Using a Lacrosse Ball for Myofascial Release: Benefits, Techniques, and Exercises
A foam roller is great for large muscle groups. But when the tightness is localized — a knot between your shoulder blades, a stubborn spot in your calf, the arch of your foot that's been aching since Tuesday — a foam roller is too blunt an instrument. It rolls over the problem without really getting into it. That's where a lacrosse ball comes in. Small, firm, cheap, and remarkably effective, a lacrosse ball lets you apply targeted, sustained pressure to specific points in muscle tissue — the kind of pressure that actually interrupts a myofascial restriction and encourages it to release. This guide covers what myofascial release actually is, why the lacrosse ball works so well for it, and how to use it correctly on the body's most common problem areas. What Is Myofascial Release? Myofascial release is a manual therapy technique that targets the fascia — the connective tissue that surrounds, supports, and interconnects every muscle, bone, nerve, and organ in the body. Healthy...