Okay, so you got a great workout in and you’re building muscle. Sure, stretching before and after a workout is great! But have you tried using a foam roller? There are a few benefits that may help ease recovery post workout or even get you ready before sweating. If you don’t have one already, you can grab your very own foam roller here.
The first thing you should know is that there are different densities of foam rollers. Depending on your likeness and preference of pressure, you can get very firm rollers or soft ones. Think of a pool noodle. The denser the athlete, the denser the roller should be.
Foam rolling is like being your own personal massage therapist. It allows you to target areas of your body that may be hard to reach with just your hands. All you need is some room to roll. If you’re about to start a workout, use the roller to gently get your body warm. Doing this
Benefits:
Relieves muscle soreness, tightness, and inflammation
Rolling out your muscles is a great recovery post workout. It helps stretch the muscles and even decreases inflammation. Sometimes foam rolling can hurt, but that’s just you working through your muscle pain.
Possible Increase in Joint Mobility
There have been some studies that show that using a foam roller to stretch out your muscle may increase the overall mobility of your joints. The studies focused on pairing static stretching with foam rolling.
May Help you Relax
Although there is no clear evidence to show that foam rolling helps you reduce stress, it’s a great time to take some deep breaths and focus on your body. If you foam roll for about 20 minutes, you’re allowing your body to recover after your workout.
For best results, try to stretch out and use your foam roller after each workout.
Sources: Perform Better, Healthline, Pexels.com