WHY EVERY ATHLETE SHOULD CONSIDER USING A FOAM ROLLER
For any of you who have ever had a knot or trigger point worked on by a massage therapist, a spouse or willing friend, then you yourself may have uttered these same words, “that hurts so bad, but please keep going.” You may be surprised at how many of these knots you have within your muscles at this current moment. Trauma to a muscle will result in microspasms, which will in turn create myofascial adhesions. These adhesions are formed by the body’s natural protective response anytime there is direct force, muscle imbalance, poor posture or repetitive stressors. These adhesions cause a decrease in normal muscle function and will cause other nearby muscles to work harder which can lead to further imbalances and ultimately injury.
Enter the foam roller. Especially for the lower body and back, routinely using a foam roller can prove to be a valuable tool in staving off injury as it will help to break up these myofascial adhesions and release the microspasms. This will give the underlying muscle a chance to function at its optimal length.