Foam rolling is a form of exercising technique used to inhibit overactive muscles in the body; it is used by both athletes and physical therapists alike.
It is a form of stretching which utilizes the concept of autogenic inhibition. It improves the soft tissue extensibility which as a result relaxes the muscles and further activates the antagonist muscle. The foam rolling exercises are basically performed by rolling the foam roller under various muscle groups.
There are various stated benefits of foam rolling exercises. Foam roller as the name suggests is a cylinder (the shape may at times vary) shaped roller which is made out of hard foam.
Each individual must pick a roller varying in the firmness and size etc. depending upon their physical adequacies.
There are various muscles groups whose toning and other exercises include foam rolling, for example hip exercises, exercises for body pain relief, abs exercising etc. Of the numerous benefits to the foam rolling exercises few are as follows:
- People who exercise a lot or are in athletics suffer from a risk to varied injuries or muscle pulls etc.
One of the most common benefits of foam rolling exercises is that it helps in avoiding the exercise related injuries.
For example runners may experience tightness in various parts of the body due to the exertion. It is necessary to release tension or it may lead to flare- ups. Foam rolling benefits an individual in such situations. - It has been stated by many practitioners that foam rolling can help in distressing.
The individual need to recognise the knots i.e. tension built up in the connective tissues of the body parts.
Using foam rolling exercise on those knots is said to have released the tension thus benefiting the individual. - Those whose work involves long hours of sitting on a desk may suffer from posture problems. Using a foam roller in the affected parts is said to fight the “desk posture blues”.
The foam rolling exercise also benefit in combating the various other forms of posture problems irrespective of the cause. - The constant use of foam rolling exercises benefits the individual by making his or her body more flexible. The stretching helps in gaining flexibility which is the key to fitness.
For example the stretches which lengthen an individual’s hip flexors can also help combat any kind of tightness from sitting or lower back pain. - Foam rolling one’s spine against a roller with regular pauses allows the joints and surrounding tissues to stretch. The whole regime of spine foam rolling helps promote the optimal spinal range of motion.
- Another benefit of the foam rolling exercises is that they promote and improve the blood circulation throughout an individual’s skin, the muscles, fascia, the tendons and the ligaments.