Do you sit all day? Most of us do, and after a long day at your desk, we feel stiff and sore. Even if you work out regularly, the non-stop sitting can leave your muscles tight and tense. And since you can’t quit your job and hike 24/7, what are you supposed to do? Give foam rolling a try. It can seriously reduce your pain and stiffness. 

What is foam rolling?

You’ve probably seen foam rollers, and maybe even used them on occasion. But now’s the time to use them regularly – especially after sitting all day.

Foam rollers are foam cylinders that can range in hard, medium and soft foam. 

And foam rolling is when you literally roll different muscle groups over the roller. The reason why? It’s a great way to break up muscle knots, loosen tight muscles, increase circulation and increase mobility. 

So, even though foam rolling is a common post-workout practice, it’s actually an excellent thing to do at the end of every workday. 

Foam rolling helps massage the fascia

The what? The fascia – the connective tissue surrounding muscles. With foam rolling, you can give yourself your very own at-home massage. That’s because it massages the fascia,Thanks to our mostly sedentary lifestyle, the fascia can become tight and stiff in no time.

With slow and simple rolling, you can massage the fascia and release lots of built up tension. 

If you’re new to foam rolling, it’s a good idea to start with a soft roller and gradually work your way up to harder foam. However, if at any point, foam rolling feels painful or doesn’t seem like the right practice for you, don’t be afraid to take a break from it.