It Hurts So Good! Benefits of Self Myofascial Release (SRM)
Don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a chiropractor chair to get those kinks in your back out? Most people see this as frivolous spending and we are with you. Why waste your hard-earned money when you can soothe your aching muscles by rolling over a foam roller!
Self-myofascial release is a kind of massage for your muscles, which comes under alternative medicine therapy. It helps relieve pain in just a few minutes. Before we tell you about the benefits of self-myofascial release, let’s talk about the basics of this treatment:
What Is Self Myofascial Release?
To understand how self-myofascial release helps with joint and muscle pain, you need to first understand what’s fascia. Put simply, it’s a connective tissue, which runs throughout the body. It holds together most of the organs and covers the muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and even cells.
The theory behind SRM is that it clears up muscle knots and restrictions, whilst breaking down scar tissue. This provides you with increased flexibility. Perhaps, one of the best things about SRM is that it helps with exercise-related muscle soreness such as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). As of yet, there are no studies, which may prove that SRM helps treat chronic pain. However, it is known to treat sore muscles in some way, which beats taking pain pills any day.
Benefits of Self Myofascial Release
- Muscle Relaxation: It helps reduce tension in muscles, which aids in easing pains and aches. With longer use, SRM can completely eliminate pain
- Reduction of Pain and Trigger Point Sensitivity: SRM tools allow the body to release endorphins, which helps you deal with the pain
- Improves Tissue Recovery and Reduces Soreness: SRM increases circulation, which allows oxygen and a couple of other nutrients to flow towards the soft tissues
- Improves Range of Motion: SRM helps restore your muscle’s length-tension by preparing the joints for loads and a high range of motion, which includes strengthening, stretching, and other exercises
- Reduces Scar Tissue and Adhesions: SRM improves your muscles elasticity, which improves movement
- Regulates Cytokines: Cytokines are compounds that help decrease inflammation
- Increases Mitochondria Cells Activity: The mitochondria cells produce energy, which helps promote growth and repair of muscles tissue
- Decreases Neuromuscular Hypertonicity: SRM helps control muscle spasms and stiffening of the muscles
All these benefits help decrease the overall stress effects that slow down the human movement system. An important thing to remember when using the foam roller is that the rolling motion is not what helps ease the pain but the pressure on the exercise accessory. You will immediately feel your trigger point when you start rolling. After that, all you need to do is rest and let the roller reduce the pain.
If you want help from a trainer with your first self myofascial release, then visit On the Go Fitness Pro and get in touch with their team of fitness professionals. To know more about their services, call on 702-756-4444.
