The foam roller is a big part of our training here at MAX Performance.  Very rarely does an athlete leave our facility without finishing his or her workout with some solid foam rolling.  The first time I hand a foam roller to an athlete I usually receive a look of confusion.  I can just see the athlete’s mind saying, “What the heck is this thing and what am I supposed to do with it?”  But after some teaching and implementation, most of our athletes fall in love with the foam roller and look forward to using it.

At MAX, the foam roller is primarily implemented at the end of an athlete’s workout as a cool down and recovery tool.  Using the foam roller will help release tension in the muscle, breakdown scar tissue, and provide a stretch reflex that is similar to traditional stretching techniques.  What does this mean in terms of recovery?  Less tightness, less pain, and more balanced muscles help keep the chance of injury low and allow the athlete to train with more intensity during the next workout.