Have you ever wondered if it’s worth your time to use a foam roller as a runner? I have, especially when sitting on a spot that’s super tight and painful!
“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” –Joseph Campbell!
I’m fairly certain foam rollers weren’t around in Joseph Campbell’s time…but the point still applies. You gotta focus on the outcome to get through a little time on the roller.
That is, if you should be foam rolling at all!
A lot of us have been using the foam roller all wrong, and instead of making things better, we’re perpetuating injuries and stressing out our bodies. It’s important to understand what’s really happening when we foam roll and then use it appropriately.
In particular, I want to ensure we stop beating up our IT bands, as that’s the biggest injury I am asked about.
So let’s dive into more about why we’re foam rolling and how to use it correctly as a runner.
What is Foam Rolling?
Foam rolling (also referred to as “self-myofascial release”) is a form of self-massage that people often use to release muscle tightness or trigger points. Using a cylindrical foam roller, you apply pressure to specific points on their body, rolling back and forth to massage the muscles.
We now know that…
