Foam rolling is not just for avid exercisers. It is a type of self-massage that you can do at home to alleviate tightness or trigger points with an easily purchasable piece of equipment.
Whenever my muscles ache tightly, like stale-hardened licorice, I dream about this massage magician from Hong Kong. In a one-hour session, she would slowly knead my tight muscles, packing on the pressure until the knots unwound.
On the days she massaged my back, the aftermath was like I’d grown wings. On leg days, I would wobble out of the apartment — not because of pain, but because I felt weightless, every gram of tension released.
She’s a 12-hour flight away now, but I recently discovered a second-best option to her healing witchcraft.
Foam rolling
Benefits of foam rolling:
- alleviates soreness
- reduces inflammation that occurs during the muscle repair process
- aids in muscle repair recovery
- helps injury prevention by maintaining muscle length and remedying tension and tightness
- increases blood flow and elasticity of muscle tissue, joints, and fascia — the body’s connective tissue — which helps with mobility, overall well-being, and a smoother appearance of fat underneath your skin
- promotes relaxation — roll away your worries!
According to Nicole Davis, ACE-certified personal trainer, foam rolling is great for people who sit at a desk all day, have poor posture, joint issues, or bad form while exercising.
Davis has got you covered. She put together eight moves to target common tight areas, usually a super focused spot of tight muscle, aka muscle knots.
“All you’ll need is a low- to medium-density foam roller and some open floor space. Aim to complete this routine three times per week,” Davis says.
You can really do this anytime, but Davis recommends before workouts as a warmup, or after to prevent soreness. I like to do it while watching The Office, before I go to bed.
Foam rolling pro-tip: For all these moves, you’ll want
to stop wherever it feels tight or tender. Inhale and then as you exhale, slowly
roll your way down. Treat your body in sections rather than continuously
rolling back and forth.
1. Quads
If a desk job’s got you sedentary most of the day, roll out your quads to get your blood flowing and keep muscles engaged.
Directions:
- Start
in a forearm plank position with the roller under your quads. - Bracing
yourself with your upper body and core, begin to slowly roll down the roller
until it reaches just above your knees. Then, roll in the opposite direction
until you reach your hip flexors. - Do
this for 30 seconds. - When
you hit a tender spot, hold yourself there for a few breaths.
If you want to give yourself more TLC, you can also focus on one quad first, and then the other.
2. Hip flexors
Sitting for extended periods of time can really mess with your hip flexors.
While stretching them is good, foam rolling them is even better because it works on loosening the muscle tissue plus the connective tissue (fascia) around it.
Directions:
- Start
by lying down, facing the floor on the foam roller, once again in a forearm
plank position. Make sure the foam roller is underneath your left hip flexor
and your right leg is bent comfortably to the side. - Resting
on your forearms, begin to roll slowly up and down and side to side on the foam
roller to target the hip flexor, paying close attention to trigger points. - Do
this for 30 seconds. - Switch
and repeat on the right hip flexor.
3. Calves
In addition to calf stretches, try foam rolling these muscles for an extra spring in your step.
Directions:
- Start
by sitting on the floor with your legs extended, the foam roller positioned
underneath your calves. - Lift
your body up so your weight is resting on the foam roller. Cross your left leg
over your right for extra pressure. - Begin
to slowly roll your right calf back and forth on the foam roller, navigating
your body forward and back with your arms. - Complete
for 30 seconds. - Switch
legs and focus on your left calf.
4. Hamstrings
Another muscle that’s negatively affected by sitting all day, your hamstrings may be in need of some TLC.
Directions:
- Again,
start by sitting on the floor with your legs extended. This time, position the
foam roller underneath your hamstrings. - Lift
your body up so your weight is resting on the foam roller and begin to slowly
roll up and down between the back of your knees and your glutes. - Linger
on tender spots, and roll for at least 30 seconds overall.
An alternative way to complete this is to again cross your legs and focus on one hamstring at a time.
5. IT band
Made of connective tissue, the IT band runs along your outer thigh from the hip to the knee.
Soreness and tightness in this area is common in runners, but anyone can benefit from foam rolling this area.
Directions:
- Begin
by lying on your right side with the foam roller positioned underneath your
right IT band, or the side of your thigh. Rest your bodyweight on your right
forearm. Your right leg should be straight, and your left should be bent at the
knee with your foot placed comfortably in front of your right leg. - Bracing
yourself with your upper body and left leg, begin to slowly roll along the foam
roller on your right IT band between your knee and glute, stopping at tender
spots. - Repeat
for 30 seconds, then switch to roll your left IT band.
6. Upper back
Poor posture got ya down? If you’re holding tension in your upper back, hop on the foam roller to help loosen things up.
Directions:
- Begin
by lying on your back with the foam roller positioned underneath your upper
back. Your knees should be bent with your feet flat on the floor and your arms
can either be down by your sides or crossed in front of your chest. - Brace
your core and lift yourself up into a shallow bridge position. - Slowly
start to roll up and down between your lower neck and mid-back, stopping at
tight areas along the way. - Repeat
for 30 seconds.
7. Lats
Affectionately known as your “wings,” tight lat muscles — located on your back, right below your armpits — can throw your posture out of whack. Make sure they’re nice and loose by hitting them with the foam roller.
Directions:
- Begin
by lying on your back at a 45-degree angle with the foam roller positioned
underneath your right lat. Keep your right leg straight and bend your left leg
into a comfortable position. - Slowly
start to roll from your right armpit down to your mid-back area, focusing on
tender areas. - Repeat
for 30 seconds. - Switch
to roll out your left lat.
8. Shoulders
Do your shoulders need some action? Roll out your deltoids to get mobility back.
Directions:
- Lie
on your side with the foam roller underneath your right shoulder. Your lower
body can be resting on the ground comfortably with your left arm out in front
to guide movement. - Roll
slowly up and down over your deltoid muscle. Rotate your trunk slightly so you
can hit part of your upper back as well if needed. - Repeat
for 30 seconds. - Switch
sides and repeat on your left shoulder.
When I have intense headaches, especially due to tension in the neck, I like to use my foam roller. This acts like a self-massage that’s stronger than any hand.
Directions:
- Rest
your neck on the foam roller, at the top where it connects to your head. - Slowly
turn your head to the right, holding where you feel a tightness. - Exhale
and turn your head to the left. - Repeat
for 30 seconds.
A disclaimer from Davis here: “Foam rolling can be painful, especially if you’re new to it. Pain in a specific area while foam rolling is typically a sign that your muscle or tissue is tight and needs some TLC.”
“Ease into painful spots by starting in the areas right around it and sensitivity should decrease fairly quickly,” she adds. “But, if it’s too much to bear, don’t continue.”
Choosing a foam roller
- Start with a basic low- or medium-density model ($7.99-49.95).
- A small ball ($12.99) can also be beneficial to target smaller areas.
- Need some tough love? Try a rumble roller ($44.95) or the Master of Muscle ($17.97) which provides a deep-tissue release.
As a glued-to-the-desk editor, I can testify that foam rolling has been so good for my well-being.
What used to be chronic tension and needling pain in my arm and shoulder is now gone thanks to my once-a-week classes. Yep, I also payto do it for an hour a week, just to make sure I’m really getting every knot.
The act itself is as fulfilling as pushing out the last bit of toothpaste from the tube. It’s the pimple-popping of muscle tension, an oddly satisfying mix of pain and pleasure — and after an hour of being my own healer, I leave the gym walking a little lighter.
All gifs by Active Body. Creative Mind.
Christal Yuen is an editor and writer at Healthline. You can find her on Twitter.