The Benefits of Foam Rolling

If you have come into our office there is a very good chance you have seen or heard about foam rollers. They are exactly what they sound like, long cylindrical pieces of hard foam and they are available in varying density, color, texture and length to fit all needs and fitness levels. So you may be wondering, “Why are they so wonderful?” and more importantly “Why should I care about some piece of foam?”

If you do not already know, massage is really good for you and can help you restore flexibility, reduce stiffness and pain and make life a little (or in many cases a lot) happier. Unfortunately, most people are unable to afford getting as frequent of massage as they need to keep them feeling their best, which is why self-massage tools, such as the foam roller were created. When a foam roller is used properly, it can help you to achieve similar results to a massage and can help control your pain and stiffness between treatments. A secondary benefit of foam rolling is increased core strength, because proper form requires using the core muscles for balance and stabilization.

Using a foam roller works on the fascia, the “glue” that holds your body together, the same as massage or ART. (You can read our fascia blog here.) Whether you would like to learn the basics or step up your foam rolling “game” you can come in and we’ll show you how.

“Austin Marathon Relay 2009 116” photo by roger_mommaerts licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.