Why YOU NEED a foam roller (A must read)

Over the years, I’ve participated in many sporting events & had a very active fitness based lifestyle. Without fail everywhere I’ve been, I’ve seen foam rollers. I dismissed them as just another warm up device/ trend. But recently out of pure boredom & curiosity, I looked into them & was blown away. I’ve come to the conclusion that regardless of your lifestyle (super active, completely sedentary, etc.), you should absolutely have a foam roller. If you’ve never looked into them yourself let me give you the simple description of a foam roller. They are self massage objects used to simulate different types of actual manual hand massages. The different textured surfaces simulate different types of massages (finger massage, palm massage, knuckle massage, etc.). Let me tell you why you’re missing out big time if you don’t already have one. These are some of the benefits:

1) Ease muscle pain

Whether you’re sore from sitting at an office desk too long or from an intense workout, foam rolling can help alleviate it effectively. They can reduce any inflammation & muscle soreness. According to healthline — “One small studyTrusted Source of eight male participants found evidence that foam rolling after exercise may help reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness.” They saw an overall decrease in soreness & ended up performing better in a later workout.

2) Myofascial Release

With this benefit, you have to know what Fascia is. Fascia is “a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber and muscle in place.” They surround the muscles, bones, nerves, and organs of the body. If you use the foam roller correctly, you’ll achieve something called myofascial release which basically means that you release any tension in the fascia due to trauma, posture, or inflammation. This will increase your mobility & alleviate minor discomfort you may experience.

3) Increase Blood Flow

Research supports the fact that properly utilizing a foam roller can increase blood flow & benefit cardiovascular health as a result. While applying the proper level of tension to your muscle with the roller, you can increase blood flow & circulation to the soft tissue which works to reduce arterial stiffness and improve vascular endothelial function (a thin membrane that lines the inside of the heart and blood vessels. Endothelial cells release substances that control vascular relaxation and contraction as well as enzymes that control blood clotting, immune function and platelet (a colorless substance in the blood) adhesion.).

Summary

I’m not endorsing foam rollers as some kind of magical phenomenon that provides instant relief to pain. I am however hoping that based on this article, you can see why it is beneficial to have one & how using one can provide minor health benefits — To a certain degree provide pain relief & help prevent injury. Let’s get happier & pain free together… :)