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Are Foam Rollers worth all the hype?

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Henry Jacob

Whether you have some aches and pains, muscle tension or just need a good stretch, it seems as though everyone is rolling around these days.


While foam rolling, or self-myofascial release, is not new to health practitioners or athletes, these foam rolling tools have certainly become more popular in recent years. 


And, the big question is, 'do foam rollers actually work'.


It can be helpful to understand more about manual therapy and self-myofascial release before knowing what a foam roller may do or if they work.


What is manual therapy?

Performed by professional physical therapists, manual therapy involves the use of a practitioner's hands to apply pressure to muscles and to manipulate joints. 


Also known as manual manipulation, manual therapy may help improve the mobility and function of tissues and muscles without using machines, devices or surgery.


Some common forms of manual therapy include:

  • Massage
  • Chiropractic
  • Stretches
  • Spinal manipulation
  • Trigger point therapy
  • Traction


What is self-myofascial release?

While it may sound fancy, self-myofascial release is just a form of self-administered manual therapy used to release muscle tightness or trigger points. This can be performed with your own hands or with help of an orthotic device such as a foam roller, lacrosse ball.


What does a foam roller do?

As mentioned above, a foam roller is a type of myofascial release. By using your body weight, you can apply pressure to the target area as you roll back and forth across the top of the roller. 


Self-administered manual therapy from a foam roller or lacrosse ball may relieve inflammation, decrease tissue tension and release muscle knots. 


If you are new to foam rolling, you may be interested in consulting a health practitioner, such as a chiropractor, for advice on how to properly use a foam roller. 

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