Foam rollers are the latest craze in the fitness industry. They are cylindrical foams of varying lengths, textures and densities. As we mentioned in our earlier article Foam Roller Lower Back Relieves for Anterior Pelvic Tilt, foam rollers can be used for massage as well as releasing the tension that causes Pelvic Tilt and Lower back pain. There are many good foam rollers available for sale in the marketplace, and others that are not as perfect.
To help you in the purchasing process, in this Foam Roller Buying Guide we have assembled some of the factors that we believe are the most crucial to consider when buying a foam roller:
1. Density of The Foam Roller
This is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a foam roller. Ideally, the denser the foam roller, the more intense is the massage. The density of foam rollers will range from soft and squishy to stiff and firm.
Softer, less dense foam rollers are perfect if you are just starting to foam rolling or your back muscles are extra tight. One downside with the softer foam rollers is that their lifespan will be shorter and they start disintegrating after repeated use.
On the other hand, you might want to go for a denser foam roller if you have some foam rolling experience or your ‘trigger points’ are deeper and not within immediate reach. If you opt to go for the stiff foam rollers, be prepared to suffer a lot of discomfort before you get accustomed to one.
2. Additional Feature of The Foam Rollers
One of the major reasons why a lot of people opt to go the foam roller way is to avoid the cost associated with paying a masseur. You therefore need to ensure that you do not end up spending too much on foam rollers that it supersedes what you would have spent on a masseur. Basically, the price of a foam roller will range anywhere from $5 to $100 depending on a few factors. One of these factors is the density of the foam roller. Denser foam rollers are a little expensive than softer ones.
Some foam rollers such as the DSS RumbleRoller, have additional features such nobbles and ridges. These foam rollers will cost a little more than the conventional foam rollers. The additional features are excellent when you are trying to target a specific spot on your back. However, if you are operating on a shoestring budget, try the Well Essentials Black High Density Foam Roller which also a very good and reasonably priced alternative.
3. Size Of The Foam Roller
The other important factor to consider when buying a foam roller is its size. Many of the rollers available in the marketplace have a diameter of 6 inches. However, the length of the foam rollers varies wildly. The shortest ones are 18 inches long while the longest one can be more than 32 inches long! For example the Grid Foam Roller by Trigger Point has multiple sizes for you to choose from.
If you want a foam roller to use in your home gym, it is okay to buy a longer. Shorter foam rollers are efficient if you will be moving around with it much.
If you are not sure whether you should invest in a foam roller, you should consider opting into a foam rolling class or watching online videos. Many people learn foam rolling from personal trainers. You can also checkout our Foam Rolling For Lower Back Pain Guide here!
