Benefits of Myofascial Release and Foam Rolling

Article by Rylie Teeter, CEO

Foam rolling and myofascial release are all the rage, and for good reason.  However, it’s not just for athletes that want better performance – yes it can improve your game, but the benefit for the muscles and fascia can be a game-changer for just about anyone.

I personally use a roller because I can see an immediate impact on my muscle tension.  As a desk jockey, my body can stay in a static position for hours, and muscles respond with tightness and aching.  The daily aches can compound into chronic aches, so keeping muscles and fascia healthy is a big part of preventing and targeting back and neck pain. 

First, let’s start with an explanation of fascia because it’s something that most people have never heard of – I certainly don’t remember it from biology class, but turns out it plays a big role in the overall function of the body.

Fascia “is a sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue that envelopes, separate, or binds together muscles, organs and other soft tissue of the body”¹. Sounds important, right? The best explanation I have heard is a comparison to a spider web. When it is it intact and healthy it works beautifully, but if a section gets damaged then the rest of the web is impacted. Damage in one location can add more stress to an entirely different section – meaning pain, tension, compression on nerves, and changes in mobility can have a root cause in a totally different part of the body than where they are felt.²

Enter self-myofascial release, a method of breaking up adhesions and releasing tension to help restore fascia health.  The most popular methods use a foam roller or other self-massage device that can apply a firm rolling pressure (Teeter T3, Teeter Massage Foam Roller, Teeter Foam Roller, Teeter Massage Ball).

This self-massage technique is said to help:

• Reduce pain
• Break up knots and releases trigger points
• Improve movement and flexibility
• Improve muscle function
• Enhance circulation by breaking up the tight areas where blood flow may become restricted
• Reduce exercise-related soreness

The downside of all these great benefits?  Foam rolling can be painful. In fact, the trick is to roll until you find the tight painful knot or trigger point, and then literally roll it out.  Don’t worry, while the first few rolls can make you teary-eyed, the area will relax and it won’t take long for you to feel a nice release.

Ready to give it a try? Watch my video to see a few of my favorite techniques.  However, spend some time and do a little research to see what moves will help you the most.  As said above, due to kinetic chain, the pain you feel could be caused by an imbalance in another location.  For example, for lower back pain, try rolling psoas muscle in the front of your groin.

Happy rolling!

-Rylie Teeter

Featured in video: Teeter Massage Foam Roller and Teeter Massage Roller Ball

Recommended reading: Top 3 Foam Roller Stretches for Back Pain Relief