Self Myofascial Release (SMR)

[Scourge]

Your experiences of this? Any real noticeable benefits to doing yourself with a foam roller?

I've been having another go at it, but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right - I know it's supposed to hurt, but what I expect is a dull pain, followed by no pain, followed by the feeling that, while it did hurt, I now feel less tight and less stiff than I did.

What I am in fact feeling is dull pain as well as sharp pain in areas I'm not actually rolling with sensation of numbness in yet more places (like I'm trapping a nerve), followed by more of the same, followed by the feeling that I'm just as tight and as sore as I was, except I've also had the shit kicked out of me.

So... Is this what everybody else gets or am I managing to screw up something as difficult as lying down on a foam cylinder.

[NJ]

I have used the foam roller,as well as a tennis ball,on my hams,butt,lower back and illiotibial(sp) band.
The only time i have experienced pain,not dull pain at all,is when doing the ITB which i don't do often enough.I do get the numbness feeling on that however i put put this down to the fact that i've never had that part massaged either,so its like stone.
I do consider it an alternative to deep tissue massage but not a replacement.
Using it wrong ? - not sure,i follwed the advice on T-mag about it

[Scourge]

I have used the foam roller,as well as a tennis ball,on my hams,butt,lower back and illiotibial(sp) band.
The only time i have experienced pain,not dull pain at all,is when doing the ITB which i don't do often enough.I do get the numbness feeling on that however i put put this down to the fact that i've never had that part massaged either,so its like stone.
I do consider it an alternative to deep tissue massage but not a replacement.
Using it wrong ? - not sure,i follwed the advice on T-mag about it
Thanks.

Have seen the article in T-mag, but don't remember reading anything about what to do if afterwards you feel like you've had your ass kicked...

Does it not hurt when you do it anywhere other than your IT band?

[PikeKing]

SMR can leave you pretty sore, similar to have a deep massage.

I'm not sure about numbness I've not experienced that but I've certainly had some real pain from it! Probably why I have a brand new roller sat beside me that I've not used since I bought it in september.

[Scourge]

SMR can leave you pretty sore, similar to have a deep massage.

I'm not sure about numbness I've not experienced that but I've certainly had some real pain from it! Probably why I have a brand new roller sat beside me that I've not used since I bought it in september.
Thanks. I'm not so worried now, although perhaps lay off it for the time being with a lot of hard work coming up.

I've seen that you can get really narrow rollers as well. They must be fun.

[NJ]

Thanks.

Have seen the article in T-mag, but don't remember reading anything about what to do if afterwards you feel like you've had your ass kicked...

Does it not hurt when you do it anywhere other than your IT band?

Not really,nothing like ITB pain anyway...

[jonnymills]

I've got one too. Used it on my lower back - yes it hurts! But hurts in a good way if you know what I mean? Only thing is it doesn't seem to get any better the longer it goes on (which I would've expected).