The foam roller has gained popularity and significant momentum into the homes of thousands today! A few companies have reinvented these fitness devices lately after several years of research and study. In the past they were mostly associated with hospitals, rehab centers, and the chiropractors offices. Now you can find them everywhere: at the health club, in yoga class, or possibly a friend's house.
A muscular knot is a muscle which is tangled-up in the fascia of our skin. Regular massage of knots (also known as trigger points) frees the muscles from your surrounding fascia. This is called Myofascial Realease. Using foam rollers, which are cylindrical devices made of dense foam, to compress and massage these areas of muscle tension and pain, are what athletes originally implemented.
The typical approach to using a foam roller utilizes body weight to apply pressure on the desired area, with the roller underneath the body, and rolling back and forth slowly until desired. Today, foam rollers are still widely used for their original intention but recent innovations of foam rollers have created other therapeutic uses as well, such as self massage, self Myofascial Release or SMR, static stretching, adding variation to workouts, and improving core strength and stability.
Nobody wants to get injured. But neglecting to recover after workouts can lead to injury. This happens often because most people don't spend enough time to recover after exercising! This includes eating the right food, getting enough sleep and rest, and stretching. The amount of time you exercise should equal the amount of time you spend recovering.
Foam rolling is not for everyone. Speak with your physician before beginning a new fitness regimen. Some other tips when foam rolling are: avoiding joints while rolling and taking considerable more time rolling your painful areas. It is normal to feel discomfort when rolling. This means you are working on a trigger point. But only apply just as much pressure as you can tolerate.
Using a foam roller is rather simple, but may require some getting used to if you're just starting out. It will require some balance and a little core strength, however with just a little practice, you will be rolling out those knots before you know it!
A muscular knot is a muscle which is tangled-up in the fascia of our skin. Regular massage of knots (also known as trigger points) frees the muscles from your surrounding fascia. This is called Myofascial Realease. Using foam rollers, which are cylindrical devices made of dense foam, to compress and massage these areas of muscle tension and pain, are what athletes originally implemented.
The typical approach to using a foam roller utilizes body weight to apply pressure on the desired area, with the roller underneath the body, and rolling back and forth slowly until desired. Today, foam rollers are still widely used for their original intention but recent innovations of foam rollers have created other therapeutic uses as well, such as self massage, self Myofascial Release or SMR, static stretching, adding variation to workouts, and improving core strength and stability.
Nobody wants to get injured. But neglecting to recover after workouts can lead to injury. This happens often because most people don't spend enough time to recover after exercising! This includes eating the right food, getting enough sleep and rest, and stretching. The amount of time you exercise should equal the amount of time you spend recovering.
Foam rolling is not for everyone. Speak with your physician before beginning a new fitness regimen. Some other tips when foam rolling are: avoiding joints while rolling and taking considerable more time rolling your painful areas. It is normal to feel discomfort when rolling. This means you are working on a trigger point. But only apply just as much pressure as you can tolerate.
Using a foam roller is rather simple, but may require some getting used to if you're just starting out. It will require some balance and a little core strength, however with just a little practice, you will be rolling out those knots before you know it!
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