Some of the benefits of the foam roller

Trigger point release

Trigger points are specific painful areas within a muscle or muscle fibres. It is important to loosen and eliminate trigger points when possible so that compensatory patterns don’t evolve and surrounding tissues stay healthy. Rolling with the foam roller can help release trigger points, keep the surrounding musculature loose and break up any adhesions that have built up over time.

Increased blood and lymphatic flow

Our body should have a constant movement and flow of blood and fluid. With injuries or constant sitting, there can be a stagnation of this fluid movement. Healthy muscles depend on a constant supply of fresh circulation and blood. Foam roller exercises can help flush out toxins and bring in healthy fluid to different parts of your body. With massage and foam rolling, you are literally rinsing out toxins in your body!

 Improved muscle control and strength

The foam roller is a dynamic piece of equipment that moves. When you use it, you have to control that movement and your muscles are challenged in a completely different way. If you are bored with your workouts or looking for something to mix it up, this is the perfect solution.

Increased core strength

Foam roller exercises add an entirely different dynamic to your workout. You need to use your abdominal muscles and postural muscles to stay balanced on the roller and maintain correct positions. The roller will help increase your confidence in your posture and your core stabilization.

Improved flexibility

Foam rolling does not replace traditional stretching, but can be an amazing adjunct to reach the muscles that are missed during your stretching routine. The iliotibial band (ITB) is a dense band of tissue that runs from the hip to the knee on the outside of the upper leg. Most runners and cyclists get very tight in this area, and a tight ITB can lead to hip pain and knee problems. It is very difficult to stretch the ITB in the traditional sense, but the roller is the perfect tool to loosen this tight tissue. The piriformis is another muscle that can be hard to reach through traditional stretching. You might feel that you stretch and stretch and can’t quite hit the right point. The roller, on the other hand, can be placed exactly where you feel tight and can be used very specifically in that area.

It will tone your abs, legs and arms, while also giving you some amazing stretching and opening.