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I am a farmer's wife,runner and a mother of two boys. I help my husband with our farming business. I did my first marathon in October 2010 and loved every minute of it. I'm now looking to do my 4th marathon in Little Rock, AR

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

What is a foam roll and what is it used for?


A foam roll is a cylinder that looks like this .





They come in different sizes, colors and densities.   Different colors have different densities.  White foam rolls tends to be softer, where as a blue foam rolls tends to be harder.

The most common purpose of the foam roll in exercise is for the massage-like-effects it can produce.  This technique is often referred to as 'self-myofascial release'.  To produce the effects of massage you usually use the foam roll in conjunction with your own body weight by lying on the foam roll with the affected muscles directly on top of the roll.  By slowly rolling over the target area of the affected body part you are essentially massaging the muscle.  The foam roll is the most effective way to stretch, strenghten and relieve muscle pain throughout your body.  The foam roll can improve our flexibility, massage away muscle tension and reduce overall recovery time.

I got a foam roll, because I was having some muscle pain in my right buttocks. The heating pad and stretching exercise were just not working.  When I first tried it, it was kind of awkward.  When I started to roll on the foam roll I could feel it like kneading the soreness of the muscle.  It hurt like hell, but it was such a good hurt.  Just to finally get some relief to that aching muscle. 

Rolling on the foam roll  for my aching right buttocks

Using it for some soreness having in calve muscle

Exercises using the foam roll

















I use my foam roll daily. It's my new best friend. It can be used in so many different ways.   How do you use your foam roll?

7 comments:

  1. a foam roller is something, believe it or not, I STILL do not have. there! my secret is out. I dunno why I keep delaying buying one. Thanks for the reminder. =)

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  2. just got myself a foam roller for Christmas... amazed at what it can do and why I didn't have one earlier!?!? :)

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  3. Just dropped by to check out the blog. Clicked on the link from Secrets of a running Mom. Congrats on the win.

    I do not own a foam roller... but I am interested...Can you use it on the bottom of your feet?

    Happy Running

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  4. I heart my foam roller BIG TIME! I use it mostly on my ITB after my long runs. Thanks for posting the pictures on other ways to use it!!

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  5. I love my foam roller! It is mainly used on my ITB, but occasionally it is used other places as well. BTW, I tagged you for an award on my blog.

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  6. I got my foam rollar for christmas and I love it. I use mine mainly on my IT band. I must say that yes... it hurt like hell when i first used it too.
    I know it will come in handy when i start training for my first marathon. I can not belive i went this long without one.

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  7. reminded me that i am suppose to start using my roller! lol. it looks just like that one, but unfortunately has only been used twice since i bought it two months ago.

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All your comments are inspiring to me. Love hearing your feedback.

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