Yes, a foam roller can help massage out knots and tight spots in muscles, but rollers are often unwieldy and hard to transport. A smaller, more effective, and easier-to-use option is this torture device, er, muscle roller. The spring-loaded, self-adjusting R8 Deep Tissue Massage Roller also packs more force, and it can be used while you’re sitting, standing, or lying down to isolate muscle points. Just clamp it onto a sore spot with comfortable pressure, and then draw it back and forth. It’s especially satisfying to do this while watching TV, according to Wirecutter’s Chris Heinonen. He summarizes the experience succinctly: “Hurts but works.”
