Foam Rolling Exercises

The purpose of foam rolling exercises is to soften muscle tissue, keep it elastic and pliable. Think deep massage!

For foam rolling exercises, roll back and forth for 30 seconds to a minute.  For tennis ball exercises, find pressure points and keep as much weight as possible on the ball for one minute.

Foam Rolling Exercises

If you’ve never done foam rolling before, you may find it painful at first.  You should ease into it, doing only as much as is reasonably comfortable.  It should become much less painful after a few sessions of your foam rolling exercises.

Quads Foam Rolling  – Cross your legs so that most of the weight is on one leg.  After rolling on one leg, switch to the other.  If this is too painful at first, roll on both legs simultaneously.

IT band Foam Rolling  – Lie on your side and place the tennis ball in a sensitive spot on the outside of your leg near your hip joint.  After the desired time, move the ball farther down your leg.  Switch legs and repeat.

Hamstrings Foam Rolling  – Cross your legs so that most of the weight is on one leg.  After rolling on one leg, switch to the other.

Calves Foam Rolling  – Cross your legs so that most of the weight is on one leg.  After rolling on one leg, switch to the other.

Glutes Foam Rolling  – Find a sensitive spot and put as much weight as possible on the ball.  After the desired time, move to a new sensitive spot.  Switch to the other side and repeat.

Arch Foam Rolling  – Place the ball under your foot and, with as much weight as possible, move the ball back and forth 50 times.  Repeat on other foot.

Front of Shins Foam Rolling  – Keep as much weight as possible on the roll, not on your hands, while you roll back and forth.

Side of shins Foam Rolling  – Roll by alternately bringing your knees to your chest and extending your legs.  Repeat on other side.

TFL Foam Rolling  – Extend one leg out to side for support.  On the other leg, target the very top of your quadriceps near your hip, just outside the center of your leg.  Don’t skip this one; improper firing of the TFL muscle can cause IT band sydrome and knee pain!

Adductor Foam Rolling  – Lie mostly flat and place the roll under your thigh.  To roll back and forth, you may need to lift yourself up with your arms a bit.