Why Every Runner Needs a Tennis Ball

EVERY RUNNER SHOULD HAVE ONE OF THESE

I don’t play tennis… never have really, but I do appreciate the value of a great tool to keep your feet flexible and loose.

The human foot (sorry non-humans, you’re own your own this time), has more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments!  Plus 26 bones and 33 joints.  Your foot actually has 18 major pressure points.  Whether you buy into reflexology or not – you know what tired feet feel like after a long run.  Just like using a foam roller or “the stick” - muscles, joints, tendons benefit from the massaging effects of these tools.

There is a fair chance that a quick check of the closet will find a loose tennis ball or a pack of 3 sells for around $5 – $10 (often less).

I’ve seen people actually stand on a tennis ball, but this is a bit too extreme for me.  I just sit on the edge of bed with my feet on the floor.  Just put your foot on a tennis ball and roll it around with your heel, arch, and ball of your foot.  You can control the amount of weight you want to put on it.  Some days, I want to get a deep massage feeling and others I just want to loosen up the foot a bit. Like a foam roller, it will keep everything loose and feel better. It’s small, cheap, and easy to pack in a bag if you’re traveling. Well worth it!