Why does every runner not own a foam roller?

I just bought a foam roller as advised by my PT, I have had an injured quad now for the best part of 12 weeks and after one single session the pain is almost fully away and no more tightness at all.

Never would I have thought such a simple thing would make such a difference, my PT said if I can get in the habit of using after every run for calfs, thighs, IT band and hip flexors I will reduce my likelihood of injury really signicantly.

Anyway seeing as I have good news for once I thought I would share it!

Only downside I guess is that its absolutely agony using it, way worse than I expected!

The reason I don't have one these days is that I never found it very effective. 

They have them at the gym, so I don't need to buy one!

Must give one a try as my right thigh has been tight for a few days. 67 miles last week probably the issue!!

MCS i cant recommend it enough, I got the 6" one but now I know there is smaller ones for different muscles however the 6" is used for the quads. Have a large beer before you try it, it's ouchy!

Is it wrong that I actually enjoy the pain? 

Saffy are you reades 50 shades of Grey?

50 Shades of foam roller

"Im going to thrash your IT band within an inch of its life."

I have an Orange Roller of Doom.  Saved my legs when I was marathon training - I even took it skiing with me, much to my son's disgust!

I have many foam rollers in the gyms I visit but have to say I rarely use them! Its not just the off-putting idea that other people have sweatted all over them combined with a fitness instructor I used to have letting us know how common ring-worm was in gyms (you get it through skin to sweat contact as the ringworm eggs can live in sweat and enter via any breaks in your skin) and combine that with the 4 "very rare" (GP diagnosed) skin conditions which I linked to using a very dirty well known gym chain in Central London. All conditions bar one which was linked to stress (possibly due to having the other 3 conditions) were caught via skin to skin or skin to sweat contact.

But the pain feature ! Its just too much for me! It never seems to get easier either. Back a few years ago I did try religiously using a foam roller (this was before the skin condition) but it just didn't get easier and I just stopped using it. I did notice I'd lost some flexibility but decided the pay off was something I could put up with!

They start at around £35 from what I've seen and for me thats just not affordable. I just don't have that sort of money. If I had one bought for me and some way to make it less painful then I'd reconsider but the final issue is the difficulty in actually using it. Its just so much of a strain and a huge balancing act. I'd  prefer a proper sports massage!

I am a bit discouraged hearing you say it doesnt get any less painful. I done 10 minutes last night and it was agony again, infact I dont know if this is normal but I actually have some bruising appearing on my thighs ?

The upside is my legs feel brand new today after last nights hard run, but if it doesnt get any less painful I think I could lose the motivation to use it.

There are loads of good demo's on YouTube

I think but couldnt be sure the longer one is best the only meaningful difference in sizes is the thickness. I believe the smaller ones (4" dia) are better for certain muscles eg: hamstrings.

I have the 90cm which I can use to torture both quads at the same time

Jennn, I got mine from a physio supply company on eBay for around £15 including postage - worth keeping an eye out.

I read a really interesting anti-foam rolling blog post earlier this, did anyone else see it?

http://thebodymechanic.ca/2012/03/17/stop-foam-rolling-your-it-band-it-can-not-lengthen-and-it-is-not-tight/ 

I want one now...

I've got a dodgy quad.. ouchy, especially when sitting down, ok when running but annoying the other 23 hours of they day.  sounds like i should give one a go.

Steph

I have a foam roller, I also have a rolling pin that I use and a cat - not one of my cats but a massage thing shaped like a cat.

It's only really very painful when your muscles are tight. It's just painful after that but not prohibitively so.

I have found that nothing else works on my tight calves except for not running for a few weeks which isn't going to happen - well ok, so I'm on the injury bench again and it maybe a week before I can run.