OK, I promised that these blogs wouldn’t be too informational, just fun. But I noticed a tension in my left IT band while training on this week and it reminded me that I hadn’t used my foam roller for about a week. So this is an informational blog and it is about foam rollers. The foam roller is a firm foam log that is six inches in diameter. I use the roller against the muscle knots with my own body weight to generate direct pressure. Imagine using a rolling pin to roll out lumps in bread dough. As a massage therapist, I know that one of the best ways to address a muscle knot is with direct pressure .Using the foam roller hurts, but I only use it for a couple of minutes at a time and it really works. I use the foam roller to work out the front and back of my thighs, my gluts and my worse area, the outside of the thigh known as the IT band. It takes a bit of practice, but it is worth it. You start by finding an open area with some floor space. You position your body with the area you want to work on top of the foam roller. Your body weight creates the pressure that massages and releases tight areas in the fascia, muscles and tendons. You control the pressure by applying more or less body weight on the foam roller and using your hands and feet to offset your weight as needed. Want to learn more about foam rollers? Go to: http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/flexibilityandstretching/ss/FoamRoller_2.htm.
Of course, before using a foam roller, be sure to check with your doctor. Until next time,
Iron Crone
