Foam rollers are becoming very popular lately, and with good reason. The foam roller not only stretches muscles and tendons but it also breaks down soft tissue adhesions and scar tissue. By using your body weight and a cylindrical foam roller you can stretch muscles and tendons also called myofascial release release, which is basically self massage.
Foam rolling is great before and after exercise. Here are the top benefits of using a foam roller.
Prevent Injuries. By foam rolling before exercise you can gently massage and stretch muscles fibers, making it less likely to pull a muscle or injure yourself in some way. Foam rolling before a dynamic warm-up will warm you up faster and will be more efficient.
They are inexpensive. For around 20 dollars you can have your own foam roller and we recommend this high density foam roller. By using one every night you will definitely notice a difference, and will need to see your massage therapist less!
Relieve tension and stress. While you are rolling over your tight muscles be sure to focus on where you have the most tension and soreness. By applying pressure to the tight areas, the elastic muscle fibers are altered from a bundled position to a smooth straight alignment. Knots and tension around the joints will quickly be reduced.
Prevent soreness. We all know how important it is to stretch after exercise. Think of foam rolling as a deeper more efficient way of stretching. By applying pressure to your tight and shortened muscles blood circulation will be increased allowing your muscles and joints to heal faster.
Increase flexibility. The foam roller and static (standard) stretching go hand in hand; the roller helps you remove restrictions, and then static stretching helps you restore the muscle to its proper length. Because restrictions are removed, the muscle is ready to be stretched after foam rolling.
Foam rolling should be a part of your daily workout routine. Here are 5 exercises to get you started.
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