HEALTH

It may sound too good to be true, but yes, you really can just roll away the pain from your intense workouts. Foam rolling is a super easy self-massage to help keep your muscles healthy...and you don't have to be a hardcore exerciser to reap the benefits.

Knots in your muscles can happen to anyone but they're especially common in girls who work out a lot because of the buildup of lactic acid. Instead of just stretching after your next sweat sesh, grab a foam roller and hit the mats. Even if you aren't in any pain (yet), foam rolling is a great preventive measure to avoid any potential probs.

Here’s how it works: Think of foam rolling as a deep tissue massage that you’re giving to yourself. The key is finding the areas that are knots and working on those points. You’ll know you have a knot because when you put pressure on that area the pain will radiate and feel like spread out pain. Areas on the body that might need the most work include hamstrings, glutes, calves, hip flexors, back and literally anywhere else.

Foam rollers come in various sizes to offer more stability and based on how hard or soft the foam is will determine how deep the massage will be. It's as easy as it sounds: You cater to each area by rolling on the foam. A good massage will hurt and be uncomfortable, but you should feel better after. You’ll want to focus on each area for at least 60 seconds.

Foam rollers are sold anywhere you can buy workout equipment. Remember, if you’re a first time user you may want to try out a smoother and softer roller. You can pick this one up at Amazon.

If you’re a beginner to foam rolling, check out this video for a how-to. Now get rolling, girls!

Have you ever used a foam roller? Tell us in the comments below!

Photo credit: Pinterest, YouTube, Amazon. 

by Bella Torres | 11/9/2017