Because This Is How We Roll

I can't say for sure but we might well have been the first personal training studio to implement foam rolling in Melbourne. There weren't even proper foam rollers available back then so we used basic foam off cuts!!

Our clients have a pleasure and pain type of relationship with our foam rollers because initially it can quite painful but as your pain tolerance improves and you start to iron out those trigger points in the muscles then it really starts provide relief.

Your muscles are surrounded by what is called fascia which is most easily described as wetsuit that covers the entire body. When you feel "stiff" then it's a sign that the fascia has constricted itself around the muscles quite tightly making it hard to move freely.

Once this fascia is relaxed a little via foam rolling then range of motion and muscle activity is improved almost immediately.

The main problem with restricted movement is that the compensation is restricted muscle use meaning a small amount of muscles will get used constantly and the rest, well hardly ever.

For example a very dominant illiotibial band (a thick band of fascia that runs right down the side of the thigh from your hip to your knee) can result in the inhibition of your gluteal muscles which as well as causing all sorts of issues with your hips, knees, ankles, lower back and even your shoulder, but can leave pants-less in public.

Here’s a video of yours truly going through various foam roller and other myofascial release drills:

                      

So if you have lingering joint and/or muscle pain, maybe a foam roller can help you out a little.

We suggest getting your foam rollers from here: http://www.empind.com.au/.