Foam Roller Workbook: Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide to Stretching, Strengthening and Rehabilitative Techniques

by Karl Knopf

Unleash the power of the foam roller with exercises to massage muscles, rehab injuries, and build flexibility from bestselling health and fitness author Dr. Karl Knopf.

Once used exclusively in physical therapy settings, the foam roller has made its way into yoga and pilates studios, gyms and homes. With this simple device, you

•Improve core strength
•Increase flexibility
•Release tension
•Alleviate pain
•Rehabilitate injuries

Foam Roller Workout offers 50 effective exercises paired with clear captions and step-by-step photos that will help you roll your way to better posture, balance and relaxation. In addition, special programs will enhance your sporting life, whether you hit the track, the court, or the slopes.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fitness, Health

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

Reviews

[Monsop Collado · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too Basic and Lacking Depth

I was hoping this book would provide useful tools to improve my flexibility, but it fell short of my expectations. The content was too basic, and I didn’t find anything particularly new or insightful. Most of the information could easily be found on YouTube. If you’re looking for a very simple introduction, it might be helpful, but for more in-depth guidance, I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Jevgenij · Rating 2 out of 5]

Non-massage exercises are garbage. There are much better alternatives without a foam roller.

Massage and releases are a bit better, but it still felt that the author does not know what he is talking about, as a few of those still are unnatural and doing them won't bring anything but discomfort.

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered foam roller workouts while attending physical therapy for a ruptured disc in the thoracic region of my back and shoulder impingement. When physical therapy was completed I needed a guide to continue my workouts at home. This book is an amazing guide for the entire body. It has pictures and descriptions so you can really understand how to execute the moves correctly.

I especially like that there are guides dedicated to specific body areas. For example, if you need to work your upper back, lower back, shoulder, knee, etc, there is a guide that shows you which exercises to perform specifically for these areas. This is extremely helpful because you can reference the guides opposed to going through the entire book and trying to gather the exercises you will need on your own. There are also quite a few exercises geared toward improving balance. All exercises give you a beginner, intermediate, and expert approach. So do not fear if you are new to foam roller workouts or if you need to amp up your current roller workout.

Foam roller workouts have drastically improved my pain level, everyday functioning, and helped to strengthen my body. I would highly recommend to anyone from beginner to expert.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone whose recently invested in a foam roller in the hopes it relieves her newfound daily DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) wake up call, this is a great book.

Love the goals, starting position pic and the steps of how to use the roller. Only focusing on the massage series- there is also the lying, kneeling and standing series for exercises. A great list of programs also with a focus on particular sports to target the areas utilised during that sport- need to try it for the running and swimming section!

Fantastic starter book

[Stéphane Boudreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book introduces the benefits of foam rolling, and associated workouts. It contains tests to assess weaknesses in your posture and flexibility, and prescribe workouts for improvements. The book also provides different workouts related to your sports: running, cycling, baseball, basketball, golf, kayaking, swimming, etc...

[J Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is not an MD, as advertised on Kobo, but an Ed. D., which is a doctorate in education. Regardless of the validity of the material in the book, It is not written by a physician. To the degree that this might mislead customers, it should be corrected.

[Kristen Kuhn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was way too short and limiting. I need more specifics, and more options. I read and completed this in20 minutes..

This book was way to short, and needed more information. I read it in less than a half an hour.

[Anne]

basic book which covers a variety of body areas to use this technique for. Insufficient for foot/ankle which I want to focus on.
Indicates a lot of exercises which require half rollers or multiple rollers to do them.

[Tadhg · Rating 2 out of 5]

bought this for the stretches, not too impressed with all the 'exercises' many of which seem somewhat contrived to me

[Allie Jo Arendell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lacking all current knowledge and understanding of myofascial release. The exercises are illogical and poorly organized as a program.