Facts about Foam Rolling
Foam rollers or foam rolling sports massager are the latest trend in health and fitness. When the role of ‘fascia’ became known to users of self-massager instruments, the foam roller became popular. While it is true that manual therapists who worked with professional athletes are aware that fascial restrictions are cause by these body connective tissues called “fascia”, they are also found all over our body from our head to our toe. These fibrous connective tissues is the one that is instrumental or the framework that help support and protect individual muscles groups, organs, and the entire body as a unit. These tissues also help support the body by enable us to perform functional activities like sitting, squatting, jumping, running etc. When this is distorted, it can cause poor blood flow, weakens the impulses of the nerve, flexibility and other ranges of motion becomes limited and a host of other physical ailments. So a distorted fascia causes pain, tightness, and discomfort. The pulling, torque, and compression on the fascia can happen during heavy workouts.
To release muscle tightness or trigger points we do self-massage or scientifically known as the self-myofascial release. Pressure applied to specific bodily trigger points help the muscles to recover and return to their normal functions. This means an elastic muscle and a muscle that is ready to perform at a moment’s notice.
A common example of a trigger point is the point of pain that you will feel while foam rolling. It is an uncomfortable but bearable pain. You will feel better after the process. The best foam roller to use here are the triggerpoint foam roller or the triggerpoint grid foam roller.
A lot of people today find that deep tissue massage is the best way to release the tightness in the muscles, although it is very uncomfortable and at times, painful, but it helps to reestablish proper movement patterns and pain free movements which cannot be relieved by stretching alone. The muscle roller and other foam rollers are very popular today because of its effects. Breaking up muscle knots can help regain normal blood flow and function and can only be achieved with the help of the best foam roller or muscle roller sticks.
How then do you use foam rollers properly? What you need to do is to apply first a moderate pressure to a specific muscle or muscle group using a back roller, back foam roller or any other kind of roller and your bodyweight. You should roll slowly, an inch per second, and roll it over the tight or painful muscle and then pause for a few seconds while taking time to relax as much as possible. Stay on this pressure point for five to thirty second and you should start to feel that the muscle begins to release its tightness.
The best time when to foam roll is after strenuous activities or athletic activities. If you are interested to find a good foam roller check out foam foller reviews online for the best foam rollers available.