A Guide to Foam Rolling and Its Benefits
Foam rollers or foam rolling sports massager are the latest trend in health and fitness. Unlike many other self-massager instrument, the foam roller became prominent to users after the role of “fascia” became widely known to them. ‘Fascia’ are connective body tissues that cause fascial restrictions and they are found all over the body; these therapists who work with professional athletes are aware of. Individual muscle groups, organs, and the entire body as a unit is supported and protected by these connective tissues. It also plays an important supportive role by enabling us to perform functional activities like sitting, squatting, jumping, running etc. Poor blood flow, weak impulses of the nerve, flexibility and other range of motions become limited and the body experience other physical ailments with the distortion of the connective tissues. So a distorted fascia causes pain, tightness, and discomfort. During heavy workouts, fascia could be pulled, torque, and compressed.
Self-myofascial release is a fancy term for self-massage to release muscle tightness or trigger points. In order for the muscles to recover or return to its normal function, you need to apply pressure to specific trigger points on your body. This means an elastic muscle and a muscle that is ready to perform at a moment’s notice.
The trigger point is the point during foam rolling when you feel pain. You can bear this pain although it is very uncomfortable. When done it would make you feel better. The best foam roller to use here are the triggerpoint foam roller or the triggerpoint grid foam roller.
Stretching alone could not reestablish proper movement patterns and pain free movements, but with deep tissue massage, the tightness is the muscles are released despite it being an uncomfortable and painful process. This is the reason why the best foam rollers have thrived on the mass market. Breaking up muscle knots can help regain normal blood flow and function and can only be achieved with the help of the best foam roller or muscle roller sticks.
How then do you use foam rollers properly? You need to first apply a moderate pressure to a specific muscle or muscle groups using either a back roller, back foam roller or any kind of foam roller and your bodyweight. You should roll slowly, an inch per second, and roll it over the tight or painful muscle and then pause for a few seconds while taking time to relax as much as possible. Stay on this pressure point for five to thirty second and you should start to feel that the muscle begins to release its tightness.
Foam roll after strenuous activities when the muscles stiffen up. If you are interested to find a good foam roller check out foam foller reviews online for the best foam rollers available.
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