Three Foam Rolling Techniques For Runners

 

Prevent injuries by doing these three moves after every run.

When is the most common time for athletes to start foam rolling? Typically once they start feeling pain.

“Because of the slow onset of symptoms, many ignore the condition until the symptoms become chronic and permanent injury occurs,” says Matt Fontaine, D.C., of Positively Chiropractic in Annandale, Va. Instead of waiting until you have to rehab, get ahead of the game with these three moves, which can help erase the miles off your legs by improving flexibility and keeping your muscles happy.

Illustration: Oliver Baker

 

1. Thoracic Spine Extension

Why it’s important: Think about your position at a computer—head forward, shoulders rounded, slouched posture. “Because we spend so much of our day in these postures, over time our tissues and joints actually become permanently deformed,” Fontaine says. Frequent swimming and riding in the aerobars can also decrease spine mobility, but you can correct your posture and improve back flexibility by foam rolling this area.

How to roll: Spend two minutes rolling up and down the spine with hands behind your head.

Illustration: Oliver Baker

 

2. Outer Hip And Iliotibial (IT) Band Roll

Why it’s important: The outer muscles of the hip keep your pelvis level when standing, walking, running and even cycling. Because they are always working, they can get tight and short over time, Fontaine says, which can cause weakness, poor stability and alignment, and often lead to patellofemoral pain syndrome (aka “runner’s knee”), or ITB syndrome.

How to roll: Lie on your side and place the roller under your thigh. For stability, cross your other foot over and put it on the floor. Spend a minute rolling the outer hip above the boney bump on the outside of your hip joint and another minute along the IT band. When you find a tight, painful spot, stop there—keep your body aligned over the roller and flex and extend your knee. This helps restore gliding between your IT band and the quadriceps.

Illustration: Oliver Baker

 

3. Quad Release

Why it’s important: Most of us have tight quads and hip flexors to begin with, but after running and cycling for miles, they get even tighter. “Tightness of your hip flexors and quads can cause your gluteal muscles to get weaker, and that results in increased risk of low back pain, not to mention decreased power,” Fontaine says. “Most cases of runner’s knee are due largely in part to short and tight quads.”

How to roll: Lie on your stomach with the roller under your thighs. Roll back and forth from hip to mid-thigh for about a minute. As an alternative exercise, you can use a stretching strap or rope to stretch your quad while you roll. Putting the quad under tension allows the roller to work deeper, getting a better release of the muscle.

This piece first appeared on triathlete.com.