Benefits of Foam Rolling

There are so many benefits to foam rolling. The benefits of foam rolling have to do with the mobility of the fascia. Fascia is a layer of the connective tissue that surrounds all of the muscles in our body. Without proper mobility, fibers of the fascia become cross linked and they bind to the muscles and nerves. Many runners will stretch to try and keep their muscles healthy, but is stretching really enough?

Much of research has come to suggest that static stretching prior to exercise is not beneficial and could lead to injury. Many people suggest that static stretching after the workout when muscles are relaxed and returning to normal length. The result of the study suggest that it might be even more beneficial to precede that post exercise static stretch form of foal rolling.

When you are foam rolling, you want to make sure you roll along the whole length of the tissue that you are working on. If it’s your hamstring, you are going to roll from hip to hip to knee. The same goes with your quads or IT band. There will be some tender spots along the way and that’s ok. Go over them, they will eventually decrease with regular foam rolling.

It’s like anything else, the more you do, the better you will feel!

In Health, 

Lisa Medina

IFFH Personal Trainer