For the month of February it is all about self love!
Your challenge for February is to spend 15 minutes a day using a foam roller or a lacrosse ball.
Below there are a couple of benefits of foam rolling or using a lacrosse ball
- Improve movement patterns
Instead of releasing a muscle that feels tight, we can to use a roller to get people to move better. For example, rolling on a tight hip flexor will help the glutes activate and perform better.
- Help with repairing tissue
You can help to boost supply of nutrients to damaged muscles to accelerate tissue repair
- Reduced DOMS
Using a foam roller can keep tired and torn muscles more supple than they’d otherwise be, while reducing Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness.
- Preparation
Using a foam roller pre-workout can help ensure that you’re moving better
- Focus pre-workout
Using a roller pre-workout will help with mental preparation. Rolling over key muscle groups before exercise can help to increase cognitive awareness and focus.
- Relaxation
If you hold pressure into tissue and sustain that pressure for a period of time, between 30 to 90 seconds, you engage the nervous system reflex for relaxation
- Chronic pain reduction
Speaking of pain reduction, using a foam roller can also be effective in alleviating long-term chronic pain too
- Flexibility/mobility improvements
Rolling a muscle will help its surfaces and connective tissue slide across each other better, which will help with overall mobility.
- Wake up easier
For those who aren’t morning people, foam rolling can help you wake up more easily each day.
Here are a couple of exercises for each item
