C|Net | The Best Foam Rollers for Muscle Soreness and Stiffness, According to Pros

C|Net ventures away from the tech world in search of the best foam rollers for muscle soreness and stiffness, yoga, and targeted stretching. Of course when they went looking for authoritative voices, they tapped Heather Jeffcoat for her expert opinion.

Whether you want relief from post-workout soreness or general tension, these are the rollers to try.

Foam rollers, which are used to increase range of motion and help ease muscle tightness and muscle soreness, are extremely popular in the fitness world. If you need some help to smooth out the tension and kinks that build up from daily stresses, such as sitting most of the day while working, or if you're looking for a good recovery tool after working out at home, a foam roller can help.

Foam rolling is kind of like using a rolling pin on your muscles -- it can feel intense at first, but if you're consistent with the practice, it will aid in muscle recovery. Plus, the process will feel good, and you'll notice less muscle tension and soreness over time. Furthermore, a muscle roller can be used for deep tissue massage, to loosen up a tight muscle, for myofascial release, to increase blood flow and more.

The OPTP Pro-Roller is a softer roller that measures 36 inches in length. Although this roller takes up more space because it's so long, you can do a lot more with it -- like lie on it to help release your spine and roll both of your legs easily at the same time.

This roller is soft but still supportive. Many foam rollers are too hard for my patients that have chronic pain. This version allows them to get a comfortable postural stretch and later transition to release work on the same roller without all the direct pain a firm roller can cause." -- Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, physical therapist and founder of Fusion Wellness PT.

Foam rollers for muscle soreness and other applications have become a "must-have" item for a complete workout routine. Click here to read the full article with links to all of the various foam rollers they reviewed.