Thanks for this. I'd agree that foam rolling has never been a huge win for me. It's a nice thing to add to my routine and it's super easy to do while watching TV, messing around on my phone, or having a work conference call with video off.
To be honest, I'm not working with my favorite PT. The benefits, in my mind, come from:
1. something is better than nothing
2. the sense of mindfulness. it seems that a lot of PT is getting the right exercises to do for whatever ails you. as a runner, I generally know what I need to work on but my PT has helped refine my list of things. By getting a shorter, focused list, I can think of my PT almost like a coach rather than trying to come up with my own workout plans.
In terms of insurance, I have a pretty standard high-deductible health plan and an HSA. I pay out of my HSA (and more recently out of pocket, since depleting the HSA) up to my deductible.
I want to run my marathon in the fall and I think of it so far like paying $X to be able to make it to that start line. I've told myself that I'm willing to do what it takes in terms of finances, training, and general suffering to make sure I can toe the start line.
- a mid-level road bike, Trek Emonda SL6. I'm lucky to live in a city that's really fun to bike in (Washington DC) and has a great community of athletes. I get out for multiple rides per week and am finding myself obsessed with cycling
- regular physical therapy. I've started marathon training again and while that in itself beats my body up, I feel like years of sitting at the computer building sites and playing games has really put my legs at a disadvantage. My PT provides manual adjustments, needling, and gives me expert feedback on my regular exercises. Going on a regular basis also helps me be mindful of how I'm treating my body and helps keep foam rolling, stretching, and yoga at the forefront of my mind since I'm regularly paying money for a specialist.