86 | Foam Rolling - What is it really doing?

Confused about the different opinions on foam rolling? Feel an immense and soothing release when you foam roll? Breaking up tissue adhesions or getting more flexible with foam rolling? Dr. Jen & Dr. Dom dive into the science behind foam rolling and how foam rolling is a tool for accessing the nervous system. With more scientific literature, the beliefs around foam rolling as a self-myofascial release technique have been revised. They explore foam rolling in the context of pain, restrictions, and proprioception. By exploring these topics, they uncover how foam rolling ties into sensory stimulation, neurochemical feedback, and neural mechanisms, ultimately debunking outdated beliefs about foam rolling and its relations to mechanical fascial release. Tune in to learn more about how you can use the foam roller to optimize your day and exercise with intention and purpose. 15% Discount on Vivobarefoot Shoes! We also mention VivoBarefoot and Intelliroll Flex Foam Roller in this episode. To get your next wide and highly flexible footwear to finally free your feet and optimize how your body moves and feels, use code ‘TOB’ at checkout. To get your next versatile and flexible foam roller that perfectly contours to your body and provides just the right amount of pressure, use code ‘DOCJEN’ at checkout. Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all currated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl: 1:45 – Introducing how foam rolling works. 6:33 – Optimal foam roller pressure. 8:00 – Intentional Rolling. 9:45 – Foam rolling and pain. 11:54 – “Things get angry when they don’t have space.” 13:10 – Positive effects of Foam Rolling. 15:27 – Enhancing Proprioception. 16:21 – When you should foam roll? 17:35 – The sensory homunculus. 21:55 – Figuring out the right pressure. 25:23 –  Similar tools to explore. To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtube.com/watch/ Items mentioned in this episode include: TOB Episode 22 w/ Jill Miller: https://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode22/ Tune It Up Fitness Products: https://www.tuneupfitness.com/shop/self-massage-therapy-balls IntelliRoll Flex Foam Roller (code "DOCJEN" for discount): https://intelliroll.myshopify.com/?rfsn=629552.d5440 For research and full show notes, visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/86 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!