What is it?
Foam rolling is a form of stretching that is used in fitness and massage. It is a tool for myofascial release, which is where you reduce tension and increase flexibility and blood flow in the muscles.
Here are three amazing benefits of foam rolling!
1) Improves Your Workout
After foam rolling, exercises and power moves such as weight lifting, did not require as much effort or power to do. According to an article in sports medicine, people who participated in foam rolling before their workout, had a decrease in fatigue. This could be due to the fact that it increases muscle flexibility and improves blood flow. If you’re looking to intensify your workouts, or go for heavier weights, then you definitely should be foam rolling. This could be due to the fact that it increases muscle flexibility and improves blood flow. If you’re looking to intensify your workouts, or go for heavier weights, then you definitely should be foam rolling. (1)
2) Improves Muscle Flexibility
As we stated above, foam rolling is a tool used in self-myofascial therapy. The pressure from the roller improve Joint Range of Motion by massaging out those tense knots that could affect other areas of the body, which also increases blood flow. You’ll be able to be doing deeper squats and improve your posture.(2)
3) Shortens Recovery Time
In a study done in 2018, it is said that foam rolling can help fight (DOMS) Delayed muscle soreness when used immediately after exercise. When participants in this study performed the same exercises, the group that did foam roll, had a huge decrease in pain threshold. (4).
Risks
Keep in mind, foam rolling may be a little painful, but that just means that it is working!
Olympian Coach Mike Boyle, recommends that you focus on the spot where you feel tightness, “In soft tissue mobilization, the tissue is deliberately disrupted in order to produce the exact substances that the tissue needs to heal itself again.” Olympians and athletes roll everyday, and they have seen the benefit that foam rolling causes. (5)