Nathalie Daigle, new team member has one. She swears by it. I ordered by on Friday. I will let you know what I think and maybe might take a vid of me using it.
Brenda... LOL! That is exactly what I was hoping to hear! Heard about it. Youtube review was really positive (from Roninrunner, I think?). Definitely easier than a foam roller on some hard to get at areas. I want to hear what you think about it for calves?
Below is a brief overview I wrote on a friend's FB post as I lent it to her for a few days:
I have been using the R8 since Christmas. As stated above, I swear by it. I get regular bi-weekly massages and my therapist has commented on how my legs don't have as much buildup in them since I started using it ~ and I was a foam roller and stick user. The video you referred to shows PJ using it on his upper leg only but I have used it effectively on my lower leg (not to be used in close proximity of the tibia), glutes and lower back. It is a very aggressive piece of equipment at first (especially if you have a lot of tightness) but it is THE MOST effective I have used. Better than the foam roller and better than the stick, etc. I like that you can target your trouble areas easily and the gap you see between the wheels plays in your favour if you have a particularly tight spot, meaning you can use the more distant ones primarily at first and then gradually work your way to the closer ones. Works incredibly well for IT Band issues. As my first comment said: best piece of recovery gear I own. I highly recommend it.
No, I will not be making a video of it as I think the YouTube one covers all bases and is a fair and accurate review.
It is, Jess, you will not regret your purchase. I have had issues with the glutes and piriformis this OS which is something I had never experienced before and it helped greatly.
Not for the faint of heart at first if the area is tender (so use cautiously) but with regular use, I can say that it gets a lot better.
This reminds me of the Stick....that thing that was at like every marathon expo for the last 10 years. You can use it basically the same way, although my kids are usually trying to hit each other with it when I want to use it.
Geez.....the things that people think of to use Rollerblade wheels for. I need to put my thinking cap on and invent something like this!
My R8 is in the mail! Will post some feedback when it arrives and has been put to use!
@B - I WISH I had a video of them "riding their bikes" in the house! I should've done that... I think they're over it now and would think I was crazy if I asked them to do it now!
So... Jess bought this and I used it for the first time this weekend. If you haven't already bought one of these, open a new window on your computer right now and go buy this thing. It is just as awesome as the video on their website... Seriously, it is that good.
X2 what john just wrote. I received mine this past Friday and absolutely love it. Way easier for me to get the IT band rolled out. Though I will say that it can be rather 'intense' on more tender areas. I still use the stick to get at the achilles area since this doesn't quite hit that spot right for me.
Well, as you can see, John beat me to it! I'd love to give my two cents, but he was too busy using it this weekend. ;-)
In all seriousness, I really like it as well. I find it SO much easier to hit my quads and hip flexors! I'm a little disappointed that it wasn't the amazing solution I needed for a tight piriformis and glute - just can't quite get in there with it! But... can't win 'em all! Overall, definitely happy with it!
After having used this for a few weeks now here is what I discovered by trial and error: As a tip...you may want to invert it for the first couple times. Meaning instead of laying it flat on top of your leg and then roll down, lay it flat on the bottom (hamstring) side and roll upwards. The wheels are further apart that way and it feels less aggressive...not by much but enough to make a difference. Also, I fount that by resting one set of wheel in my groin area and just roll one set of wheel, I was able to do my glutes and piriformis. Immense relief for me.
Like the R8. At first wasn't happy with the way it hit the calf. Felt like it was missing main area, ie posterior calf. Solution folded towel or shin guard over tibia allows you to hit calf and Achilles without hurting/aggravating tibia (shin)
@Tim-- I like it even better now that I have figured out a few tricks. If you move it up and down really fast on your quad it totally kills. I use it slower to get in and all around my calves etc. I find I can use it for 3-4 mins at night or in the morning and it's much less of a commitment than getting down on the floor to use the foam roller... So I still love it.
@John K. - GREAT tip! I'll definitely have to try doing that. My smaller calves weren't happy with the R8, but John was loving it!
@Tim - I'll second John's comment. Now that we've had it for a while and I've figured out what works, I like it more now than when I first started to use it. I still love it for quads and hip flexors, but I also love that I'm not on the floor supporting myself on my elbow and fatiguing my shoulder to roll out my IT bands (yes, my shoulders are THAT weak!). Much easier to just sit there and watch TV while using the R8, too!
Holy cow! I just watched the video on the website. For my forearms, I have literally said that I wished I had one of those old fashioned wash wringers (where you cranked the clothes through two wooden bars to wring out water). I wanted to put my forearm in and massage. That was the very last thing on the video and it sold me. I use a Rumble Roller on my legs, so wasn't looking for anything new. But that... WOW!
Got mine today and just used it. First thoughts - medival torture device. Second thoughts - I love it! Spent about 1 minute on hip flexors and IT band. It will take some getting used to but like Jess, I don't really like to be on the floor with the roller and it is to much on my calfs right now. Have to figure out how to use it on my shoulder.
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Comments
Below is a brief overview I wrote on a friend's FB post as I lent it to her for a few days:
I have been using the R8 since Christmas. As stated above, I swear by it. I get regular bi-weekly massages and my therapist has commented on how my legs don't have as much buildup in them since I started using it ~ and I was a foam roller and stick user.
The video you referred to shows PJ using it on his upper leg only but I have used it effectively on my lower leg (not to be used in close proximity of the tibia), glutes and lower back. It is a very aggressive piece of equipment at first (especially if you have a lot of tightness) but it is THE MOST effective I have used. Better than the foam roller and better than the stick, etc.
I like that you can target your trouble areas easily and the gap you see between the wheels plays in your favour if you have a particularly tight spot, meaning you can use the more distant ones primarily at first and then gradually work your way to the closer ones. Works incredibly well for IT Band issues.
As my first comment said: best piece of recovery gear I own. I highly recommend it.
No, I will not be making a video of it as I think the YouTube one covers all bases and is a fair and accurate review.
...and now I want one too! Haven't watched the YouTube video, so apologies if this is covered, but can it be used on glutes?
*EDIT: Just watched the video and I'm sold... I just can't hit the glutes and piriformis like i want to with the foam roller - this looks awesome!
I have had issues with the glutes and piriformis this OS which is something I had never experienced before and it helped greatly.
Not for the faint of heart at first if the area is tender (so use cautiously) but with regular use, I can say that it gets a lot better.
Geez.....the things that people think of to use Rollerblade wheels for. I need to put my thinking cap on and invent something like this!
My kids think The Stick is a set of bicycle handlebars. The "ride" around the house with it.
@Nathalie - thanks SO much for the feedback! That's just what I needed to hear!
Brenda, did the R8 arrive yet?
@B - I WISH I had a video of them "riding their bikes" in the house! I should've done that... I think they're over it now and would think I was crazy if I asked them to do it now!
I'd buy it again in a heartbeat...
In all seriousness, I really like it as well. I find it SO much easier to hit my quads and hip flexors! I'm a little disappointed that it wasn't the amazing solution I needed for a tight piriformis and glute - just can't quite get in there with it! But... can't win 'em all! Overall, definitely happy with it!
As a tip...you may want to invert it for the first couple times. Meaning instead of laying it flat on top of your leg and then roll down, lay it flat on the bottom (hamstring) side and roll upwards. The wheels are further apart that way and it feels less aggressive...not by much but enough to make a difference.
Also, I fount that by resting one set of wheel in my groin area and just roll one set of wheel, I was able to do my glutes and piriformis. Immense relief for me.
@Tim - I'll second John's comment. Now that we've had it for a while and I've figured out what works, I like it more now than when I first started to use it. I still love it for quads and hip flexors, but I also love that I'm not on the floor supporting myself on my elbow and fatiguing my shoulder to roll out my IT bands (yes, my shoulders are THAT weak!). Much easier to just sit there and watch TV while using the R8, too!
For my forearms, I have literally said that I wished I had one of those old fashioned wash wringers (where you cranked the clothes through two wooden bars to wring out water). I wanted to put my forearm in and massage.
That was the very last thing on the video and it sold me.
I use a Rumble Roller on my legs, so wasn't looking for anything new. But that... WOW!
Keep the tips coming.