Many people, especially older adults, are reluctant to start exercising because they have joint pains and are afraid of injuring themselves. Countless times I’ve heard “I’d love to start lifting weights, but I have a bad shoulder,” or “no running for me, my knees are sore” or “My lower back is tight, I can’t workout.” While some may have past injuries that are causing there current aches, many don’t realize that their joint and back pains are actually related to their muscles.
Healthy muscles are loose, flexible, and always ready to perform. When muscles are stiff and tight, they pull on ligaments, creating joint pain and impairing movement. Fortunately, tight muscles don’t have to stay tight forever; one of the simplest and most effective solutions is to use a foam roller. A foam roller is a tube-shaped piece of foam that you roll your muscles on, essentially giving yourself a deep tissue massage and working out kinks that cause tightness.
“What’s causing my pain?”
- Shoulder Pain = Tight Pec Muscles
- Knee Pain = Tight Quadriceps
- Lower Back Pain = Tight Hamstrings & Glutes
Foam rolling can be quite uncomfortable and even painful for some, but it’s not dangerous and the long term effects are well worth it. Foam rolling prevents injury, increases blood circulation, and decreases muscle fatigue/soreness.
People who have excessive muscle tightness will have to start out slow with exercising, focusing on flexibility before trying to gain strength. After a good stretch and foam rolling session, your muscles will be elastic and your joints will feel relief. Studies have shown that every major joint starts experiences decreased range of motion as you age. After a few sessions, you’ll notice your muscles have a greater range of motion, meaning you can contract and extend them further without feeling pain.
Nobody should be afraid to workout. At the Sault Fitness training facility, we help our clients find the true source of their pain and get their bodies back into a fully-functioning state so that they can workout without constant fear of injury.
