Does Foam Rolling Work?
Does foam rolling work? In a word--yes.
Does foam rolling work? The very phrase may bring a smile to your face, and light up your world. If you've ever felt pained by a hard to reach the object, or felt your heart rate increase when you saw the frozen face of a person you didn't know, then you've probably felt that moment of doubt - the "I can't do it!" feelings.
It's a valid concern, since doing something on your own, without any additional equipment, is likely to cause you harm if you're not doing it right. We don't always realize it, but we are constantly applying pressure to our body's soft tissue.
These small tears and stress fractures create micro-tears in the body's elasticity. Over time these tears build up and can cause pain or a variety of other symptoms. When these tears are combined with gravity and increased body weight, the result is a lot of stress and possibly even permanent damage.
A good way to relieve some of this stress is through foam rolling. This type of exercise has been around for years and is a proven way to reduce stress. With foam rolling you don't have to worry about adding extra tension to your muscles as you work to complete the exercise. You're actually moving your body's weight from one part of your body to another, which works all the muscle groups simultaneously. Unlike with regular aerobic exercises, you don't have to worry about changing intensity levels or stopping and starting like you would with other types of exercise. You basically just move your body in a continuous motion.
If you haven't tried foam rolling before, you may be wondering if it works or not. The answer is a resounding yes! The trick to getting the most out of your foam roller is to learn to use the roller properly. First, make sure the foam roller you're using is designed for your body's size and body type. Next, make sure you stretch the body appropriately so that you get the full range of motion of the roller promises.
The type of foam roller that you use also makes a big difference. Most users will recognize the traditional orange TriggerPoint grid rollers, but there are plenty of other forms of rollers that can be just as effective, if not more so for getting at those sore and knotted-up muscles. A muscle roller stick, for example, is a great alternative to the regular foam roller. Choosing the best muscle roller stick is fairly straight-forward; they come in a variety of cushions adn textures, from a light foam to the spiky rubber for getting deep at muscles.
The main question that everyone wants to know is does foam rolling work? The answer is that it really depends on what you use it for and how you do it. If you are just trying to tone your body, then it probably won't give you much of a workout. If you want to burn calories, improve your cardiovascular health, or improve your flexibility, then foam rolling could give you the results you are looking for.
If you want to strengthen and flex your muscles or increase muscle strength, then you should definitely consider using a foam roller.
Foam rollers can be used by everyone, no matter what fitness level they are at.
Using a foam roller will help to improve your posture, which in turn will help your overall health and well-being. You'll be strengthening and toning the body without actually having to put any weight on it. This helps to prevent injuries from taking place because the body isn't being stressed as much and there is little strain placed on any joints.
Also, by toning the muscles and strengthening the core, the body will be able to better absorb the impact of any physical activity.
So, while it can't give you a full body workout, a foam roller can greatly enhance the experience and can help you achieve the goal you want - to look and feel better!