Just wanted to share my experiences using the rumble roller foam roller with you guys:
I have suffered from tight hamstrings/quads/calves/glutes/everything else waist down for as long as I can remember. Deep tissue massage helps, but is expensive and not something I have done consistently for long periods of time.
I started looking into foam rollers, and found a study (can't post links, but its on the interwebs) suggesting traditional foam rollers do not help with hamstrings at all. Found out about the "Rumble Roller", did a bit of research, and decided to give it a shot. Went to my local retailer and got an extra firm one in the compact size (anecdotal reports seem to suggest the extra firm one is best for leg muscles).
After the first day of using it, I was incredibly sore. I guess I went a little too far, but the pain has subsided and my muscles felt a lot more relaxed and looser afterwards. I am using it to reach the spots of tension on my muscles, which is where the little knobs on the Rumble Roller come in handy. I wish it weren't made of PVC foam because it smells terrible and is not the healthiest thing to be breathing in, but c'est la vie; I've stuck it in front of my activated charcoal air filter to see if that will mitigate the off-gassing any. I am also worried that the knobs nearest the middle (the ones seeing the most usage) will wear out quickly, but only time will tell.
Judging from my first few uses, I would say it is doing its job, but it will take time and a persistent effort to ensure I reap the benefits of this product. For those of us who are sitting often or not stretching enough, this may be a useful expedient to better muscle health. I have also used it on my arms and on my neck, the latter application being more appreciable in effect.
That's all for now.
Edited by ergopharaoh, 05 February 2012 - 09:20 PM.
