*Originally written for and published in the CrossBoot Newsletter.
You may find that many hip-to-knee voyages are required before you begin to feel relief. And ideally, rolling will be done both before and after the activity that triggers the pain. For maximum results, you'll want to do this several times per week, as long as the pain persists (and does not get worse from rolling). And as with any massage therapy, drinking extra water is recommended to help flush out the toxins that have been released in your body.
The foam roller can be used via the same technique for numerous other areas including the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and back. While it can also be used for the calves and shins, a more effective apparatus might be the stick roller, which is a more compact device that can be taken to the office or even packed away for a trip.
Most rolling sticks consist of a solid plastic stick with handles on either side and a rotating center piece (or pieces) loosely wrapped around the base that revolves as you roll.
While we all know the benefits of a professional massage (relaxation, stress relief, muscle health, pain relief, etc.), most of us don't have the time or money to get a massage as often as we'd like. So this week, we explore the various options of self-massage therapy. We look at the foam roller and other apparatuses we can use at home to help alleviate pain associated with muscle tension and trigger points.
Probably most familiar to athletes of all genres is the foam roller, or, for more extreme types, plain old PVC pipe (ouch!). Newer versions of the foam roller also contain special "fingers" and knobs to better reach trigger points, and are made of dense foam surrounding a solid plastic cylinder. The basic foam roller is easily found at sporting goods stores and even at superstores like Target; more technical rollers can often be found at running specialty stores or online. Foam rollers can range from about $15 to $65!
The basic foam roller is made of foam that is firm enough to break up muscle knots that develop from repetitive use. As an article inRunning Times notes, "[t]hese injuries start as very minor micro-tears. Next, a repetitive tear-and-repair cycle causes a knot or a trigger point to develop. The runner then starts to experience pain and stiffness in the area."
To help smooth out these knots, in a commonly injured area--the IT band, for example, here is the basic technique:
1. Place the foam roller on the floor perpendicular to your body.
2. Place the hip of your aching side on the roller, putting as much weight on the roller as you can bear.
3. Slowly roll downward from the hip to just above the knee, making sure to stop and apply a few seconds of added pressure when you come to a knot.
4. Roll back up toward the hip and repeat until you can roll with less discomfort.
2. Place the hip of your aching side on the roller, putting as much weight on the roller as you can bear.
3. Slowly roll downward from the hip to just above the knee, making sure to stop and apply a few seconds of added pressure when you come to a knot.
4. Roll back up toward the hip and repeat until you can roll with less discomfort.
IT band rolling:
You may find that many hip-to-knee voyages are required before you begin to feel relief. And ideally, rolling will be done both before and after the activity that triggers the pain. For maximum results, you'll want to do this several times per week, as long as the pain persists (and does not get worse from rolling). And as with any massage therapy, drinking extra water is recommended to help flush out the toxins that have been released in your body.
The foam roller can be used via the same technique for numerous other areas including the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and back. While it can also be used for the calves and shins, a more effective apparatus might be the stick roller, which is a more compact device that can be taken to the office or even packed away for a trip.
Most rolling sticks consist of a solid plastic stick with handles on either side and a rotating center piece (or pieces) loosely wrapped around the base that revolves as you roll.
While a rolling stick can sometimes be found at sporting goods or running specialty stores, it is less available than the foam roller and can be ordered online. Rolling sticks can range from about $25 to $45. Or, for those more frugal athletes, a baker's rolling pin can also be substituted.
Rolling stick massage:
One important thing to remember when rolling with a stick is to make sure the muscle that's being rolled is relaxed, and not flexed.
Another option for massaging out knots is an extremely cheap lacrosse or tennis ball. The lacrosse ball is slightly smaller and is harder, as it is made of solid rubber, whereas the tennis ball is hollow and has more give (for a gentler massage).
Here is a video tutorial on how to use a lacrosse ball for a back/shoulder massage:
And finally, another inexpensive therapy item that you may already have at home is a golf ball. The golf ball is an excellent way to keep the feet feeling flexible and fresh. Moreover, golf ball foot massages can be done discreetly at one's desk. Here is a look at a basic rolling technique for sore or tired feet:
And if you're looking for some prop-free self-massage techniques, here is a collection of videos on "Self-Massage for Athletes" using nothing but your hands.
Hopefully we've provided you with some new ways to help heal your body when going to the pros isn't an option. Happy massaging!
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