Walk into most gyms nowadays and you will find a myriad of foam rollers, bands and massage balls. In my opinion this is a positive thing as more and more people in the fitness industry are aware and invested in the importance of mobility and movement for musculoskeletal health and performance. As an added benefit, I believe releasing key areas of the body will improve your performance and reduce the risk of injury in the gym and everyday life.
This post is all about making the best use of your time in the gym and incorporating release techniques into your warm up. Releasing certain areas of the body does not have to be complicated and does not require a therapist to do so. The only cost is a little bit of time and some mild discomfort.
As a general rule, you should start an exercise session with a light aerobic warm up for about 5 minutes. Doing this will increase blood flow, aid in getting tissues moving and sliding better, increase the heart rate and increase the hormones that allow for physical exertion. Have fun incorporating these exercises into your routine and feel the difference in your body.
1. Levator Scapulae and Scalene muscles
2. Hip Flexors
3. QL muscles
4. Piriformus