When during my workout would I use a foam roller?

You can use a foam roller before you lift weights or exercise, or after a workout to bring some fluid back into your joints, and restore blood flow to muscles in this Ask the Experts video explained by fitness expert Sue Hitzmann, MS/CST/NMT.

Transcript

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[GENTLE MUSIC] It's also a great thing to do after you exercise, like when you run or do any type of repetitive movements

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with your joints to bring some fluid back to those joints so that they remain more stable after you exercise.

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The best time to use a foam roller, especially when it's a nice soft compression type of roller, is either before you were to lift weights because what

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gentle compression and foam rolling techniques can do is restore blood flow to muscle and improve muscle performance before you exercise.

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It's also a great thing to do after you exercise, like when you run or do any type of repetitive movements

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with your joints to bring some fluid back to those joints so that they remain more stable after you exercise.

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So the use of foam rollers or something called self-myofascial release is a way to restore blood flow to muscle. And what you want to remember is you don't use it like you're

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ironing yourself like a shirt. You want to ease compression into your body to restore some of the movement of those

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sliding surfaces of connective tissue to support muscles better. So just remember, don't mash your fascia or your connective tissue with a foam roller.

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Ease compression in. And any time you feel pain, that's your cue to ease back pressure, not press harder. It's a better way to use a foam roller so that you actually