Culver City | Westwood
310.439.1421
Perhaps you’ve wandered by the stretching area of your local gym and noticed a long cylinder made of foam laying there. What’s it for? Good question. It’s a foam roller and it’s used for self massage. I get a lot of questions about using the foam roller so let’s cover the basics.
Foam Rolling, aka Self Myofascial Release, is a form of soft tissue manipulation. Similar to manual massage, foam rolling uses body weight to exert pressure against a semi-rigid cylinder composed of foam. The pressure of the foam roll presses muscle and fascia against bone, thereby providing compression of the tissue.
Compression strokes are one of the most common methods of massage used to release muscle spasms, tension, and adhesions. Focused compression, also called trigger point therapy or neuromuscular therapy, is another type of treatment provided by foam rolling. Trigger points are taut bands, or knots, in muscle tissue that may refer pain to other areas of the body, such as tightness in the deep gluteal muscles that refer pain into the hamstring or shin. You can relieve a trigger point by direct steady pressure to the point. As time passes during the compression, the muscle will release and the pain will diminish. By treating the knot consistently over time it can be eliminated.
Using the Foam Roller:
Where can you get a foam roller? We carry several types of foam rollers at LA Sports Massage. Check out our products page. If you don’t live in the Los Angeles area you can easily find them for purchase online.
If you would like to attend our live workshop Foam Rolling & Flexibility for Athletes, please sign up for our newsletter. We will be announcing our upcoming workshops and clinics in our newsletter soon.
The Last Word – when you get a foam roller, remember to use it. It won’t help you if it gathers dust under your bed. I use my foam roller nearly every day. It’s an efficient and cost effective way to keep those knots at bay!
Office Address
13205 W. Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles CA 90066
To schedule an appointment call
310.439.1421
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