New study on self massage shows what happens and why it works.

New study on self massage shows what happens and why it works.

Despite being a multi-whatever-dollars industry, the myofascial release tool shop hasn’t got a great deal of conclusive evidence floating about.

Studies have shown that foam rolling increases blood flow to the muscle, and be useful in helping to warm up pre-workout, but there is limited evidence for what actually happens in terms of range of motion.

This recent study looked at using massage balls to see how range of motion was impacted, using ankle range of motion (dorsiflexion) for study effect.

The study looked at two groups. One used the massage balls prior to stretching and activity, and another did not use massage balls. The study showed increased in range of motion in the group that used the balls, with interestingly, the less flexible middle aged participants having greater benefit from using the massage balls pre-stretch than the younger participants. 

Massage your wet bits

This study...

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Burn Your Foam Roller...play with your balls instead

Burn Your Foam Roller..play with your balls instead

A very short travel back in time as little as 10 years ago would have seen you met with surprised looks walking into many a sporting goods store and asking for a foam roller. These days even your granny has one, and it’s hard to take a step in most gyms without falling over someone flailing their body around on a cylindrical tube of high density foam.

But what is it actually doing?

Your average bro in the gym will swear by using his foam roller to warm up prior to working out, and then use it for recovery post workout, as well as improving flexibility and range of motion (ROM)..because stretching doesn’t work and impacts your performance apparently-thanks bro!

Oddly, there seems to be this idea that rolling around on the foam roller will be beneficial for every one of these 3 scenarios (warm up, cool down, improve flexibility) with the exact same techniques, with a change in the users intention being the defining factor...

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