB, there are plenty of people (out in cyber space) who don't advocate rolling the ITB but instead either side of it. I think the reason behind this, is that the band should be tight as its supportive. Bit confused now! Any suggestions anyone?

FacelessNumber

butterfly72 wrote: »

Reading about the ITB, there are plenty of people (out in cyber space) who don't advocate rolling the ITB but instead either side of it. I think the reason behind this, is that the band should be tight as its supportive. Bit confused now! Any suggestions anyone?

Hi

I am a physio and I often get people to roll the ITB - it can still get trigger points in and this can lead to hip and knee pain so worth releasing them!

fufu_banterwaite

On the opposite end of the scale I bought a foam roller last week (a decent one I think with hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon) and have started using it. I don’t find it painful at all, certainly not on my calves or hammies, and only slightly painful on my ITB.

Does this mean it isn’t worth me using it?

Indie_Kid

fufu_banterwaite wrote: »

On the opposite end of the scale I bought a foam roller last week (a decent one I think with hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon) and have started using it. I don’t find it painful at all, certainly not on my calves or hammies, and only slightly painful on my ITB.

Does this mean it isn’t worth me using it?

You're probably not using it properly. Nah, in all seriousness, you may be ok without using it.

That being said, I don't always find it painful. A tad uncomfortable maybe; but not painful.

EmmyJane_3

When I use my foam roller its sometimes painful, sometimes it's just a little uncomfortable.

I rollered my calves the day after a 35 mile day walk and it was pure agony. Rollered them a few days letter and it was just uncomfortable. I guess it probably just depends on how tight your muscles are.

fufu_banterwaite

I guess mine can't be that tight. Even after a 30 mile run I didn't really feel anything.

yessie1209

Are foam rollers expensive? What exactly do they do?

donglemouse

price is probably from £10 up - take a look at amazon for prices/range

the idea is they replicate a deep tissue massage but without the cost/hassle of getting a physio to do it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foam_roller