Hugo

What is your opinion as an SSC about foam rollers, massage guns and other gadgets to affect fascial lines with the aim of improving flexibility and joint mobility? Are they really effective or are they just another commercial fashion in the world of fitness?

My question comes from the fact that I am considering the possibility of buying a massage gun to apply to the calves and plantar fascia. It has never crossed my mind to buy this type of instrument because I have been improving my joint mobility a lot thanks to the training with the Olympic bar. However, ankle dorsiflexion is what is most resisted and although improvement occurs, it occurs more slowly. My soleus muscles are too short and in my personal case this is the factor that is limiting me from being able to descend correctly in the squat with the bar below parallel. Above all, in the sense of allowing my knees to be in front of my toes. My adductors already have enough flexibility to allow me to descend deep, so my limited mobility in my ankles is the weak link that I need to correct to allow me to execute the technique correctly. I am also interested in improving my ankle dorsiflexion to improve my vertical jump and sprint technique, and other martial arts skills.

Mark Rippetoe

“What is your opinion as an SSC”

I am not actually an SSC.

“about foam rollers, massage guns and other gadgets to affect fascial lines with the aim of improving flexibility and joint mobility? Are they really effective or are they just another commercial fashion in the world of fitness?”

People like them because they hurt pretty bad, and that has to be helpful, right? Some people swear they help. The problem is that when you roll on a 6-inch diameter cylinder of any composition or surface configuration, the force you are applying to the soft tissue is only compression – pushing straight down -- without a component of shear, which is necessary to stretch fascias. When a therapist performs a IT band release, for example, he starts at the knee and shoves down at a 45-degree angle while sliding up the lateral thigh, stretching the tendon and the underlying fascias, causing them to release if there are adhesions. Simply smashing straight down is a different mechanical stress – hurts like hell, but doesn't stretch.

“My question comes from the fact that I am considering the possibility of buying a massage gun to apply to the calves and plantar fascia.”

You cannot apply the same shearing stress to your own legs because of your limited ability to duplicate the angle against the leg that a therapist can apply. Especially your plantar fascia.

“I am also interested in improving my ankle dorsiflexion to improve my vertical jump and sprint technique, and other martial arts skills.”

SVJ is absolutely unrelated to mobility of any kind, for several reasons. You seem to have absorbed a bunch of mythology and incorporated it into your worldview. Like a Muslim.

3rdcoast_slope

I got the bug that will probably bring more pain and suffering to my family and I than Covid could only imagine. I’m talking about the car bug. At 33 years old, after paying off all debt, home owner, kids, I guess the bug had the opportunity to infect me. I would like to learn as much as I can the right way about cars. Is there a book, website, or channel that breaks down vehicles like the SS method breaks down strength? Why certain models, engines, transmissions, and chassis work? I listen to Scotty Kilmer and I like him a lot…seems to distill a lot of BS.

I listened to your car podcast and I too have not been a corvette or Chevy fan. Before cars, and even after my limited research shows the quality of GM is shit. HOWEVER, the new C8 Corvette z06 has moved the engine, fully auto, and is going toward the super car market. Have you looked into it? I think you like manual mustangs so this may not interest you. I really really like this car… I want to ruin my life savings for it lol. I guess this is why I should have stuck to liking Corollas.

Mark Rippetoe

I have learned about cars the hard way – from having one in the shop every week, a process that continues to this day. I have owned dozens of cars and trucks, and have had the opportunity to compare lots of automotive systems, and I have studied mechanics and designs on my own for a long time. If there is a shortcut, somebody will tell us. Wikipedia is pretty good for cars.

I will never own a Corvette.