If you are involved with massage or fitness, you’ve probably heard of foam rollers before. Maybe you’ve even tried them out yourself, but are still perplexed as to why so many people use this device. What is the big deal about a cylinder of foam? There are a lot of questions out there about foam rollers, and we are here to help clear up some of the confusion and share why you should be foam rolling.
Reduce Soreness
When you use a foam roller after exercising, you can greatly reduce the amount of muscle pain and soreness you experience afterward. Focusing on the area you worked out with the foam roller massages the fascia and breaks up any knots or adhesions that developed during exercise. That means that after “leg day” or a long run, you’ll be able to walk a bit closer to normal.
Increase Flexiblity
Flexibility is the key to longevity, and regularly using a foam roller can help you to attain that. With a foam roller, you are literally rolling out and lengthening your muscles, which increases your flexibility. When you are more flexible, you are less likely to injure yourself as you exercise or even go about your normal day.
Less Injuries
Your muscles are put under a lot of stress, particularly when you push them to exhaustion during exercise. Even going to work and sitting in your chair all day is a form of stress that is put on your muscles, so it is important to give them the care they need. Think of foam rolling as a way of giving yourself a deep tissue massage without the hefty price tag. Set aside some time every night for a little self-care with the foam roller and help your muscles recover from a long day, which will reduce your chances of getting injured.
Where To Start?
Just get yourself a foam roller, and get rolling! Take caution and avoid your knees, low back, and neck when using it. Otherwise, you can safely roll over every other muscle group in the body that you can reach comfortably. A great place to start is with your hamstrings, glutes, upper back, quads, calves, and lats. You might find that foam rolling is just what your routine was missing! For more tips on foam rolling, just ask during your next chiropractic appointment. You can even enjoy 50% off our foam rollers with the code 50ROLL!