5 Simple & Essential Physical Therapy Tools
- Dr. Gerry Robles PT, DPT
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 30
Whether you’re a combat sports athlete, weekend warrior, or fitness junkie, one thing is universal, recovery is just as important as training.
In this guide, I’m sharing my top recovery tools for athletes that I use both in the clinic and personally. These tools help reduce soreness, improve mobility, and boost performance. They're all available on my Amazon List titled "5 Simple Recovery Tools for Athletes" linked below.
1. Foam Roller – Your Prehab & Recovery MVP
Foam rolling is a simple tool for improving blood flow, mobility, and reducing muscle tightness. Use it before training to warm up or after a workout to speed up recovery. For an effective warm up, couple it with dynamic stretches :)
Why I recommend it:
• Improves circulation/decreases muscle tension
• Improves mobility for your training session
• Easy to travel with (my personal fav)
My pick: The Yes4All high density 36 inch foam roller is one I've bought for the clinic and myself many times. It's affordable and gets the job done. Find it on my Amazon list below. Find a tight spot in whatever muscle you're targeting and roll on it slowly and take deep breaths to relax the muscles. Don't have to go super hard.
2. Massage Gun – Recovery on Demand
A massage gun provides percussive therapy, and is more pin point than the foam roller. Again, improves circulation and relaxes your muscles for improved mobility
Perfect for:
• Active people dealing with sore shoulders, hips, or back
• Quick recovery between intense training sessions
• Can be done any time on a sore muscle and easy to use
I recommend a good quality massage gun, I've tried the cheaper ones and they have broken on me in the clinic. Pick a quiet model with adjustable speeds. Grab it below, Theragun/Therabody has nice ones and it has not broken on me :o
3. Lacrosse Ball – The Small but Mighty Fix
This tiny tool packs a punch. Use it to dig into tender points and muscle tightness that your foam roller can’t reach, similar to the massage gun above
Great for:
• Glutes
• Feet/plantar fascia
• Shoulders and upper traps
It’s simple, affordable, and surprisingly effective. Do as I explained the foam roller and massage gun do above. It's simple and effective.
My pick is linked below in my list.
4. Floss Bands – MobilityWOD Style
Popularized by Dr. Kelly Starrett (another physical therapist), floss bands improve mobility by wrapping a joint or muscle and applying compression as you move. This can help improve tissue glide, reduce pain, and restore range of motion.
Use floss bands to:
• Decrease elbow, knee, or ankle stiffness
• Enhance recovery from tough sparring or lifting sessions
• Support post-injury rehab
These are also linked in my list below :)
5. Creatine – Recovery from the Inside Out
Let’s not forget internal recovery. Creatine monohydrate is one of the most researched supplements in sports science. It supports ATP regeneration, strength, and overall recovery. Lot's of studies showing how it helps with cognition as well lately.
Why athletes love it:
• Helps muscle recovery & energy production
• May reduce post-training fatigue
• Supports lean muscle growth when combined with training
My top creatine pick (clean, micronized, and affordable) is linked below.
Final Thoughts
Recovery doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools, you can train harder, recover smarter, and stay injury-free. These are the exact products I recommend to my athletes and patients at Art of PT Sports Physical Therapy, LLC.
Want to upgrade your recovery game?
Check out my full Amazon Idea List: Recovery Tools for Athletes and start building your personalized recovery kit.
Questions or concerns about these tools? Reach out or comment below. Also, don't forget to sign up for our newsletter :)
Until next time,
Dr. G
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
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