Does Foam Rolling work?

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.
 
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You compare foam rolling to blood letting and smoking?
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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.
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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.
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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.
 
It makes me feel better. I've wondered the same.
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A lot of things in this world can make you feel better. And as I wrote if you feel better and if that feel is important, just do it.
 
@anoop @TangoDown We had this discussion in a few different kinesiology class in which foam rolling really doesn't help. Looking at the article you posted, we discussed that constant rolling on the foam roller doesn't cause myofascial release. Instead of using a foam roller for the quad for example, we used the end round part of the barbell in which we would roll slowly until you found a "tight spot" and allowed it to sit there for at least 45 seconds or until it started to give. The weight from the barbell allowed for the constant tension because of the iron weight vs the light weight on the foam roller. Tango for treating that popliteus tendon, did you like put the ball under your knee and then put pressure on it?
 
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