OPTPAXIS Firm Foam Roller, High Density Foam Roller for Physical Therapy, Yoga, Pilates, Fitness Exercise and Sports Training (Black, 36" X 6" Round)

The OPTP Axis roller was recommended by my physical therapist (PT) as one of the best rollers on the market that does not fall apart after continuous use. Note that the black roller is the stiffest one and the other colors such as silver, blue and green all reference a lower level of firmness (thus are softer rollers). The level of stiffness you select should be based on either what your PT suggests you use or based on your condition.I have had regular back aches and shoulder strains for numerous years due to over working my body with yard work during the summers and exercising regularly every week of the year. I periodically see my chiropractor for adjustments but they only last for a week or two and then I need readjustments. I use the roller twice a day (early AM and late afternoon or night) for no more than 5 minutes per roller session. In short, the product works superbly in that it substantially reduces and in some cases eliminates my aches and strains after only a 5 minute session. I will admit I was very skeptical that the roller would make such a difference but the reality is it has made a huge positive difference. I no longer need my PT, and I see the chiropractor much less, and I reduced my aches and strains to hardly noticeable.Also I highly recommend the 36 inch length because it allows you to better iron out your muscle aches from back to butt and across the spine when using the roller top to bottom along your spine area. When using the roller left to right - wide area - across your shoulder blades, it irons out knots in your muscles and rejuvenates the sore area within minutes.Highly recommend this product for daily use and effective healing of aches and sores common among young and old due to overworked muscles, stress and or athletic injury,

Hard as a rock, then it again it has to be to support an adult human. This is a great length for anyone 5'8" and shorter, you can place your head to tailbones without overhang. Great for stretches, physical therapy, and fitness exercises. Light weight and easily storable. Works well on carpet, hold on yoga mats.

Our local gym has a few of these and after looking at them for a few months, I decided to try "foam rolling" for my tight/stiff back and quads/shoulders. WOW, what a great item. At first you may feel discomfort as your body is pounded back into form like clay, but after awhile, your body will get used to it and you WILL feel much better. Whenever my knees start to hurt/get tight, low quad/hammy rolling adjusts them right back to where they need to be. Whenever my lower and mid back feel out of sorts, a few body rolls on this wondrous item and I am back in action.I like it so much, I ended up buying one for home.

This is a really heavy duty foam roller. I owned a cheaper kind before buying this but it didn't last very long because it lost its shape and was just not firm enough. I found this kind at my gym and I was WOWed! It really loosened my IT band the first time I used it so I bought one for home use right away. It's a bit pricier than the one's you find at Target, but this product is firmer and longer. I've had it for over a year and it has kept its shape and firmness. It honestly looks like it's new even though my husband and I use it everyday. It does a good job of loosening glutes, hamstrings and quads. Recently, I have been using it on my neck, lats and lower back. I also discovered that this is great for massaging teres minors and majors (I call it the sweet spot just a little bit to the back of the armpits), which can really tighten up when doing pull ups and rows. This product is a must have for runners and weightlifters. It is definitely worth the investment.

I purchased this roller on the recommendation of an orthopedic doc who was seeing me for a torn rotator cuff and noted that my upper back was very tight. He suggested a roller to release the muscles of my back post-workout. He also suggested I use it a couple times a day when taking breaks from working at my comptuer. He also said that it might hurt initially - and he was right.The firmness of this 36" long by 6" in diameter roller I would say is extremely firm, bordering on downright 'hard'. I do have fibromyalgia and some days I'm just more pained that others. Bearing that in mind, it may be perfect for users who are not tender to the touch.I work out with weights 3-4x's a week which includes pull-ups and heavy weights. That's unusual for fibro patients, but it's who I was before that diagnosis so I keep it up and manage the pain with non-drug interventions such as stretching. This roller helps me to stretch my back and while painful most of the time I'm doing it, it does release the knotted up muscles. If you have a similar condition or arthritis, this roller may pain you - until you stop and then you'll be pleasantly surprised.This roller will not break down easily. I weigh 145 pounds and I'd be surprised if a person weighing 200 or more wouldn't feel the same way. It's made of compressed bits of foam, and short of the dog using it as a chew toy - it'll most likely last me for years to come, even with daily use.In addition to stretching my back, the roller works the kinks out of my arms and legs too. There are several books to help you figure out how to use this item, or you can use your favorite search engine to search for 'foam roller' or 'foam roller exercises' for both videos and articles to help you discover ways to use your roller.

Whenever my back, legs or shoulders get sore, I take out the roller and it revives that area! One of the best investments I’ve made!