Foam Rollers: How They Work and the Benefits They Offer

Have you heard of foam rollers? Consisting of a cylindrical-shaped piece of solid foam material, they are commonly used to relieve muscle pain and improve muscle recovery. Unless you've tried them, though, you might be wondering how they work exactly. For a better understanding of foam rollers, including how they work and the benefits they offer, keep reading.

Overview of Foam Rollers

Foam rollers are exactly what they sound like: rollers made of foam. They aren't hard or otherwise rigid. Because they are made entirely of foam, they are soft.

There are different types of foam rollers. Some of them are long, whereas others are short. Some foam rollers also have a smooth surface, whereas others have ridges on the surface. Regardless, all foam rollers are cylindrical-shaped pieces of solid foam.

How Foam Rollers Work

You can roll your body over a foam roller. Doing so is a form of self-massage. If you're experiencing sore or achy muscles, for instance, a foam roller may offer relief. As you roll your body over the foam roller, it will massage the affected muscle tissue.

Most people use foam rollers by placing them on the floor. You can place a foam roller on the floor, after which you can roll your body over it. Alternatively, you can pick up and press a foam roller against your body.

Benefits of Using a Foam Roller

Using a foam roller can offer several benefits, one of which is pain relief. Muscle pain is common. Whether you work indoors or outdoors, you may experience muscle pain at the end of the day. A foam roller will massage your muscles while simultaneously relieving pain.

In addition to relieving pain, a foam roller can reduce inflammation. Inflammation may occur in response to vigorous exercise or physical injury. When inflammation occurs, you may experience swelling in parts of your body. Fortunately, you can reduce inflammation by using a foam roller. A foam roller will relieve pain while also reducing inflammation.

You can use a foam roller to recover from workout sessions more quickly. Workouts require recovery. After working out, your muscle tissue will need time to rebuild itself. A foam roller will speed up this process by encouraging faster recovery.

A foam roller is a completely safe and drug-free way to deal with muscle aches and pains. It's simply a cylindrical-shaped piece of solid foam. You can roll your body over a foam roller. As the foam roller presses into your muscle tissue, it will relieve aches and pains as well as associated inflammation.