Foam roller

[Kiwi]

Cherz Hern. Still waiting on delivery!
Expecting some pain....

[Dannywayoflife]

Kiwi there's some great videos on you tube on how to use the roller corectly

[lynne123]

At what point is it safe to use it?  I just bought one but I am four weeks two days post op and have been to afraid to use it yet. 

[Kiwi]

Cherz Danny - I'll take a look mate.

[hernanu]

Great, Danny. It is a great tool.

[hernanu]

At what point is it safe to use it?  I just bought one but I am four weeks two days post op and have been to afraid to use it yet.

Jennifer, I think I started using it at 3 months. I was light on it at first, but there is no doubt that it is an acquired taste   :o  :o  :o.

[Dannywayoflife]

At what point is it safe to use it?  I just bought one but I am four weeks two days post op and have been to afraid to use it yet.

Lynne I think with this particular operation being conservative will pay dividends in the end. I started deep tissue massage I think at around 9-10 weeks and the roller at 14. I wouldn't want to start either much earlier as the pain around your scar would be significant 

[Kiwi]

Had my first roll last night at Physio (12.5weeks post op) - about 2 mins. That was enough for my start!! :o
Hern - My PT pretty much showed me exactly the steps you listed. Good part about that is you can control the pressure of your body weight.

[hernanu]

Which is really good; if I had put full pressure on it from the start I would have been crying like a little girl. All apologies to little girls, who would probably have been tougher than that.

[Dannywayoflife]

Think that's possibly why I'm finding it so painful! I'm putting all my 96kg through it!  ???

[Kiwi]

Me too. I reckon I would have being putting about 1/2 to 2/3 of my 91kgs and I was struggling to 'man up' just doing that!
Also used it on my back which was great.
Danny - you're obviously applying the 'no pain, no gain' theory!!

[Dannywayoflife]

I seem to apply that mantra to most of the things i do. Mind that could go part of the way to explaining why at 28 I had to have my hip done!

[imgetinold]

I, too, purchased a roller pre-op in order to help recovery.  I have never been very flexible, which didn't help, but it did seem like one step below a medieval torture device.  I'm just about 8 weeks post-op, and have not yet felt it was time to use it again.

[Arrojo]

Runners are quite familiar with foam rollers. I have a couple.  A giant one for home and a smaller one I bring to races because it fits in my bag.

Anyway. I am almost 2 weeks out and the ITB could really use it.  My question is, is it too early for me to use it on my ITB?  Obviously I would stay away from anything close to the surgical area.  Thanks.

[hernanu]

I started using it after about six weeks. I figured that was a good time since I was starting to do other demanding stuff, and the IT band was acting up. I'd ask the surgeon and / or the PT person you're using.

[PistolPete]

Danny- can you post a link to the one you bought?

[imgetinold]

Here is a link to a bunch of them my company sells.  I'm honestly not trying to push buying from our company, but wanted to point out my favorite.  The Aeoromat rollers are a high density foam, easy to clean, etc.  A lot of foam rollers are sort-of compressed styrofoam, and with use little chucks of the stuff come off.  These are not like that, and are really nice.  You might find it cheaper elsewhere.

http://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/xxssi_ibeSearchResults.jsp?type=search&minisite=10028&query=foam+roller

[midiowa]

Sure your not.ha.  ordering one today. thanks

[Arrojo]

Another option is "The Stick".  Runners are familiar with this one as well.  I just dug mine out, since, 2 weeks after surgery, not sure I want to use the foam roller just yet.  The Stick can massage out the knots.

[stephen1254]

Great idea! I had forgotten that I had one of those and just dug it out.