Self Treatment with the foam roller by Wholistic PT

[rmoorefit]

I love mine!  Just keep it in the family room and you will remember to use it more and so will the rest of the family!

[Helios601]

in the process just producing an anelgesic affect, why, you tel us? a degree? a little more than that friend.

[Helios601]

@Ebonius- You really do need to educate yourself, you need someone to explain to you what reconditioning skeletel muscle means? this in inself tells me everything, YOU CANNOT BEAT MUSCLE INTO SUBMISSION! it will contract against the pressure therefore serving to aggrivate the underlying hypertonic spastic muscle, you first need need to bypasse stretch relflex mechanism which I'm guessign you know nothig about, anyone who knows about muscle physiology will know foam rollers just mash muscle

[Helios601]

A foam roller can never re-condition skeletal muscle, the more I studied muscle physiology I understood this, I fully recommend 'Thomas Griner' for anyone who wants to know how to treat hypertonic muscle spasm and a foam roller aint the way.

[Ebonius]

@Helios601 What do you mean "re-condition"? And instead of referring to someone else, why don't you tell us where and when you got your degree in physical therapy, sports medicine, exercise science or anything related to what you are saying. The US Olympic Training Facilities at Colorado Springs, Colo., and at Chula Vista, Calif., both use foam rollers as pre and post exercise conditioning. I'll stick with them.

[canitasteyou321]

hi there when i do these exercises, i feel extremely tight and restrictive in all areas of the quads, thighs, etc. and i find these exercises excrutiatingly painful. i am able to hold on the spots for over 3 minutes(despite being very painful) but they don't release. is there anything im doing wrong?

[askaboutRudyV]

@canitasteyou321 Are you warming up for like 5 minutes or so before you start, stretching and/or foam rolling is much more painful when you don't warm up a little bit beforehand, it's usually kind of dangerous, well stretching is dangerous if you overstretch AND don't warmup beforehand, I'm new to foam rollers, I'm going to buy a firm one soon.

[krytosss]

great and thorough video. i like how you clearly explain how to do it, and also show what to avoid.

[jccorona]

Saw your vid less than 2 months ago. Had a very painful hip/groin issue culminating from botched foot operation (changed gait, scar tissue,etc.) Suffered 15 years. Any prolonged weight-bearing exercise caused painful limp. . Began doing SMR the minute I saw your vid. I knew the concept, but had never heard the "hold it for two minutes" piece. I have had a miraculous recovery. ON THE FIRST day, I was improved and now I am almost as good as new. Thank you!!!! I can lie on my side. I can dance!!!

[CoralBalmoral]

South Africa? Zimbabwe?

[GWEBITYALA]

@CoralBalmoral My guess is that he's a South African ex-pat working very hard at laundering out his accent. Pity... said as an ex-pat myself. Good video though

[GWEBITYALA]

@CoralBalmoral Perhaps my comment's unfair. Apparently Americans don't understand you if you speak with a different accent.

[lila5291]

try putting pillow or another foam roller under you ankle and or shin to take the weight off the quad. its a matter of Gentle pressure spread over the width of the muslce, the Trigger points that you feel as being hypersensitive areas need to allow blood flow, and relaxation.

[kc243243]

how long does it take to heal with the roller?

[Xplodz]

The quad roll is extremely painfull for me. I can't relax when doing it and even if I hold it for as long as I can, the muscles don't release because my quads automaticly flex because of the pain.

[Squabbles10]

Same here no matter how long i try !!

[markspeeps]

Keep going but lighter and be persistence you will loosen up. Go slow and do it often.

[lila5291]

If you are tensing too much to relax, this is counter productive. Those large bumps are usually scar tissue due to blows, or excessive muscle tears and lack of proper healing times. Either way, you can get these to really become pliable with Castor oil massage before the foam roller (This is not a miracle worker, but allows for more depth in the muscle to be obtained) When in doubt take the foam roller to a gym, or PT, Massage therapist and they can show you first hand how to use it.

[SilverMeh]

Im in really bad pain on my butt and thighs/hips, all those areas have bumps and severe pain.. I guess scar tissue. Help please!

[walshamite]

Good video, with loads of useful practical stuff to learn in it. Thank you, I shall certainly return to this tutorial if I can get hold of a roller of this type.

[monkeyviolinist]

I just got a foam roller, and this is great information on how to use it. Thanks for sharing!

[fitman23]

I recently starting using the foam roller, Its great.

[NEWOSA65]

Great video Scott.

[bigassballsyes]

I also find it no good for calfs, it becomes more of a w/o for the arms and shoulders which keep you in position. I tend to just place my calf on it using just pressure with maybe a little benefit. It's main use imo is for quads, IT bands, Tib ant.

[mfrsuccess]

true, with calves, like with hamstrings, it is impossible to get your bodyweight over it. That is why these areas are not demonstrated in this video. A basketball works better for the calf area.

[bigassballsyes]

I would have to say, I would not recommned it, unless you want to spend £18+ every month for a new one. And again, no way can you use this for Myofascial release of back and hams. It just glides over very superficially. A much better one could be made though, and I'd glady pay more for a much superior product...anyone???

[mfrsuccess]

You say "outer casing coming away from the inner harder center" - you must be using a different one to what we use, because there is no outer casing, it is continuous foam. It does mishapen though. Like I wrote, there are more expensive marbled color green ones and harder black ones which both do not mis-shapen.

Yes, it is difficult to do on the hamstrings. But no, it is not difficult to do on the back, although depending on where, the theracane, small ball,or nola roller may be better.

[jimmythesaint67]

If you're in the UK - contact Physical Company 01494769222 and order their Pro Club Foam Roller 15 or 16GBP + P&P...order some for friends as UK postage now depends on dimensions>weight which means total cost is 26GBP if you only order one roller! Mine is 2+yrs and despite being used by a ProBasketball Team is still in perfect shape

[bigassballsyes]

I do use it a fair bit but was very dissapointed about the quality loss from the product in such a short time, it's obviously not made very well. I can now feel and outer casing coming away from the inner harder center.

[bigassballsyes]

I also found the roller to lose it's quality pretty quickly, became a bit deflated after only using it 3 wks. I intend to make my own much more durable one.

[scottvan1]

You are right, the white ones DO loose shape after a lot of use, especially if you're heavy like me! However for twice the cost one can buy a "marbled green colour" roll that is superior quality and density or a black one that is REALLY hard!

[koko56]

What about the blue ones? Is it much harder that the white one?

[bigassballsyes]

A great tool, but-I think it's no good atall for the hams, esp the back,no where near deep enough for me. Great video.

[twobeeornottwobee]

Excellent! The foam roller is one of my favorite tools as I us it every day after working out and teaching. But I have learned new things and your presentation and descriptions, a sense of calm and humor were great! Do you have any ball exercises or ideas for elongating and spinal decompression.

[shotbod66]

I agree with you and have the same question. Any more suggestion and decompression and elongating. Shotbod

[kasofsky]

thanks scott, this was a good review, and it's nice to know that i can always view it again if i need a refresher.

[Cindyl161]

Thanks for the demonstration! I've read these descriptions but it really helps to SEE them!

[pksubra]

Great video

[Ejamieso1]

Good stuff. Thanks

[wieczynski]

Perfect overview.