Foam rolling can be such a fantastic way to work out your muscles and improve mobility. Combined with a proper stretching routine, it is such a valuable tool. I also like it because it can be done in the privacy of your own home and on your own terms.
What is foam rolling?
Well, it’s a simple technique that uses gravity and a cylinder shaped device to get out those pesky knots that are giving you aches and pains.
Foam rolling specifically works on the fascia of the muscle (fascia is the connective tissue around a muscle- it’s kinda like the skin around a sausage).
The fascia encases the muscle and provides a shelter to protect it. When you get inflammation in these tissues, adhesions form- these are little bits of scar tissue.
When these adhesions form, areas get tight and inflamed, your muscles become stiff, and you become less mobile and start moving like a tin man without any oil- like how I looked while I was performing the tango for my wedding dance…
Any time there is any kind of injury or trauma to an area, scar tissue forms in that area. If you have a cut on your skin, scar tissue forms to allow the skin to heal. Oftentimes, this scar is permanent and noticeable on your skin. It can be thick, and you can see how that scarred skin is less pliable than healthy, soft skin that hasn’t been damaged.
Well, the same is true deeper in other tissues- if you pull a muscle, sprain an ankle, or even have an overuse injury from prolonged sitting or typing- scar tissue forms in the fascia much like how it formed on the skin. We want this scar tissue broken up so it is less damaging to our mobility.
Foam rolling is an excellent way to do just that.
You simply grab your trusty foam roller, lie down on it and allow it to hit the tender areas of your back and muscles. It has a similar feeling to getting a massage, but you are able to do it yourself. This way, you are able to break up that scar tissue and loosen up those areas all on your own!
I encourage you to start here to see a few of the more common areas of your body that can be loosened up with proper foam rolling. Check out my “Four Spots To Foam Fix” here. Hitting these spots will surely get you the relief you need.
