If you don’t already have a foam roller, it’s time you invest in one! Foam rollers are the perfect item to add to your home gym and to take along with you to the local gym, park, or any other place where you might enjoy a good stretch and workout. If you’re not fully aware of what a foam roller is, then you’re in the right place.
There are several benefits of foam rolling. From better blood circulation to reduced stress levels, there are plenty of reasons why you should begin foam rolling now! Continue reading below to learn more.
1. Better Blood Circulation
Good blood circulation is important for your body’s overall health. This is why better blood circulation is such a beneficial aspect of foam rolling. Without good circulation, our bodies may experience a weakened immune system, numbness in the limbs, and the inability to think clearly.
Foam rolling improves the circulation by loosening any tight areas where blood circulation might not be at it’s best. This is done in the process of myofascial release. Our body’s fascia is made up of collagen fibers that cover our entire body penetrating the muscles, nerves, and organs.
When overtraining is experienced, as many athletes are familiar with, the fascia becomes sore and stiff. Myofascial release is what happens when pressure is applied to these sore and stiff areas and then tension is released, such as when using a foam roller. Once the tension is released, your blood circulation improves.
2. Injury Prevention
Many injuries are associated with tightness and overuse of muscles and other areas in the body. Some of these types of injuries include common running injuries and iliotibial band syndrome. Good stretching and foam rolling techniques are an excellent way to prevent these injuries from happening.
Just be sure to use foam rolling as a preventative to inflammation. Rolling on an already inflamed area might cause it to become more inflamed. When done correctly, foam rolling works as wonderful prevention to many injuries.
Put in place a good exercise routine mixed in with a good stretching and foam rolling routine to get the best results.
3. Reduced Soreness
If you’re a professional athlete or someone who plays sports or likes to work out quite frequently, then you’re most likely familiar with delayed onset muscle soreness. This is the pain that you feel about 24-48 hours after completing an intense workout whether it be in the gym or out on the field or court. Foam rolling is a good way to reduce that soreness and reduce the length of recovery.
Keep up with your foam rolling routine regularly and you won’t have to worry so much about this type of soreness hitting you in between workouts. It’s best to incorporate your foam rolling routine after your workouts. After experiencing intense workouts, lactic acid and other waste products build up causing muscles and joints to become sore.
Massage this soreness out by foam rolling after your workouts. Although there are many foam rollers to choose from, it’s important to select one that’ll enhance your home gym by providing excellent soreness reduction. Check out this review for example.
4. Increased Movement and Flexibility
Right before your workout or before you engage in a sport, you take a minute or two to stretch. For quite some time, this was the most used way to prepare the body and muscles for extreme activity. However, engaging in foam rolling before these activities is an improved way to decrease muscle tightness and also increase flexibility.
Because of this, foam rolling is an excellent way to increase your body’s range of motion. With an improved range of motion, more muscles become usable during a workout, which means a better workout overall.
5. Reduces Stress
When thinking about a relaxing getaway from all the daily stress in our lives, we often imagine ourselves laying on a comfortable massage table. Many athletes receive frequent massages to relax themselves and their muscles. Massages are a great way to relieve tension and stress, which is exactly what foam rolling offers us.
One study even found that myofascial release lowers cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that’s important to reduce after engaging in an intense workout.
6. Faster Results
For those interested in building muscle, reaching a goal run time, or any other physical goal, foam rolling will get you the results you desire much quicker than you would if you didn’t incorporate foam rolling into your routine. This is due to foam rolling’s benefit of faster recovery time, increased movement, reduction in stress, better blood circulation, reduced soreness, and injury prevention.
When all of these benefits are combined, they lead to faster results for an athlete or anyone else trying to reach a goal. With foam rolling you won’t have to worry about any of these things holding you back between workouts.
Take Advantage of the Benefits of Foam Rolling
Now that you have a better understanding of the many benefits of foam rolling, it’s time to take full advantage of them! You’re dedicated to your workout routine and reaching your desired goals. Make reaching those goals easier on your body by incorporating foam rolling into your routine.
Foam rollers are perfect for any at-home gym or while working out on the go. What works as an overall body health benefit will soon become a luxury massage tool in your eyes.
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