While you may already be familiar with a standard foam roller and how it can be used post-workout as part of your recovery, you may not be aware of the added benefits that come from replacing your old foam roller for a vibrating foam roller instead.
Foam rolling has grown in popularity in recent years with more people realising how helpful and beneficial it can be to reduce soreness and increase flexibility. However, the development of the vibrating foam roller has taken these benefits to the next level. So, whether you are taking care of your muscles post-workout or are preparing them ahead of a big weightlifting session, the vibrating foam roller is a must-have.
There are many different benefits that come from swapping your old standard foam roller for a vibrating foam roller, from increased relief and tension easing to it being even more of a cost-effective solution.
Faster Recovery
One of the main benefits that leads people to upgrade their standard foam roller to a vibrating foam roller is because of how it can speed up recovery and ease painful muscles more effectively. Once you have stepped out of the gym or finished your workout, the muscle tissue that you have been using is thirsty for oxygen and will remain in the recovery phase until they get the oxygen that they need.
Therefore, by using the vibrating foam roller you can increase the blood flow and oxygen to the muscles so that they can start to recover and get back to the pre-workout state faster than if just using a standard foam roller.
Cost Benefit
If you love pushing your body through an intense workout then you may find yourself regularly visiting your local spa for a massage. While most of us love nothing more than a relaxing spa day with a deep tissue massage to ease those aches and pains, we aren’t as keen on the price tag that comes with them. Therefore, if you were to instead invest in a vibrating foam roller then you would be able to enjoy all the benefits of a massage over and over again in the comfort of your own home.
This has also been of huge benefit to those individuals who rely heavily on a weekly massage to ease their pain and discomfort but have been unable to head to the spa due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Similarly, people who suffer from chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and arthritis would find a vibrating foam roller just as beneficial at easing their aches and pains while being much more cost effective and more accessible.
Improved Flexibility
Many muscle injuries, that take place both in and outside of the gym, occur because of poor flexibility and individuals pushing their joints and muscles too far. Therefore, it is crucial that you take the steps necessary to improve your flexibility in order to avoid injury and improve your overall performance.
Just like any massage, using a vibrating foam roller helps to get all the kinks and tensions out of your muscles so that they feel free and you are able to move with increased range and flexibility. Therefore, we would recommend that to get the most benefits out of the vibrating foam roller, you should use it before and after a workout so that you can improve your range of motion and achieve the exercise and workout goals that you have for your body and fitness levels. You would not reap these benefits with a standard foam roller.
Injury Prevention
While many of us made the mistake of once believing that you have to leave the gym in agony in order to get the best results from a session, science has shown that this is far from the case. No matter what exercise or activity you take part in, it is crucial that you make the most of the vibrating foam roller as it can revolutionise your recovery and dramatically reduce your risk of injury.
This is because, unlike with your standard foam roller, a vibrating foam roller uses high-frequency vibrations to help speed up and increase oxygen and blood to the overused and sore muscles. When they are sore, muscles can contract and feel tight which is why we experience that post-workout ache. But by increasing the speed that our muscles get the blood and nutrients to the specific areas, the quicker they can relax and relieve tension, leaving you less likely to have an accident. Yet it is important to state that you do have to be consistent with this approach so using the vibration foam roller for a longer period of time will help you get the maximum benefits.
Ease Back Pain
There is nothing worse than suffering from back pain, and even getting out of bed in the morning is painful and frustrating. A vibrating foam roller is a great low impact recovery activity that you can do in the comfort of your own home in order to ease pain and make it easier for you to carry on with your day. While you may have been to a masseuse in the past to help you ease some of the discomfort in the deep tissues that cause you pain, a vibrating foam roller is like having a professional with you at all times.
You can also use the vibrating foam roller in a range of different ways to suit the areas of your back that are causing you pain. However, be sure to take it slow, don’t push yourself too far, and keep your neck supported at all times. Feel free to go over the same areas of your back and spend some extra time there if you feel like your muscles need it.
While a standard foam roller will offer some benefits, a vibrating foam roller will be more effective in a smaller period of time at easing and soothing any aches and pains that you may have. By staying on top of muscle pain that you are suffering from, you can maintain healthy muscles, avoid injury, and also be a happier and pain-free individual.
