Rolling Your Way To Injury Prevention: The Benefits Of Foam Rollers

What looks like a rolled up yoga mat could actually be the smartest purchase you’ve ever made as an athlete. You can infer a lot about a foam roller just from its name. It’s a large piece of foam shaped into a cylindrical “roller.” Not convinced yet? Read below for more information about what this funny, yet ingenious tool can do for you.

What Does a Foam Roller Do?

Essentially the foam roller works to massage your body, lessen muscle pain and improve blood flow. The key is that you use your own body weight work out the “kinks” and sore spots, in your legs, back, shoulders and arms.

There are numerous ways you can use the roller to your benefit. Consider these advantages:

• Foam rollers work to break down scar tissue and soft tissue adhesion.
• A foam roller can help relieve muscle tightness or inflexibility.
• The roller massages away the buildup of fascia (soft tissues just below the skin) to help prevent injury.
• A foam roller works out areas of tightness that limit your range of motion and keep you from performing your best.
• This tool helps relieve stress. Think of a session with the foam roller as being comparable to a deep tissue massage.
• It’s hard to maintain flexibility when your muscles are tight or tense. Using the foam roller before stretching helps warm up and roll out tension, making those stretching sessions all the more impactful.

If you or a loved one experience leg pain that a foam roller can’t help, please contact Matthew Boes M.D. for pain relief and repair.