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August 19, 2004
Tight Legs
For almost a month now I've been struggling with a series of not quite injuries. Last night before I went to bed my right calf was so tight I could actually see a knot in it. I did a pretty good job of trying to work it out with The Stick and a tennis ball, but it is still on the tight side. My legs usually aren't tight, in fact the massage therapist usually comments that she can't believe that I'm a runner because my legs are usually so loose. My piroformis tends to get tight, but a nice elbow in the butt usually cures that.
I've tried to be diligent about stretching and using The Stick lately. Does anyone have any ideas other than going to the massage therapist weekly (which by the way is not really in the budget unless it is absolutely necessary). The other problem with going weekly is she works so deep that I can't run afterwards and as I mentioned earlier, I really can not run in the morning before I go to work.
All of the rotating problems on my right foot feel fine this morning as does the funky knee thing. I decided yesterday to not go to the gym to do anything. I took a little bit of the advice that I tell everyone else that the aches and pains are my body telling me that I need to rest and just iced and stretched a little bit at home while I watched the Olympics on TV.
Posted by Blondie at August 19, 2004 10:07 AM
Comments
Have you tried using a foam roller? I find it to be a little bit like massage but, of course, significantly cheaper. I have The Stick too, but I find that the foam roller does a much better job, because you can use your own body weight to apply pressure. I'm always hesitant to give other people advice, but my foam roller has really worked well for me.
Here's a link to the one I have:
http://www.performbetter.com/detail.aspx_Q_ID_E_4278_A_CategoryID_E_235_A_EncDeptName_E_Foam+Rollers
Good luck! (And though I haven't commented on anything you've said yet, I'm really enjoying reading your blog!)
Posted by: Alison at August 19, 2004 11:33 AM
Thanks for the link to the foam roller. I've actually been looking for one since I saw them on the Today Show a few weeks ago. I've been having luck with the tennis ball because I can put my weight into it, but it is HARD!
Posted by: Blondie at August 19, 2004 11:43 AM