Using A Foam Roller To Treat Sports-Related Pain

Posted on: 25 August 2015

Participating in sports can be fun, but it takes a toll on your body. Injuries are a common challenge every athlete faces, and rehabilitating these injuries takes time and effort. If you have pain related to a sports injury, you might be able to use a foam roller to help alleviate your discomfort.

Here are two types of sports-related pain that a foam roller can help you get rid of in the future.

1. Lower Back Pain

While 80% of people will experience some lower back pain during their lifetime, athletes are especially at risk for developing chronic back pain due to the physical demands involved in playing a sport. Using a foam roller to loosen your hips can actually alleviate some of your lower back pain, since tight hips force you to bend at the waist rather than rotating through athletic movements with your hips.

Begin by sitting on the foam roller with your feet flat on the floor in front of you and your hands flat on the floor behind you. Cross one foot over the opposite knee, and rotate to one side. When find a spot that feels tight, begin rocking back and forth on the foam roller to loosen your hips. Repeat on the other side, and you will notice a difference in your movements over time.

2. Shin Pain

Pain in the shins is often referred to as shin splints, and this type of pain can be brought on by running or jumping on a hard surface. If you find that shin splints are limiting your ability to perform, you can turn to a foam roller for help. Begin by positioning your body so that the back of your calf is on the foam roller. Place your hands behind you on the floor, elevate your body slightly, and roll back and forth across the length of your calf muscle.

If you come across a spot that feels especially tight, pause for 30 to 60 seconds before you continue rolling again. Repeat the process in the inner part of your calf muscle, the outer part of your calf muscle, and along the front of your lower leg to help you relieve your shin splints.

Rehabilitating from persistent injuries like lower back pain or shin splints can be difficult. Incorporating a foam roller into your rehabilitation routine can help you treat sports-related pain more effectively in the future.

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Hi there! My name is Sara Jerba. I'm no doctor, but I'm very familiar with them due to experience. You could say I was a sickly child. Between various allergies and a few other conditions, I got to be very good friends with my doctors and nurses. Although I hate staying overnight in the hospital, I do feel quite at home there. Now, don't feel sorry for me. Most of my conditions have eased or even abated entirely as I've grown up. And none of them were ever life-threatening--just inconvenient. It's actually been very positive in the long run; it's brought a lot of wonderful people and important knowledge into my life that I wouldn't have had otherwise.

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