Approximately 18 hours after a tough workout, it hits you: delayed onset muscle soreness, also known as DOMS. It's the feeling you get when you wake up, but you can't sit up in bed because your abs are aching from a core workout; the regret that sets in when sitting down and standing up seem like unreasonable measures because your butt hurts too much from deadlifts.
DOMS is a symptom of microscopic tears in your muscles. (It sounds like something out of a horror film, but it's actually a good thing.) That pain means your muscle is growing after a workout. Despite that silver lining, pain isn't fun, and there is a way to minimise DOMS: myofascial release.
Most people turn to massage or foam rolling for myofascial release, and--let's be honest--neither a sports therapy massage nor a marathon session with the foam roller are particularly fun. The reason either solution works is it requires applying and releasing pressure to tight areas of tissue. The drawbacks? Massage is expensive, and it's easy to skip out on foam rolling when things get uncomfortable. The TRX Rocker provides a better, affordable alternative. Let's talk about why.
Standard foam rollers come in a uniform density or pattern: you either get a smooth cylinder, or a bumpy style, depending on what you're in the market for. The TRX Rocker, by contrast, has three contact points: a low intensity, lightly-grooved side for more gentle massage, a medium intensity, more deeply-grooved side for deeper release, and the apex of the two sides, for high-intensity target areas. Instead of purchasing three foam roller styles, you can get everything in a single tool with the Rocker.
Even better, the Rocker's unique, tear-drop shape is more intuitive for myofascial release. Imagine placing a standard foam roller on its long side, and kicking it: it would continue rolling away until it lost momentum. A foam roller wants to do the same thing when you're using it. You've probably noticed that your shoulders have to work a lot while you're foam rolling to move your body across the roller. The Rocker shape is designed to rock back and forth, so using it is less draining on your upper body.
With a new year comes renewed commitment to exercise and wellness. Each January, people dive into a workout routine, and spend days on the flip side hobbling around town with DOMS. It's time to break the cycle. Instead of looking at your fitness goals as a way to punish yourself for bad choices of the past, embrace the opportunity to treat your body better in the New Year. Whether you drop into a Spin class, take your dog for a run, or spend hours on your TRX Suspension Trainer, be sure to treat your body right. This is the time for you to get on a roll with your TRX Rocker; are you ready to accept the challenge?
