Like so many things on Twitter (and even more so, Tumblr), a 2020 tweet (that did not go viral) had a screenshot shared to Instagram (where it did go viral, before trickling down to FWD:fwd:Fwd Facebook I’m sure). It reads:
By the time you hit your 30s you should be really aggressive about convincing people to buy one of the following:
- an air fryer
- an insta pot
- a humidifier
- a weighted blanket
I humbly introduce the foam roller to this list (though I am not the first). I originally purchased a foam roller for my legs because I run. But woooo boy! Do I love it. Foam rolling can help relieve muscle tightness, soreness, and inflammation, and increase your joint range of motion. Add it to your warm-up or cooldown. Soreness down, flexibility up, relaxation on max.
Personally, I use a textured foam roller, but I would not start fresh with one (higher learning curve, very easy to bruise yourself on it). Wirecutter (no longer on strike) has a great overview of foam rollers and some great exercises too. Niharika in San Francisco has one of their recommendations coming her way!