Whether it’s at your physical therapist’s office or your local fitness facility, surely you’ve seen foam rollers. While these cylindrical foam tools can look a bit intimidating, they are extremely powerful when it comes to pain relief and recovery. Here are a few reasons why foam rolling does every body good.
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Ease in motion. We all want to move a little more fluidly, which is why the foam roller comes in handy. When you foam roll regularly, your muscles loosen up and become more hydrated, allowing for less friction, which results in the ability to move with ease and as an added bonus, these smoother muscles are less likely to result in injury.
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Decrease risk of injury. As previously stated, foam rolling frees us up from having to worry about injuries. When we use the foam roller as a way of self-massage, our increased circulation provides better range of motion and better circulation throughout the entire body, allowing for more effective body movements. When our bodies undergo myofascial release as a result of foam rolling, our coordination is naturally improved, lessening our chance of making an improper movement that could end up in an injury. And, if you do find yourself on the receiving end of an injury, foam rolling can actually help you recovery faster, thanks to some helpful self-massage techniques.
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Rapid recovery. Because foam rolling provides a means to push blood to an injured area, that area will naturally heal faster. When it comes to workout recovery, foam rolling after a workout, has been known to decrease recovery time, allowing you to be active again in much less time. After our workouts, our muscles and joints get sore due to the build-up of lactic acid, which is a waste product. Foam rolling after an activity session, will wash the acid away and recruit new blood and nutrients to the muscles that are fatigued. These muscles will start rebuilding as soon as they receive the necessary nutrients for recovery, and foam rolling speeds up this process.
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Money-saving. A one-hour massage typically costs at least $60 and while it’s a great way to give yourself some much-needed self-care, it can get pretty pricey. A foam roller costs under $30, and can be used at your convenience, in the privacy of your own home. In our next post, we will give you some foam rolling techniques, designed to provide you with pain relief and injury prevention.
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