{"id":273084,"date":"2017-10-03T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T17:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=273084"},"modified":"2017-10-02T20:57:46","modified_gmt":"2017-10-03T03:57:46","slug":"the-rolflex-your-foam-roller-reinvented","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/the-rolflex-your-foam-roller-reinvented\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rolflex: Your Foam Roller Reinvented"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Annie Grevers, Staff Writer.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Foam rolling. Swimmers have a love-hate relationship with the recovery method. The 18-inch pillar of firm foam, often referred to as “the poor man’s massage therapist” is commonly used by athletes to break up tight fascia<\/a>, or muscle fibers. It can be a highly effective (and painful) recovery method.<\/p>\n

The roller itself is bulkier and far less compactable than a swimmer’s parka…but if it has become a vital part of your warm-up\/recovery routine, you’re going to find a way to pack it.<\/p>\n

Enter the Rolflex<\/a>. The foam roller reinvented. Not only is this thing easy to travel with because of its sleek design, but it offers an opportunity to roll out two muscle groups at once. In my swimming days I depended on a foam roller to lengthen my larger muscle groups (IT band, hamstring, lats, calves) and a tennis ball to get the hidden knots (beneath\/between scapulas, interior of knees). The Rolflex eliminates the need for a tennis ball, because it can target the broad muscles and\u00a0<\/em>the hard-to-reach areas.<\/p>\n

Here are\u00a0the pros and cons of the Rolflex in my humble swimmer opinion:<\/p>\n

PROS\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n