Does Foam Rolling work?

**anoop** · 06-01-2012, 08:12 AM

Here is my analysis of the new foam rolling study:

Does Foam Rolling Work?

What are your thoughts? And mind you, I just looked at the use of foam rolling as a warm up.

**TangoDown** · 06-01-2012, 12:26 PM

You compare foam rolling to blood letting and smoking?

Foaming rolling worked for me (and I did see your rebuttal against individuals who claim its results). Increased my hamstring ROM by a ton. I also had a mysterious posterior knee injury that specialists wouldn't deal with, where I'd get shooting pains from my posterior knee up my leg. I released my popliteus tendon with a baseball and the pain disappeared completely. That's why I think it's best use is to deal with a bollocksed fascia that results in an inhibited muscle, like a very tight IT band or calf.

I do agree with warming up with a foam roller alone is stupid, but how many athletes foam roll for 5 minutes and then get under a bar and start pushing their maxes? As you said, there is evidence to suggest that foam rolling before activity weakens the underlying muscle for a period of time. That's why I'd segregate it to a post-workout activity or on off days.

Why don't you conduct a study, yourself? Start recruiting people you know (or athletes, what ever works), choose the perimeters to your liking, and obtain evidence that proves your thesis rather than relying on a critique of another study. Not a shot at you, just curious. It would definitely bolster your conclusions.

**QuantumPositron2** · 06-01-2012, 05:48 PM

It makes me feel better. I've wondered the same.

**anoop** · 06-01-2012, 06:18 PM

You compare foam rolling to blood letting and smoking?

Nope. I am using those to show anecdotal 'results' can be deceiving.

Foaming rolling worked for me (and I did see your rebuttal against individuals who claim its results). Increased my hamstring ROM by a ton. I also had a mysterious posterior knee injury that specialists wouldn't deal with, where I'd get shooting pains from my posterior knee up my leg. I released my popliteus tendon with a baseball and the pain disappeared completely. That's why I think it's best use is to deal with a bollocksed fascia that results in an inhibited muscle, like a very tight IT band or calf.

I am not talking about pain here. Pain is whole different beast (even homeopathy works for pain!) It is not to say that you are hallucinating about pain, it just says a lot about the non-specific effects of pain which are pretty well known. One reason why there are so many treatments out there for pain and they all seem to work. I have written an article about the current science of pain.

Why don't you conduct a study, yourself? Start recruiting people you know (or athletes, what ever works), choose the perimeters to your liking, and obtain evidence that proves your thesis rather than relying on a critique of another study. Not a shot at you, just curious. It would definitely bolster your conclusions.

I would do that if I was paid to do research/or if it was my job. I work in a fitness center. And this called an evidence-based approach. And I will be returning back to finish my Ph.D. So might be tackling research soon.