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This article is written by Aimee Harrington.
You might have often seen a foam roller used by athletes to help ease muscle soreness after exercise. However, a foam roller uses a technique called self-myofascial release, which treats muscle pain and immobility through applied pressure to the ‘fascia’. The fascia is the tissue that connects everything in our body. When pressure is applied in this way, it can help to increase blood flow to the muscle, which in turn eases soreness and inflammation, as well as improving flexibility and mobility.
Little do people know, but foam rollers can also be extremely beneficial in helping ease a number of chronic illnesses linked to muscle problems. However, at The Health Sessions, we always recommend getting the go-ahead by your doctor before use!
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition which causes pain all over the body. There is no exact cause, but it’s said to either be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain or a stressful event such as childbirth.
There is no specific cure for this, but foam rolling can be beneficial for people with fibromyalgia, as it can help them move with more ease. They should experience less stiffness, joint pain and muscle aches. Foam rolling can aid people with fibromyalgia and it could be useful checking out the benefits of foam rolling on your body.
Chronic back pain
If you suffer from chronic back pain, using a foam roller on this area can drastically reduce pain and soreness! Potentially the most difficult part is physically getting down onto the floor and laying on the roller. Using a vibrating foam roller could take away the hassle of physically rolling, as the vibrations do all the work by getting deep into the muscle to stimulate the blood flow. All you need to do is apply pressure and let it work it’s magic.
Bad posture
Bad posture is often caused by sitting down all day and affects many people but particularly office workers. It can become extremely painful in everyday life! Foam rolling the upper back, shoulders and traps regularly can ease pain and gradually improve posture over time.
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body, it starts at the lower back then splits to each side of the body right down to the feet. Symptoms are usually lower back pain, pain the leg, pain in the hip or numbness in the leg.
Foam rolling is one treatment option to help with sciatica pain. Foam rolling is a form of self-myofascial release and is the best way to ease tightness and knots in the muscles.
Foam rolling and chronic illnesses
Foam rolling can provide ease and pain relief for some chronic illnesses. Are you interested in finding out if foam rolling is right for you? We recommend double checking with your doctor or your consultant before finding out the benefits of foam rolling for yourself.
Author bio: Aimee is a freelance content writer who particularly enjoys writing about health and fitness. As a mum of two, Aimee loves running in her spare time. Her next mission is to complete the National 3 Peaks Challenge. You can often find Aimee infront of her laptop screen and sitting in running trainers.
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