We have busy, stressful lives these days. It’s just a fact! That’s why it’s important to do things that are relaxing, and just make you feel good. Getting a massage is one of those things that people should do on a regular basis, as long as they can afford it. If this is too much of a splurge, give yourself one at home with a foam roller.
Many people find that foam rolling before they go to bed works as a great tool for unwinding, and getting ready to sleep. Check out: When is the Best Time to Foam Roll? for more information about this.
Sports injuries, as well as things like car accidents and workplace injuries scar the muscles and the soft tissue (fascia) surrounding them. This is what causes you pain when you move.
When you use a foam roller, you’re increasing and releasing pressure on these scarred areas. This breaks up the sticky points and alleviates the pain you might be feeling, as well as reduce further injuries.
There have been many studies done about foam rolling but a lot of them are quite inconclusive. Since foam rollers are relatively new to the health and fitness world, most of the studies are small, and short-term. However, there is one study which shows a reduction in muscle pain 72 hours after a tough workout when a foam roller is used. There are plenty of anecdotal reports about foam rolling reducing post-workout pain as well.
#4: Foam Rollers are Affordable.
Massages are very expensive-around $100 per one hour session for a registered therapist. This puts them out of range for the average person. However, a foam roller ranges in price from $10-50. The top-quality ones last for years because they are made from extremely dense styrofoam. The top-quality ones can also handle users with heavier weights, without getting crushed or misshaped.
The final foam rolling benefit we’ll talk about is improved posture. Many people sit at their desk all day, slumped and hunched. This isn’t good for your body! By using a foam roller, you’re lengthening your muscles, increasing tone in them, and just helping your body to relax after a long day at the office.
If you’re looking to buy your first foam roller, then you’ll need to check out the RumbleRoller on Amazon. It has one of the highest ratings on Amazon in the foam roller category and a ton of excellent reviews. People love this thing because it’s very dense, but also has knobs on it, so it doesn’t hurt too much when you’re just getting started out.