It’s no secret that if you are active, you will have aches and pains from time to time. They go hand in hand. But, what I didn’t know until well into training for my first marathon is that there is something simple you can do from home that can make a huge difference in your pain and performance: Foam rolling.
In all my years of dancing, even at a professional level, no one ever told me about foam rolling. It wasn’t until I was plagued with annoying injuries while distance running that I learned about foam rolling. It literally saved me from having to drop out of a race. And no matter what activity you’re doing, foam rolling can help.
So what is foam rolling? Think of it as your own personal massage therapist. It seemed counterintuitive to me that rolling across a big piece of foam could really work out aches and knots and problems, but almost like magic, it does.
Personal trainer, professional runner, and all around fitness guru, Scott Browning, knows a whole lot about foam rolling. He taught me a series of rolls that I try to do every day (and I kick myself every time I miss a day– I can feel it!), especially now that I am training for another marathon, and nursing some injuries.
And the best news: foam rollers are cheap. You can pick one up on Amazon for just over 15 bucks. There are different firmness levels, but I don’t think you should pay over $40. Below is my routine from Scott. Just always be sure not to roll over your knee caps. No bueno.
I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me. It hurts soooooo good!
Videography/editing: James Young