Gaiam Restore Ultimate Foot Massage Roller, Blue

I find this gentle enough to use for Plantars Fasciitis. I saw spiky balls advertised on amazon but I dont understand why people would risk tearing the fascia even more with such products. I also saw smooth balls but they didnt seem like they would break up that crunchy feeling of scar tissue build up that often occurs with pf. i love the perfect size of this ball. it is not expensive, seems non-toxic, is super easy to use and roll your foot on when you are seated -doesnt easily run away from you. It is super strong but has the nodules on it that shouldnt cause tears or be too aggrivating on existing tears while being able to work on the knots and scar tissue. I can feel the crunchy areas when i rub my foot over it applying very little pressure but just enough to break up the crunchies. It feels really good to rub my foot on it. I had severe pain walking all day long and after one day it using the ball and massaging my calf, it started to subside and within 2-3 days pain was gone. you can also stretch your toes and do calf stretches with this and rub your heel and sides of foot -your whole underside of your foot. i also used it against the door to break up knots in my shoulder that was super painful. Its good for hands, neck, too. easy to clean. Just great for trigger points and pf pain relief and keeping feet healthy to help prevent recurrence of pf and other trigger point pain. Love this small ball. Lastly, I wanted to say... dont stand on this or any other ball.... it doesnt seem like a good idea if you have pf as it might increase tears in the fascia why would anyone recommend that... but people do it.

I have been having lots of pain on the soles of my feet upon standing lately. It almost felt like the bottom of my feet had been hit with a bat a bunch of times, like a bruised feeling. At 38 I was hobbling when I would get up for the first while. I researched and the best I could figure was that I have plantar faciitis. I looked into the socks and sleeve things but too expensive and I wasn't sure how much they'd help. I looked into foot rollers next and mostly got the rolling pin style in results. I saw this ball though, about half the price of the other style and I figured I could massage more areas of my feet than a roller bar would let me. It came in the other day and at first I was really disappointed, mostly in myself. Why did I just spend 5 bucks on a small rubber ball?! But then I used it. Instant relief of the sore muscles in my soles! Even better, I stood up a bit after and to my surprise NO PAIN!!! This was after one use, probably less than 2 minutes long. I just rolled it around under my feet, with some pressure. I did tiny back and forth type motions but it does have a link and info for more intentional exercises if you need them The pain does come back if I sit for a long time, so I make sure that when I'm sitting there or feel the pain building in my heels, that I use the ball. I'm really, really happy with it! It's a hard, rubber feeling ball and it's smaller than you'd think. Seems solid not hollow but obviously don't stand on it! You could probably do the massage standing but it's not for putting your whole weight on. The nubs are raised enough to help massage but are not pointy or uncomfortable at all. Comes in a box, so you could wrap it if gifting. Very pleased with my purchase!

Honestly, I felt a little silly buying this. I had persistent plantar fasciitis and I was really struggling to soothe it. I own a couple of lacrosse balls and had been using those, but they felt slightly too big? This is a little more compact - bigger than a golf ball, smaller than a lacrosse ball. It was more in line with the shape of the arch of my foot. The little nubbins are pretty helpful too. It is firm and compact, but the nubbins have a little bit of give to them so you're not really stabbing yourself in the bottom of the foot. After the plantar fasciitis resolved, I have found myself using this for other muscle tightness and aches and pains. It was money well-spent.

Made of hard rubber, comfortable to use. I place it on a towel since it will roll away on the wood ffloor. It's about as big as a pingpong ball I wish it was bigger, that will raise the foot off the floor when the ball is in the arch area while all the muscles of the foot are relaxed. That would have made rolling it back and forth much more effective. Instead, I have to dorsiflex to keep my forefoot off the floor, thus my foot is not related when rolling. If I want tuse it on relaxed foot muscles, I have to use it as a stationary pinpoint pressure ball, roll it to another position, relax then press. This is good but I'm still looking for my old knobby one that was as big as a tennis ball which I consider the best I've ever used. At that size, both the heel and the forefoot are off the floor, all the foot muscles are relaxed, and I can roll it from heel to toes without effort.

This product feels good to use. I'd never used something similar. My feet are way more sensitive than I knew before, and it's been interesting rolling this thing around under my feet while doing other things on the computer. I lay down a towel on the floor beneath the computer desk. Set it on it. And then use it with socks on or bare foot. It feels great. I'm not sure what specific therapeutic benefit it has, but I can attest that it makes me way more aware of my feet, and the tactile sensitive nature of my feet than I was before. It exceeds my expectations for such a simple thing. This applies to the Gaiam foot hot/cold roller too. They both feel great to use interchangeably. They're both super sturdy and won't need replacement. My recommendation is to put a towel down between the rollers and a hard wood floor to make it easier to use, and to keep any possible marking of the floor to a minimum. The towel feels nice to the foot, and keeps the roller from slipping. This roller ball does have a tendency to roll away on hard wood. Don't forget about it after it rolls away, and then step on it in the dark. it could be dangerous. :) Highly recommended! It makes me feel more aware of the subtle intricate nature of my feet. Enjoy!

Love it! It helps relieve tension and pain in my feet. It works on other parts of your body, too. It feels really good on my hands, arms, and back. It's bigger than a golf ball but smaller than a tennis ball. It feels like solid rubber and has a bit of weight to it. It can withstand pressure with no problem. I try to put as much weight as I can onto it to help relieve foot pain. This little ball provides immediate, significant relief. I come home from work every day hobbling from the pain, and this is on brand new shoes with inserts. It has been so difficult finding relief. I am seriously impressed by this ball. It does the trick! I am planning on recommending this to my family and friends. I've already got my partner using it!

One of the best purchases I ever made. When I had plantar fasciitis I did all of the exercises for it except using a ball and I was still in a lot of pain. But in the span of a week I had my very painful plantar fasciitis cured. Once I started using this ball the pain scaled down to nothing and I feel as if I'm completely cured from plantar fasciitis after having it for years.

I hate purchasing multiple items that are supposed to do the same thing. I already own a lacrosse ball, and many other things used for massaging feet. I have spent a lot of money to deal with chronic plantar fasciitis. However, I was not getting the relief I needed and bought this as a last ditch effort before going back to PT. It was what I needed! Between this little ball (which works great for massaging other muscles as well) and a foot rocker/stretcher I am doing better than I have been in years. I never touch my lacrosse ball or any of the other expensive plantar fasciitis tools I have anymore. I use the foot rocker morning and night for two minutes and the gaiam ball as needed. I had the foot rocker previously and it was not enough on its own. This little ball is wonderful. Just remember not to push too hard when using it.