Advice to improve your movement, fitness, and overall health from the world's #1 in orthopedics.
Ever wish you could have your own personal massage therapist? What if we told you there’s a tool you can use all by yourself that targets tired muscles and soothes soreness? “A foam roller can help you work out the knots throughout your body in much the same way as a human can,” says Kate Baird, MA, ACSM-CEP, CSCS, an exercise physiologist on the Sports Rehabilitation and Performance team at HSS. Plus it’s portable, affordable, and you don’t have to leave a tip.
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Foam rolling is a type of self-myofascial release therapy. If you’re unfamiliar with this tongue-twisting term, “myo” means muscle, and “fascia” is a type of connective tissue that covers and supports every level of muscle tissue throughout the body.
Often after a run, an injury, or even a long day sitting hunched over a laptop, small patches of the fascia contract and spasm, thickening and toughening the tissues. This makes them feel knotted and can sometimes lessen the blood supply to the muscle, aggravating the area even more. Myofascial release therapy locates the knots (also called trigger points) in the fascial tissues, then gently massages the area until the tension releases. With a foam roller—a lightweight, cylindrical tube made of foam-like material—you can alleviate these trigger points and release the soft tissue, myofascial adhesions and fascial restrictions without the help of anyone else.
There are several types of foam rollers, and you can’t go wrong with any one of them, says Baird. “I suggest beginners choose a foam roller that’s on the softer side, with a smooth texture so the pressure will be less intense,” she adds. Longer rollers are also probably best when you first start out, because they’re more stable than shorter rollers and can span your entire back. Down the road, as you get more experience with the device, you may want to get a harder roller and/or one with a textured exterior so you can work a little deeper.
Most people have a love-hate relationship with their foam rollers. “It’s one of those ‘hurts so good’ kind of things,” says Baird. Start slow and light and expect to feel some tenderness when you hit a knot. When that happens, hold the roller at the sensitive spot for a few extra seconds, and take a few deep breaths in and out to deliver oxygen to the adhesion.
You can do these exercises before a workout to prep your muscles or after training to help reduce muscle soreness and shorten recovery time. Just remember to keep the roller on the muscles and never roll over a bone or joint.
You never want to roll a broken bone or a torn muscle. If your pain interferes with your quality of life; if you feel any tingling, numbness, or weakness in any of your limbs; or if you get a sudden increase in pain or swelling, see a doctor.