There are so many options of foam rollers, self-massage tools, and
vitamins that claim to help you recover faster or become more injury
resistant. They come in all shapes and
sizes, cost anywhere from a little to a lot, and help to focus on different
areas of your body. I saw a roller
called the HELIX from RAD Roller. It had a very
different shape than many of your typical foam rollers or sticks. I was fortunate enough to be able to test out
the HELIX and another product that they offer called the RAD Roller, their
original product.
RAD Roller is based out of Boulder Colorado, one of the healthiest
places in America. Michael Mallory, a
biomechanics specialist, and Dan McIntosh, a professional triathlete, came up
with the idea to fill a void in the massage tool industry. They wanted to create a massage tool that
could be used on the back that would not put pressure on the bones in your back
and neck. This is a common complaint I have
with almost every foam roller out there.
That is where the RAD Roller came into existence. 
After a short time, the RAD Roller was expanded from the original
(blue) to a firmer model (black) and a softer model (green). They look like two racquetballs that are
attached in the center. The balls dig
into the areas along your spine in your neck and back, but the gap between the
balls does not put pressure on the spine itself. I have found that my back and neck are two
areas where I really have to take care of because they are areas that I tend to
be more injury prone. In fact, I have had neck pain off and on for years and
after only a few weeks of using the RAD Roller, I have notice a significant
reduction in neck pain. All I have to
say is WOW!!!
The HELIX is another great tool for unlocking stiffness in your neck
and back and is also great for flushing out toxins from your muscles. The HELIX is 12.5 inches long and 3 inches
wide. It only weighs one pound and is
has a unique shape. RAD Roller designed
the HELIX shape to mimic the double helix, which are the building blocks of our
bodies. The design, like the RAD Roller,
has a void in the center of the roller to ensure that you do not put pressure
on your spine. It doesn’t make sense to
hurt yourself when you are trying to relieve stiffness does it?
I have to say that I really like both the RAD Roller and HELIX. I find that the RAD Roller can be used to
work out knots and stiffness in almost any muscle. It really gets into those muscles in ways
that larger foam rollers cannot. I
tested the original RAD Roller and found that the stiffness was just right for
me. The HELIX is great for really
working on your back and neck. I found
that it took a little while to get used to the smaller diameter because I was
used to larger diameter foam rollers. Don’t let this scare you though. The HELIX truly does work muscles in ways a
traditional foam roller cannot.
The main reason why they made their products the sizes that they do is
to make sure that they are easy to pack for your family vacations or races out
of town. Try doing that with your 3 foot
long foam roller. Click here for HELIX exercises. Click here for RAD Roller exercises.
Pros:
Great Prices
Can easily travel with you.
Can release tension and toxin in hard to reach areas
Multiple firmness options for the RAD Roller
RAD Rollers’ Media Links:
I
am so glad that I stumbled across the RAD Roller and HELIX. They are both amazing products that could
really take your recovery and training to the next level. You can pick up the RAD Roller for $24.99 and
the HELIX for $49.00. They are both
available on the RAD Roller website and at Amazon. They also offer kits that include multiple RAD
Roller products. Check them
out and let me know what you think.
Note:
I received this product in exchange for a review. The review is my
personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular
opinion of it. I am not a doctor, so
please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.
