Foam rolling is something that I swear by in my wellness routine for the reasons being that it reduces muscle soreness, helps your muscles recover faster from your workouts, and it helps increase flexibility.
My favorite time to do it is directly after an intense workout because I find that it reduces my muscle soreness the next day, and I also notice that I recover faster when I do it versus when I don’t. If you ever wake up super sore from a workout that you did the day before, then foam rolling will help break up the lactic acid that built up in your muscles. Make sure to drink a lot of water to flush out your system.
The reason that foam rolling helps your muscles recover faster is because it brings blood flow to the muscles that you’re rolling out. It’s similar to a massage where it can release trigger points and aid in pain relief.
Another bonus is that it increases your flexibility overtime if you do it consistently. I don’t recommend rolling every day, as it can be too much strain on your muscles. My recommendation is 2 to 3 times a week non-consecutively.
My favorite foam roller is from HyperIce because it vibrates. I find foam rolling to be painful, but the vibration helps make the process not hurt so badly. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made.