Quad Stretch Help

[Jolt]

I was going to start a new thread but may as well ask here: should the muscles be warm before using the foam roller/Stick, as with stretching?

I don't think it matters; somebody correct me if this isn't the case. I often roll out muscles that aren't warmed up (first thing in the morning even, if I have a really hot trigger point).

[Wahine]

The foam roller increases flexibilty by releasing tension in the muscle but does not actually create a longer muscle. Let me use and analogy... you've got a ball of dough, you roll it out and the dough ball that started out at 3 inches is now 6 inches long but you've still got the same amount of dough. Using the foam roaller and stretching both do this. However, if you want to actually change the true length of the muscle you have to add dough to the system. Stretching stimulates this process over the long term. The short term increases in flexibility are from the first scenario, long term changes come from actual tissue changes in response to stimuli that works over a period of time.

As for warming up, it's more important with stretching but will often make rolling out the muscle feel a little better.

I will usually have clients do both the foam roller and stretch. I have them warm up first, then roll, then stretch.

Hope that helps.

[Zen]

Re- the foam roller.

I like to use a sausage analogy.
Link sausage, patties won't do but they still taste good.

A sausage has a casing that holds in the meat.
A muscle has a fascia that does the same thing as a sausage casing.
The foam roller helps release some of the attachment of the fascia from the muscle, and that makes the muscle easier to stretch.

I'll be at Waffle House if anybody needs me.

[wackyjacky1]

Mmm, sausage...

Thanks for the replies, everybody. Lotsa good info.

[Zen]

...and that makes the muscle easier to stretch.

After re-reading Wahine's post, I take that back but just that part.
Because muscles themselves don't stretch.

[polly4711]

Zen,

I'll meet you at waffle house... go ahead an order me a scrambled, smothered and covered for me!!!

JP