Designed in cylindrical forms, foam rollers work based on vibration technology. It means you apply the vibration to the specific muscle group being targeted to benefit from the compression and release of the self myofascial muscles.
Vibrating at varied frequencies, the best foam rollers operate at about 33HZ frequency. Choose your vibration level at medium, low or high. Foam rolling supports body treatment before and after workout.
According to a study published on the Journal of Physical Therapy Science, it is a tool that improves flexibility, motion or performance. It also reduces delayed muscle onset after workout. The vibration technology has been proven to reduce pain signal transmission frequency to the central nervous system.
Our Recommendations
Best Product Category 1
Winner - The Phenom Vibrating Foam Roller
OUR RATING
Designed to specifically to focus on sore, tight muscles in athletes after running, the Phenom Vibrating Foam Roller supports daily recovery and lowers the risk of getting certain injuries in active athletes.
The foam knobs are gel-molded to produce maximum pressure and vibration for optimal results. It also eliminates pain and aches. With the dedicated groove, you can support your spine if suffering from sore back.
The vibrating foam roller is built with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with three hours run time for prolonged use. The three vibration levels help provide maximum muscle massage.
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Runner Up - The NextRoller Vibrating Foam Roller
OUR RATING
The NextRoller Vibrating Foam Roller is ideal for athletes in need of faster recovery after workout. The highly dense and extra firm surface reduces muscle soreness as it works out knots. Choose from medium, high and low vibration levels to suit your specific recovery needs.
Measuring 13 inches in length, you can bring the foam roller with you to a workout studio gym. It comes with a built-in carriage bag for easy transportation. It also fits into gym bags for portability. The vibrating foam roller runs on a rechargeable battery with up to 3 hours runtime.
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Alternative - MOVEMINT Vibrating Foam Roller
OUR RATING
The MOVEMINT Vibrating Foam Roller works at a speed of 1,500 vibrations every minute on the lowest end. At the highest and the most powerful speed, it runs at 4,000 vibrations every minute. For medium pressure, the foam roller is set at 2,500 vibrations per minute.
At the uniform trigger point surface, muscle tightness and deep tissue pain are relieved and tension reduced. Powered by a rechargeable battery, the vibrating foam roller can run up to 5 hours on a single charge. It’s compact enough and features hard knobs to work on your hips, glutes, back and legs.
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Best Product Category 2
TriggerPoint Grid Vibe Plus Vibrating Foam Roller
OUR RATING
The compact foam roller is built for high performance. It offers targeted pain relief after workout and is highly portable. It works on hard to target body parts such as hips, lower legs, shoulders, back and other areas large foam rollers can’t reach.
The Grid Vibe Vibrating Foam Roller relaxes body muscles, offers pain relief and improves post-workout recovery. With the multi-density surface, athletes get direct pressure targeted on specific body muscles.
Weighing only 2.5 pounds and spanning 12 inches, you can easily use the foam roller on the go. On a single charge, the rechargeable lithium battery runs for up to two hours.
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Why You Should Choose Your Product Carefully
Vibration foam rollers offer various benefits. It’s an important tool post-workout because it relaxes tense muscles. The roller also eliminates stinging pain that results from myofascial release.
The rolling action softens the muscle-surrounding fascia. The fascia easily stiffens, inhibiting the ability of your muscles to move after an intense workout session. The lubricating fluid that holds the fascia thickens during muscle inactivity, hence inhibiting movement.
The vibration foam roller increases muscle activity to ensure that the thick gel becomes fluidy. It also deeply and firmly kneads the muscles, improving their quality. The rolling action can also numb trigger points where certain body muscles join to perform their tasks. The points can easily cause inflammation and tension.
Vibrating action on the trigger points lower sensitivity in the areas because they can easily congest. Muscles tend to scar and get damaged during intense workouts and other physical activities.
Foam rollers come in handy to break up scar tissue. Vibration foam rollers help manage muscle tears and other kinds of damages to minimize pain and hasten post-workout recovery.
Careful product selection ensures you choose the right product built for your specific needs. It also ensures that you get a foam roller capable of working your body muscles to relieve pain after workout and hasten recovery.
What to Consider When Choosing Vibration Foam Rollers
Vibrating foam rollers are easily accessible. Sports medicine doctors and physical therapists recommend foam rollers for their ability to provide faster, post-workout recovery. Due to the benefits of vibrating foam rollers and available options, it becomes necessary to choose the right roller.
Consider the vibration level of the foam roller to meet your specific needs for muscle pain relief. Also look into the following factors when shopping for the best vibrating foam roller:
Softer foam rollers tend to come in the form of solid foam tubes. However, harder, denser and hollow rollers made from plastic are ideal for you if you’re seasoned in foam rolling.
Different densities work better for different body parts and situations. Despite your experience level, if you’re in too much pain or bruising, low density vibrating foam roller might be more ideal to prevent the condition from worsening.
Moreover, glutes tend to be more painful and tender than calves or quads. Low density is also ideal for super tight muscles or if experiencing issues with movement in particular areas.
Spiky surfaces are ideal for deeper muscles such as those around the scapula and in the hips. Knobs and compact rollers also target specific muscles for targeted, intense or contoured pressure.
Compact, collapsible or short vibrating foam rollers are ideal for portable use. Note that short rollers call for more body awareness and increased stability for proper use. For instance, your rolling technique should be targeted. Your upper body also requires enhanced strength.
On the other hand, longer vibrating foam rollers ideal for use in gyms or at home. They also reduce the risk of slipping off while rolling your body muscles.
Conclusion
Studies have proven that vibration reduces the frequency of pain signal transmission to your central nervous system. This explains the efficacy of the vibration technology used in vibrating foam rollers for pain reduction and faster recovery after intense workout.
The need to choose the right foam roller goes without saying. Choose a roller designed to meet your unique rolling needs. It’s also important to start slow, get hydrated, practice daily and focus on the right movements to get the most from your foam roller.