ntroduction
It’s no secret that we offer a wide range of high quality foam rollers. As you may expect, there is considerable variation in the style and density of our products, as we attempt to cater to newbies in the world of self myofascial release right through to the elite and most experienced users.
Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to confusion. Accordingly, this article will discuss some of our biggest FAQ’s, including:
- What does EVA mean?
- What does EPP mean?
- What does Shore C hardness mean?
If you have any of these questions then this article will answer your queries.
What Does EVA Mean?
EVA stands for ethylene vinyl acetate and it is the type of plastic that our high quality PhysioRoller and self myofascial release products are made of. EVA is actually what is known as a copolymer, which means it is derived from two types of “monopolymer”, in this case ethylene and vinyl acetate.
EVA has a few properties which make it perfect for use in our foam rollers, these include:
- Great gloss
- Odourless
- Water-proof
- High barrier properties
- Toughness and stress-crack resistances
- Resistant to sunlight (or UV radiation)
Understandably, this makes EVA a perfect substance to use for self myofascial release tools. Our EVA products have Shore C Hardness (discussed below) of 30 +/-, which is ideal for the majority of SMR uses.
What Does EPP Mean?
EPP stands for expanded polypropylene, and it is the type of plastic that our long firm EPP foam rollers are made of. It is a closed cell foam, and is another ideal substance for foam roller use as it is:
- Flexible
- Lightweight
- Recyclable and Environmentally friendly
- Non-toxic
- Very durable
These properties of EPP make it useful across many industries. In fact, due to its ability to absorb and withstand impact it has been used in the automotive industry for bumpers and other motor vehicle components. As you may expect, this makes it very useful for self myofascial release purposes. Our EPP products are a Shore C hardness of 35+, which is discussed below.
What Does Shore Hardness Mean?
Well, lets start with a definition:
Hardness is a measure of how resistant solid matter is to various kinds of permanent shape change when a force is applied.
Whilst there are multiple type of hardness measurement it is dependent on a large number of variables, including:
- Elastic stiffness
- Strength
- Plasticity
- Toughness
Shore hardness is a scale of measurement of different materials. For example our products are measured on the Shore C Hardness scale. To give you an idea of the firmness of our products, check out some common examples of Shore Hardness:
- Rubber Band: Less than 5
- Door Seal: 25
- EVA Foam Roller: 30
- EPP Foam Roller: 35+
- Shopping Cart Wheel: 70
- Hard Hat: 95
Thus, you can see that our products are an ideal hardness for self myofascial release and the majority of pilates exercises. If you have any further questions or queries, please feel free to contact us and ask away!
