“Um…yea I think I have one of those somewhere…I’m not really sure what to do with it though”

Is usually the response I get when I ask people if they have a foam roller. While foam rolling doesn’t cause any real physical change to muscle or fascia, there are some benefits to it.
These are all still being studied to find definitive answers, but so far the benefits of foam rolling include:

-Minimize “trigger points” or knots by allowing muscle tissue to move more freely

-Improve workouts by warming up the muscles/fascia prior

-Improve post workout recovery by increasing blood flow

-Decrease sensitivity and neuromuscular tension in a muscle

-Joint manipulation via pressure (spine)

Foam rolling can be uncomfortable when you first start, but like most things the more you use it the better it will get. Your muscle tension will decrease and it will only be uncomfortable when you’re really sore or have specific knots to work through.

The density of the roller can really make a difference on the comfort level as well, so start with something a bit softer if you have never used one before and work your way up to a more dense one.

I can’t imagine living without my foam roller if for nothing else my back and I recommend them to all of my clients!

Do you use a foam roller? If so, what is your favorite/least favorite body part to work on?