Foam Rolling vs PVC?

I got a great series of questions from a former player who is now a strength and conditioning coach.

Q- Would you recommend a harder rolling surface over a normal foam roller? Especially for those who have been rolling for long periods of time? Think regular black foam roller vs. a pvc pipe.

A- The idea of "no pain no gain" is loosely based on the fact that we know that rolling will initially be uncomfortable. However, we can't jump forward from "no pain, no gain" to the idea of "more pain, more gain". PVC pipe etc. may be OK in certain areas for really large, muscular clients. In general, foam rolling is not a "harder is better" pursuit.

Q- Would you agree that if I were to use a normal foam roller that physiological change over time would take longer? Would the denser surface and increased compression equal faster change than a softer surface?

A- This goes back to point 1 above. Harder may lead to injury, bruising etc. The key is appropriate pressure for the client or athlete. My guideline is to match the density of the tool to the density of the client.

Q- Are you concerned at all that the aggressive rolling with a harder surface could actually cause more damage and risk acutely impairing performance?

A- Yes, see above

Q- Lastly, do you have any credible research that support any of your answers, or is it more subjective based on your experience with training and your practice?

A- I think it is a combination of subjective experience and, the subjective experience and research around massage therapy, ART, etc. If you think of rolling as "poor mans massage", than you are on the right track. There is significant research in the physical therapy field about tissue change via manual techniques. That is why we have ART, MAT, Graston etc. I think we are then expanding this thought process to rollers and other self massage tools.

The bottom line is that it is always about appropriate pressure, not more pressure. Think about the strength training process. The weight that helps you get strong is one you can lift. If we doubled it, that would not help and probably hurt.

Looking for information you can trust in a place you can connect with Strength Coaches and Trainers who, like you, just want to be the best that they can be?

You want to learn, grow and network to advance in a career you love?

This is the place to do it.

"StrengthCoach.com has helped me tremendously since its inception. The articles and videos continue to be really helpful in learning what's currently going on in the Strength and Conditioning profession. However, what I find most valuable is the ongoing forum discussions which feature dialogue between some of the best people in the business. You get an insight to what people are doing with their clients/athletes."

Sean Skahan, Strength & Conditioning Coach, Minnesota Wild

Imagine a place where you could go to get the latest info on everything Strength & Conditioning and training and interact with some of the best Strength Coaches in the World!

Welcome to StrengthCoach.com.

It really has become “The Best Source for Strength & Conditioning Information”

Come join us. Try it out for 3 days for just $1

Join the community and interact with so many like minded coaches.
As a member of StrengthCoach.com, you get:

	Unlimited Access to the private member-only forum- Coach Boyle is on everyday
	Beginner, Advanced, High School, Business, FMS and Nutrition Forums
	"Critique My Form" video forum
	Brand new articles, videos and programs every week
	Over 2,500 archived articles, videos, webinars, audio interviews, and programs
	10% Discount on all Training Equipment orders from Perform Better
	Updates to workshops and lectures
	A FREE Downloadable pdf of the "StrengthCoach.com Top 10 Articles- The Essentials"
	A FREE Downloadable pdf of the "StrengthCoach.com Top 10 Articles- Performance"

If you decide to stay on after your 3 day trial membership, you get 2 more incredible bonuses!

	Coach Boyle's book, "Advances in Functional Training" (in PDF format) In *Advances, you'll learn how to— Reduce and prevent common problems like low back pain, knee pain, neck and shoulder pain* by identifying compensations, improving mobility and flexibility and focusing on movement patterns Minimize the risk of common injuries like lifting-related back injuries, tendinitis, upper-body injuries, ACL injuries and sports hernias Unlock greater power and performance by learning how to properly train the hips and core Help your athletes stay in top shape all season long with the right conditioning methods in the preseason, off-season and in-season Develop explosiveness to improve forty-yard dash times and overall game speed Select the right equipment for your gym room—Mike gives his recommendations of the equipment you do and don't need to improve strength, conditioning and overall athleticism Select the right exercises for your athletes—Learn to pick the exercises that have the biggest payoff and minimum risk Build safer, more effective programs for your athletes—Mike provides insight into how to program for speed, power, strength, hypertrophy, and more. He even gives sample programs and templates so you can see how he puts programs together, so you can go from there to build your own. … and much more. Whether you train elite athletes looking for an extra edge in performance without compromising safety… or everyday men and women looking to maximize their time in the gym so they can enjoy their life outside of it… If you're a serious coach or trainer always looking for a better and safer way to train the people you work with, Advances in Functional Training is a “must have” resource to add to your library. This is one of the few fitness books you'll come back to again and again as you train your clients and seek to give them every advantage you can. FREE DOWNLOAD ONCE YOUR 3 DAY TRIAL IS UP!

Coach Boyle's Book "Designing Strength Training Programs and Facilities" (in PDF format) "Designing Strength Training Programs and Facilities" is a "how-to- book." The book moves from the task of equipping a weight room, through a discussion of programming concepts, and eventually into actual workouts with detailed explanation. I hope that this book will be what every aspiring, strength and conditioning coach is looking for. A basic primer on how to get things done and why. The concepts are meant to be simple and utilitarian. FREE DOWNLOAD ONCE YOUR 3 DAY TRIAL IS UP!