Introduction

Have you heard of a foam roller? If you haven’t, let me give you the quick rundown on what it is and why you need one. A foam roller is a cylinder made from dense material (usually polyethylene) that is used for self-massage to relieve muscle tension or myofascial pain. A foam roller has recently become popular in the fitness industry as a way to release muscle tightness, increase flexibility, and prevent injuries. However, there are also some other benefits of using them outside of the gym: increased blood flow to the muscles which makes post-workout recovery faster and easier; improved mobility and balance; reduced risk of injury during physical activity;

Basically, they feel like heaven when you use them. And I have five reasons why you should start using one today!

The Benefits of Foam Rolling

• Relieve Muscle Tension

The benefits of foam rolling are many, but the most obvious is the ability to relieve muscle tension. When you apply pressure to your muscles with a foam roller, it breaks up adhesions and trigger points in those muscles. By breaking up these areas, you’ll feel less pain and be able to move more freely.

• Improve Flexibility

Foam rolling can help improve flexibility as well! When someone has super tight hamstrings or hips from sitting too much at work or driving long distances all day, he or she can usually benefit from foam rolling those areas first before stretching them out with yoga poses (like downward dog). Foam rolling can also help improve overall range of motion for certain athletes who need more mobility for their activities (think cyclists).

How to Use a Foam Roller

Now that you’ve chosen a foam roller, it’s time to see how to use it.

There are different ways of using foam rollers, so let’s start off with the most common ways: rolling on your back, side and stomach. I recommend starting at the top and working your way down the body because this will help target the areas that are more difficult to reach. Here are some helpful tips for rolling over different parts of your body:

• Lie down with either your knees bent or feet flat on the floor depending on what feels best for you (if possible). Your head should be resting comfortably on a pillow or towel so you can relax without straining any muscles in your neck by looking up too much during this process. Your arms may rest by your sides or outstretched above you with palms facing up; whichever position works best for easing tension in those particular muscles will depend largely upon which part(s) of those areas will be targeted during Rolling Out™ sessions.* Hold this position comfortably while slowly rolling over each area that needs attention; remember not only how much force but also where exactly pressure should be directed onto specific muscles as well as how fast or slow it should move across them.* Relax! It’s important not only physically but mentally to relax any tense muscles as well–it’ll help prevent injury later on when performing other movements throughout daily life such as sitting at work while typing emails etcetera..

What Type of Foam Roller Should You Get?

There are a lot of different types of foam rollers, so it can be hard to figure out which one is the right fit for you. To make things easier, here’s what to look for:

• Make sure the foam roller is tall enough and wide enough to support your weight. A good rule of thumb is that the foam roller should be at least as tall as you are, and ideally taller—about six inches shorter than your height will work well. The width should be about three times wider than your shoulders or hips; this way, you won’t kick over or fall off when lying on it (which happens more often than we’d like).
• A firmness between 2 and 5 on these scales will work best for most people; anything softer than 2 won’t provide enough resistance for deep muscle release. If this feels too difficult or painful for you, start with 1 or 2 before increasing firmness slowly over time!

When to Use a Foam Roller?

Foam rollers can be used at any time to help improve your overall body health and performance. They are especially effective in reducing soreness after workouts and helping to prevent injury before workouts. A foam roller is also great for releasing tension in your muscles and joints as well as improving flexibility and range of motion, which will help reduce the risk of injury during exercise by decreasing stiffness in your muscles that could result from poor posture or repetitive movements like sitting at a desk all day long.

If you’re new to foam rolling, start with lighter rolls until you have an understanding of how it works then move up gradually in weight until the desired level of softness has been reached for each body part being rolled out

How Often Should You Use a Foam Roller?

How often you should use a foam roller really depends on your fitness level, goals, and how much time you have to commit to using it. If you’re just starting out with foam rolling and are at the beginning of your fitness journey, then I would recommend using it once per day. As you become more advanced with foam rolling, you can increase the frequency of your routine to two times per day or even three times per day if desired.

Using a foam roller benefits your overall health.

There are many benefits of using a foam roller. It helps with muscle recovery, muscle soreness, muscle tightness, muscle knots, and even inflammation. You can also use your foam roller to help with tension in your muscles! Foam rollers have been known to help with spasms too!

Foam rollers are great tools because they can be used by anyone regardless of age or fitness level. If you’re an athlete trying to stay in shape or someone who just wants a healthier lifestyle then foam rolling is definitely something that should be part of your routine.

Conclusion

If you want to get a foam roller, check out our article on the types of foam rollers and how to use them. We also have articles that show you different kinds of stretches and Pilates moves with a foam roller.