This might sound a bit over-the-top, but the foam roller is probably the single most influential piece of fitness equipment that I’ve used so far — though my Vibram Five Fingers are challenging that position.

What is a foam roller?

Essentially, a foam roller is a firm, foam “log” that you can use as a personal massage agent. When used properly, it incurs that “Ouch! That hurts! Keep doing it!” that you might otherwise experience at the hands of a competent masseuse.

Since we don’t use our bodies well (see, for example: chairs, cars, computers), our muscles become imbalanced. Some are overused, some are underused, and others are trying to compensate for our weaknesses. It’s a mess, and we can’t feel it because we’ve adapted to it.

A foam roller is a tool you can use on a daily basis (or as you schedule time) to help achieve balance. Contrary to images conjured by its name, there is not a huge amount of rolling involved when using a foam roller.