Benefits of Foam Rolling and How To Pick The Best One For You
Updated: Aug 7
Introduction
Foam rolling has become a necessity in modern sports performance, it seems like nearly everyone has one in their living room- albeit not used regularly enough. The benefits of foam rolling are endless and foam rolling is the most cost effect alternative to going and getting a sports massage.
From a personal stand point I can tell you when I started foam rolling I could barely move on the bloody thing without screaming out in agony. But as the weeks went on, something I noticed was that you can put more pressure on the foam roller and you can get deeper into your muscles. Your start to feel like your running on a cloud and all those pesky injuries are just a thing of the past.
Benefits of Foam Rolling
Injury prevention
Aid in muscle recovery
Increase adaptations
Improves flexibility (and form)
Reduces soreness
Correction of muscle imbalances
Can be used to warm up for a run
Foam rolling is more effective than stretching, and when it comes to injury prevention foam rolling is one of the best things that you can have in your arsenal.
Top tip: foam rolling after stretching is proven to help further increase the length of muscles to make you more supple.
Are you a runner? Want to learn more about post-run recovery? Follow this link to learn more: https://www.georgelewishealth.com/post/improving-post-run-recovery-will-be-the-biggest-thing-you-need-to-smash-your-pbs
What Type of Foam Roller Is Best for you?
When it comes to choosing a foam roller, you will see there are foam rollers with bumps on and ones that are smooth.
Now if you are someone who has not been taking the best care of your aching muscles recently then you may want to consider the smooth foam roller as this will help you get started with fixing your aching and knotted muscles.
Whereas if you want to get your muscles to get to the point of being able to handle a deep tissue massage and reap the benefits then the bumpy foam roller is for you.
Our pick for smooth foam rollers
Core Balance Foam Roller
£12.99 From Amazon: https://amzn.to/4da69mP
This foam roller is our pick because it actually doubles up as a massage stick as well. This means you can have all the benefits of a foam roller and it can also act as a massage stick as well, so you can massage muscles like your quads which can be a bit awkward with a normal foam roller!
Our pick for bumpy foam rollers
FX FFEXS Foam Roller
£12.99 From Amazon: https://amzn.to/44blxvm
Now this foam roller carried me throughout all of my university and one thing I can guarantee- YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO CHANGE IT. Durability is unlike any other foam roller I have ever used. Hopefully, just like me, you will also be saved from countless injuries. This foam roller works your deep tissue better than any other I have ever used. So, if you are looking for a long-term solution to injuries, want to run faster, want to be more pain free?
Then this is the foam roller for you.
Some people, myself included, find that the times when foam rolling is most needed is the time when you have the least effort for it. For a long time I just dragged myself onto the floor to do my foam rolling duties, but then I got a massage stick and this made life a whole lot easier. I still now use a foam roller for my calves, hamstrings and glutes etc. but the massage stick I find to be great for my quads, it bands and adductors. Want to learn more about massage sticks? Click this link: https://www.georgelewishealth.com/post/why-i-prefer-a-massage-stick-to-a-foam-roller
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