This 10-Minute Self-Massage Routine Will Make You Feel Much Better
Becoming a homebody doesn’t have to hurt. Here’s how to soothe stiff, achy muscles in minutes a day.
If you’ve been trying to stretch the kinks out of your work-from-home body but are still feeling tight and achy, there’s something else you can try: self-myofascial release (SMFR).
Self-myofascial release, aka self-massage, is a physical therapy technique that involves applying pressure to muscles and fascia — the connective tissue that surrounds and supports every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve, and muscle — using your hands or tools like therapy balls and foam rollers. Research shows SMFR can decrease pain and increase flexibility and range of motion.
Experts are still trying to figure out exactly how it works. It’s possible SMFR increases blood flow and circulation, breaks down scar tissue and muscle adhesions, and/or overrides pain signals. Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: It feels damn good.
“Self-massage is very relaxing,” says Jill Miller, C-IAYT, ERYT, co-founder of Tune Up Fitness Worldwide. “It increases a feeling of general well-being.” And the results are immediate. Best of all, you don’t need to be an anatomy expert to reap the benefits. “This is therapy that you can…
