If you’re new around here, you might not yet know that I have an obsession with post run recovery from what to eat to best stretches to researching whether or not you should have that beer.
When I started running at 20 it was the last thing on my mind, but at 37 I’ve learned that without spending time on post running recovery I’m not going to be running as much, as far or as fast as I’d like.
Prior to knee surgery, I went down the rabbit hole of big recovery things like PRP injections or learning about cortisone shots. Now, we’re back to things we can do at home!
Since I’ve already done a breakdown on how to find the right foam roller and how to use it, today we’re looking outside the box at some of the newer tools to hit the market in the last few years. Some of these I’ve tried and some I haven’t yet, but I thought all were new and interesting to share.
PS – I had this whole post written when it got deleted, so if there are typos you have my humble apologies.
8 New Running Recovery Tools
How long does it take to recover from a run? There’s no standard answer because it depends on your training, your nutrition, your volume of miles, your years running and the list goes on.
However, we know that we can enhance recovery by utilizing the right tools and have I mentioned it enough yet, nutrition. Nutrition is a topic we’ve already chatted about, so today we’re having some fun with the newest fitness gadgets and gizmos targeted towards our post workout recovery.
Most of these are pricier than when I bought my first running store massage stick, but I suppose if they stand in for a massage or keep you from Dr’s visits, then they pay off.
TheraGun – $399
This handheld device which looks like something you might find in the garage toolbox is a powerful tool that used to appear only in chiropractor or physical therapy offices. It utilizes a deep percussion massage to help loosen up muscles so that it can work deeper in to break up knots and tension. There’s not a lot of science around this one yet, but you’ll see plenty of pro athletes rocking it.
RAD Roller – $50
This is how foam rollers should have been designed from the start, with a grove down the middle which ensures that as you roll you aren’t rolling along your spinal column! This is a solid roller best suited for those who have been rolling for awhile and want to work on a deeper myofascial release.
HyperIce Vibrating Roller – $199
This tool is a little combination of the two above therapies! Take your foam rolling to the next level by adding in vibration, which is reported to helps to disrupt pain signals to your brain which allows you to roll deeper and is reported to help you increase your total range of motion.
CBD Oil – $90
This was a brand new to me recovery tool and admittedly one I was SUPREMELY skeptical of in advance. However after a lot of research and testing, I was beyond impressed and I’m positive it played a major roll in getting me back to my pre-surgery mileage over the last month. Read all my FAQs on CBD!
And use code AMANDA20 for 20% off your order!
CTM Band – $40
I’ve never seen anything quite like this and I dig it. Pun intended based on the way this band with nodes will dig in to your knots or sore muscles! It provides a combination of compression and pressure point therapy to assist you in hitting points they way a sports massage therapist would, which will help to alleviate pain and increase range of motion.
Omron Avail TENS Unit – $169
This is another device I tested this year, which surprised me. It’s a great option for reducing pain without drugs, which then allows you to begin the work of physical therapy or using on of the above tools to dig in to the muscle. I wrote a detailed post on how electrical stem works if you’re interested.
CW-X Stablyx Tights – $103
Technically these aren’t new, but every time I bust mine out I get so many questions that I had to share. I LOVE these tights because the way they put bands in to the tights creates a support around the knee and IT Band, which I adore for long runs. They provide some additional support as I increase my mileage, meanwhile at home I pull on some other lighter compression pants for recovery.
Red Light Therapy – $199
I remember a few years ago having a chiropractor use this tool on my ankle a few days prior to a race and it felt dramatically better. Honestly, who knows if it was time or the therapy…but I’m open to anything! In the least scientific way possible, I’ll describe it as the wavelengths of the red light reaching your cells to increase ATP, which reduces cellular stress and allows healing to be kick started.
As we all know running recovery goes well beyond what we do to our muscles, but still…these are fun!! I know I shouldn’t geek out over all things running, but I do and I can’t wait to keep testing out new things and figuring out what’s truly useful.
BONUS TOOL: SCRAPING
After this post, I started to think more about the Graston technique that my chiropractor often did in his office and it made me wonder could it be done effectively at home??
That’s when I found out about the Sidekick Tool, which I’ve been using on my calves and neck lately to get deeper than was ever possible with any roller. Here’s what makes it different:
- more targeted muscle and fascia work
- deep pressure actually pauses the pain signals to your brain
- deep pressure also triggers the release of endorphins
- deep pressure also improves our sense of proprioception
Proprioception means an awareness of how our body is moving through space, which is pretty epically (did I make that word up?!) important when you’re bounding from foot to foot! Better awareness means more speed, agility and less injuries.
You can try the Sidekick tool for 15% off by just click here! This technique, like cupping, has been around for ages, but is only starting to get more attention again recently. It’s traditionally referred to as gua sha or by the tool Graston or more commonly scraping. No matter what we call it, I love the idea of taking recovery in to my own hands and not needing to go anywhere to get the results.
What’s the craziest recovery method you’ve tried?
Looking for more reviews to find the best things for your run?
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Kavleen Kaur
Thank you so much for your post. Keep sharing