By rolling with your own body weight on a round foam roll, you can massage away restrictions to normal soft-tissue extensibility, enhance recovery, and improve performance. I use Self Myofacial Release techniques (using the foam roll) on myself and with clients every day … and, for some people, it can be literally life changing.
Here’s a video to give you an idea of what I’m talking about – this is how you would roll out the IT Band/TFL – one of the most commonly tight areas of the body:
You can actually find foam rollers these days at most gyms; however, I think it’s nice to have one at home for a lot of reasons – convenience and cleanliness being two big ones. Amazon.com has them for literally less than $20 – click the link below to find out more:
There are lots of different types and brands of foam rolls available – I highly suggest you start with a normal-density roll, and progress to a high-density roll only when you feel you need and can withstand more pressure on the tight areas of your body.
Another side note: These techniques are a little bit uncomfortable. However, the long-term benefits you’ll get from rolling on a regular basis will far out-weigh any short term discomfort.
If you’re looking for more detail about how to perform these techniques, here’s a great article on PerformBetter.com that you should check out:
In summary, if you know your flexablity needs improvement, if you have aches and pains that won’t go away, if you could benefit from recovering from your workouts faster – try out some of these foam roll techniques today.
P.S. If you’d like real-life, hands-on instruction in the techniques mentioned in this article, Forest Vance Training, Inc. personal training and boot camps is your pick in the East Sacramento, CA area. Leave us a message here or give us a call at (916) 273 9366 today to schedule a complimentary introductory session.