You’ve likely seen athletes or runners using a foam roller to stretch their muscles after a hard workout. But did you know that foam rolling can be beneficial for non-athletes as well? Rolling helps loosen tight muscles and relieve tension – two things that can help your body in between visits to Gindele Family Chiropractic!
What is Foam Rolling?
Foam rolling uses a specialized roller to basically give yourself a massage. It enhances flexibility, eases muscle soreness, boosts range of motion, and reduces the risk of injuries. This low-cost and effective massage technique can be conveniently practiced at home or with the care of a chiropractor.
How to Get Started with Foam Rolling
Like chiropractic care, foam rolling is beneficial for people of all ages! Foam rollers come in various sizes and densities. If you’re a beginner, you may want to start with a softer roller, while experienced users may prefer a firmer one.
Once you have your roller, it’s time to get started! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help:
- Warm up: It’s important to warm up your muscles with some light aerobic exercises or dynamic stretches to increase blood flow and prepare your muscles for rolling.
- Start slowly: Find an open space where you can lie down on a mat or a soft surface. Slowly lower yourself onto the foam roller, targeting a muscle that has been giving you pain or tightness and gently roll.
- Focus on trigger points: If you feel a particularly tender spot, pause and hold on that area for a few seconds. Gentle pressure allows the muscle to release tension – even if you’re not rolling!
- Make adjustments: As you’re using the roller, experiment with adjusting your body position and pressure to find what works best.
To see video examples, as part of their training for trail running, outdoor company, REI, has videos showcasing the eight most common roller exercises and how to perform them!
Adding Foam Rolling to Your Chiropractic Care Routine:
We recommend starting with an evaluation of how foam rolling would best benefit you. Our team can show you how to use it on your body, and then give you exercises you can do at home to complement your chiropractic care.
Combining both foam rolling and chiropractic treatment provides several advantages, such as:
- Enhanced flexibility
- Diminished muscle soreness
- Enhanced range of motion
- Injury prevention
- Alleviated pain
- Improved functionality
- Heightened general state of well-being
Let Us Help You Get Rolling!
If you’re interested in trying foam rolling, our team at Gindele Family Chiropractic in Southwest Florida is here to help. We know the benefits of combining different types of therapies to help and heal the whole you, and know that no two cases are the same. Contact us today to start feeling your absolute best!