in august i developed IT Band syndrome, apparently, and learned from an orthopedist that essentially all the tendons in both my legs are "tight as bowstrings".
so i'm off the bike for at least 6 more weeks + i'm in PT + i'm rolling around on a foam roller all the time.

i figured that i would also work on stretching my back, since i'm doing a lot more sitting now than i did when i could ride. this thing had good reviews and was like $20 on amazon. i'm hoping that i can use this time to really stretch my lower back, get really flexible, and get a little longer/lower on the bike.
i do about 5 minutes at a time and the thing feels great.

i'm wondering if anyone else has ever used anything like this.

this is what it looks like.



blogs.bikeforums.net/inertianinja

gonna follow along here since i have back problems, IT band problems, tight hips and back and legs and everything...

how exactly does that thing work? do you lie on it on your back?

yes, you lie on your back and it stretches your lower back

Not sure how leaning backwards, which is what this product does, will help stretch your back and legs. I have had ongoing low back issues for about 15 years. Three buldging disks and tight hammies and low back muscles. The foam roller is good for general massaging of the area. My therapist recommends basic forward and side bending stretches and strength training. That device you posted does not stretch your back muscles. The posterior chain muscles pull you upright, your abs and hip flexors pull your forward, so when you bend backwards, you are stretching your abs. I would recommend you speak to your therapist about the benefits of using that thing.

It helps by keeping one flexible. It is not the cure for sure but it does help strech the the lower back muscles to assist in flexablity. The biggest problem for lowers back issues is a weak core or abdomen. I have never used such things but have found that stretching/yoga and an inversion table are the best methods in home remedies for lower back pain. Of course seeing a chiropractor doesn't hurt.

I should add that I don't have back or abdomen problems.

6 weeks of PT??

when i first started riding, i literally could not go more than 25-30 miles before my IT Bands would feel like i had tendons grinding against bone. i would have to wait several days (3-6) before riding again with minimal to no pain. tried a bunch of stretches, but the foam roller was the best thing ever. about 40minutes to 1hr a day, and i could ride consistently w/no pain about 1.5 weeks after i began using it. hurt soooo bad, my eyes would water...but felt instantly better/more flexible and pain free afterward.

Time spent riding is time spent sitting.

Don't be deluded that cycling is without it's biomechanical demerits.

Why not visit a chiropractor and let him fix it?

Save yourself $20 and practice doing the cobra yoga pose. However, if you want to get lower on your bike. This won't do anything for you, you should stretch your ham strings and strengthen your core.

looks like something you wasted money on...coulda just used a soccer ball

The proper back-stretching soccer balls are more than $20.

Or use the foam roller for the back. I roll on it...stuff pops. Feels good.

And I've read recently that it might not be the best idea to roll fast over muscle tissue. According to this book, roll slowly until you find a sore spot. Remain on the sore spot until the pain gradually lessens.

+1

+2. Foam rolling is God's gift to back pain. I have a partially bulging disc that I got from weight lifting and it gets aggravated once in a while. A foam roller helps relieve that better than anything else I've tried.

On a funny side note, anyone ever just leave the roller at the small of the back (in essence doing exactly what this thing the OP posted about)? I laugh because there are handful of times where I've actually fallen ASLEEP with the foam roller there

"Hi, my name is John, and I also leave the roller at the small of my back."

Have not fallen asleep yet.