I’m finally getting myself back to running, back to training.
This year I’ve been plagued with injury issues and that bout of gastric flu absolutely knocked me for six. I’ve never needed to sleep for almost 18 hours straight before. I think I even outslept my cats.
To recover from all the niggles I’ve been trying to implement some regime changes to help. More sleep for starters – using some of the advice I’ve given others in the past. Stretching more too. I’m trying really hard to go to Body Balance regularly. If my gym could stop shuffling the timetable around, that would help, but even doing a Youtube yoga video once a week is helping my back loosen.
And I’ve also got myself a new foam roller. I’ve had one for a while now, but it’s proving a bit soft and doesn’t reach the tissue I need it to reach. The Power Foam Roller however, is just what the doctor (well, physio) ordered.
For the uninitiated, a foam roller is often used by gym goers, athletes and physios alike to ease tension in muscles. Used correctly it’s great for strains, DOMS and is known as self myofascial release. I’ve used it for release of tension in my muscles, tendons and it’s particularly useful for those of us at risk of runner’s knee. It can really help with that day after feeling you get after a good weights session or distance run.
In very basic terms, the muscle tightens, the roller and the pressure you use to roller it loosens it again.
That’s not to say it’s a comfortable process. If you’ve ever watched someone roller, you’ll often see it scrunched in pain as that roller presses deep into the muscle tissue.
This roller is a little heavy duty – you’ll often start with soft flat surfaced roller, but as time goes on you’ll find that becomes less effective and you’ll need something firmer and eventually something a little, well, knobbly.
Different levels of pressure reach into different parts of the muscle tissue to release the knots and tension. And as my lower back has been proving difficult to reach, this roller has proved a painful, but necessary evil. In fact I’ve taken it everywhere – to and from the office (I lock the door first), even into the gym. They have some basic flat rollers available to everyone, but this has been what’s eased pressure, aches and means I can now throw on my running shoes without worrying about walking around like an old lady all day.
If you want to learn more about rollers, this article is great at explaining it, and you can easily find videos to help with particular injuries or niggles.
If in doubt, as ever, speak to a personal trainer, or a physio.