- #1 Benefit: Decreases Muscle Pain with Foam Rolling
- #2 Benefit: Reduces Injuries
- #3 Benefit: Relaxation with a Foam Roller
- #4 Benefit: Foam Rolling is Cheaper than a Massage
- #5 Benefit: Recover Faster from a Tough Workout
- Why Everyone Should be Foam Rolling
- Which Foam Roller Do you Recommend?
- Have your Say About Foam Rollers
Foam rolling is one of the latest trends in health and fitness. You can find them at fitness centres, CrossFit boxes, physiotherapists’ offices, the gym, in homes and even suitcases! Although foam rolling isn’t a new thing, it has definitely gained in popularity in recent years and for good reason!
Foam Rolling is great for your body as well as your mental health. Keep on reading for our top reasons why foam rolling should be an everyday part of your workout routine. Or, a part of daily routine apart from working out. Everyone should be using a foam roller!
Here are the top five reasons why we think that everyone should be using one, starting today.
#1 Benefit: Decreases Muscle Pain with Foam Rolling
The first benefit you can get from foam rolling is a reduction in muscle pain. Many people experience muscle pain because injuries can cause scarring of the muscle tissue, or the fascia that surrounds the muscles. As a result of this scarring, there are areas where the fascia adheres to itself or a muscle. This causes the muscle not to move freely which can cause pain.
Foam rolling works by hitting these points where the fascia is adhering to something and then it releases it. Although foam rolling can be a little bit painful while you’re doing it, over time, you’ll have fewer and fewer sore spots as the trigger points are released. Keep doing it consistently over a few months and you’ll feel good. Really good!
For more details about foam rolling and reduction in muscle pain, check out our article: Do Foam Rollers Really Work?
#2 Benefit: Reduces Injuries
Adhesions in your muscles and connective tissues are bad for your body! They reduce flexibility and mobility, as well as cause your muscles not to contract uniformly. All of these things can lead to injury. However, foam rolling works by releasing these adhesions which can allow your muscles to move more freely. This will result in fewer injuries over the long-term.
It just makes sense! If your body can move freely, in the way that it was designed to, you’ll be more comfortable and not put undo strain on your body.
#3 Benefit: Relaxation with a Foam Roller
While foam rolling can be a little bit painful, especially at the beginning when you have lots of adhesions, it gets less and less painful as time goes on. That’s where the relaxation factor kicks in! Try out a few foam roller workouts and we’re sure that you’ll feel more relaxed at the end than you did at the beginning. it just plain feels good!
Some scientists have theorized that foam rolling can help reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in the brain. This happens because rolling activates the sensors underneath your skin and also the central nervous system.
According to more recent studies, the latter benefit actually appears to be a lot stronger than the former.
#4 Benefit: Foam Rolling is Cheaper than a Massage
A massage with a registered massage therapist can be expensive-upwards of $100 per session. This is out of the range of many of our budgets. However, a foam roller can offer many of the same benefits that a top-quality massage can but without the hefty price-tag.
Try foam rolling for a month or two and see what you think. We think that you’ll feel the same benefits and never feel the need to get a massage for any reason other than just plain relaxation. What we mean is that you won’t ever feel like you’re desperate to get to your massage therapist because of muscle pain if you use a foam roller.
Does Foam Rolling Work? Find out Here!
Check out this short video for all the details you need to know about whether or not it really works
#5 Benefit: Recover Faster from a Tough Workout
According to this study by a professor of exercise science in Canada, those who engaged in a heavy leg workout followed by foam rolling were able to recover much more quickly than those who just did the workout alone. They experienced less soreness, as well as were able to jump and perform other physical activities to a higher standard 72 hours after the initial workout. Clearly foam rolling can help you recover quickly, so if you hit the weights hard, follow up your workout with a foam rolling session.
A theory as to why foam rolling helps you recover from a tough workout is that it increases blood flow. In the same way that a deep tissue massage increases blood flow to whatever area is being worked on, foam rolling does the same. A foam rolling session focused on the back will increase blood flow to that area. The same is true with any other part of your body. This increased blood flow brings nutrients and oxygen to your muscles, as well as taking away lactic acid and other toxins.
Why Everyone Should be Foam Rolling
This concludes our short list of why we think that everyone should be foam rolling! If you’re still on the fence as to whether or not you should use a foam roller, here is our challenge for you: just try it! Use a foam roller consistently for at least two weeks and see how you feel.
We think that you’ll feel better and better as time goes on. Hooked for life? We hope so. We really do hear of very few people who try one out and decide it’s not for them!
If you need some advice about which foam roller will work for you, check out our reviews of some of the most popular brands: Best Foam Rollers.
Which Foam Roller Do you Recommend?
There are a number of top-quality foam rollers on the market today. You’ll want to stick with one of these better quality ones because the foam in them is far more durable and won’t bend, flex, or warp with use over time. This is particularly important if you plan to get a roller for a busy gym or physio clinic, or if you are a heavier person.
You can see some of our top picks below:
Comparison Chart
Have your Say About Foam Rollers
What are your thoughts about using a foam roller to relieve your aches and pains? Leave a comment below and please let us know.
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