Recently, I’ve incorporated foam rolling into my daily routine. Instead of getting a massage, foam rolling has helped to massage my sore muscles. It would be great to get a sports massage every week but time and money make it nearly impossible. Instead 20 minutes of foam rolling everyday has brought similar benefits to getting a massage. Foam rolling takes some time to get used to and a little painful at first, but definitely worth trying.
  
Fascia which wraps around our muscles needs to be broken down so it doesn’t adhere to our muscles and build scar tissue over time. When scar tissue builds up this could lead to injury and knots in our muscles that just won’t go away.  Especially for those who are in the gym nearly everyday like myself, foam rolling is necessary and leads to overall better performance and movement. 
  
 Foam rolling helps to:
• Increase Blood Flow: Foam rolling can be used to warm up the body before a workout. 
• Prevent Injury: Foam rolling makes the muscles more flexible to prevent injury. 
• Improve Spinal Alignment:  Foam rolling helps to lengthen the spine and improve posture. 

Foam rolling is a great way to warm up your muscles before a workout. I hope this convinces you to give this a try!

With love and fitness, Dr. Natalie Pennington