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Every recreational athlete needs one of these:  

A foam roller is a key tool for soft tissue recovery and continued optimal performance.  

Runners, cyclists and skiers especially experience tightness along the iliotibial band (IT Band), tensor fascia latae (TFL), glutes, hamstring and quads.

The IT Band is made up connective tissue and is part of the TFL, it provides lateral stability to the knee joint and aids in flexion and extension of the leg.  The TFL works with the IT Band and glute to stabilize the pelvis over the femur head and to help stabilize the knee during extension.  Extension and flexion are key movements in running, cycling and skiing.  The IT Band and TFL become inflamed and tight from overuse.  This is where your foam roller comes in.  Foam rolling increases circulation to flush out the muscles, it puts the muscles and fascia tissues into a stretch and smoothes out knots built up in the muscles and connective tissue.  It improves flexibility and mobility because of it helps the stretch and lengthen muscles and connective tissue.  If that is not incentive enough, it is like having your own personal deep tissue massager at your beck and call.  As ski professionals we are on the snow almost daily and ski aggressively just about every time we click into our bindings.  To be able to ski at this level repeatedly without injury is a priority, the foam roller is one of the tools that we use on a daily basis to maintain the optimal peformance of our bodies.  Skiing at a high level of performance puts a lot of physical demand on your body, and if restrictions start to creep in due to fatigue, overuse then we compromise our ability to perform at our best or to make changes in the our skiing that we desire.

With that said….not all foam rollers are created equal.  The higher the density of the foam the stronger force is applied to your soft tissue – think big huge massage therapist with massive biceps and forearms.  If you are an avid recreationist and are running or riding your bike weekly, you will want a stronger density foam roller like the one in the picture by Trigger Point.