Dyk May 11 Is National Foam Rolling Day - Featured Articles

Ryan R. Fairall, PhD, CSCS, EP-C, CES the Sports Medicine & Fitness Technology Program Director at the Jacksonville campus shares information on foam rolling.

Foam rolling, also known as self-myofascial release, has become a staple in exercise warm-up and cool-down sessions over the last few years. Foam rolling is used to apply pressure to tight muscles to help them relax, to then be stretched. Foam rolling has been shown to assist in improving joint range of motion and decreasing muscle soreness after a workout. Just like a deep tissue massage, foam rolling can be a bit painful at first, but becomes less painful over time the more you perform it. It is best to begin foam rolling with a softer, less dense foam roller (usually white or blue in color) and move to a harder, denser version (usually black) as you get used to rolling.

Before starting to foam roll, be sure to consult with a health and fitness professional to determine if foam rolling is safe for you and what muscles may be good for you to foam roll. Keiser Sports Medicine & Fitness Technology and/or Exercise Science instructors can assist you with this.