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Level 3 foam rolling instructor course

Master an extensive range of foam rolling techniques to enhance your personal training and fitness coaching services.

Instructor practising self-myofascial release (SMR)
Instructor practising self-myofascial release (SMR)

The UK's formost foam rolling instructor course

Master the art and science of self-myofascial release with this leading foam rolling instructor course.

  • Study online:

    eLearning with extensive videos

  • Internationally recognised:

    YMCA endorsed

  • Flexible learning:

    Study at your own pace

YMCA Awards Logo White

Book your place for only £175

Course overview: Level 3 foam rolling course

Enhance your personal training services with this leading online and on-demand foam rolling instructor course. Discover how to apply the principles of self-myofascial release to improve your client's musculoskeletal health and function.

Our level 3 foam rolling instructor course has been expertly designed by industry specialists to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the structural anatomy of muscles and their fascia. This programme, which has been developed and delivered by leading industry experts, will teach you how to identify adhesions and trigger points, and how to release these to reduce pain or improve musculoskeletal function.  

Myofascial release (MFR) is a low-risk therapeutic technique that improves the compliance, pliability and function of the skeletal muscles and their associated fascia. Amongst other benefits, MFR can help to reduce local symptoms of pain, improve range of motion, and prepare and promote recovery. Providing appropriate foam rolling, or instructions for self-myofascial release, can elevate your offering as a PT. 

This foam rolling instructor course has been developed by experts in the fitness industry with decades of experience providing therapeutic programmes. Myofascial release has risen to prominence in recent years, but so has poor application of foam rolling practices.

The course combines a review of the scientific research surrounding foam rolling and self-myofascial release with an extensive range of applied practical training videos, giving you the knowledge, skills and confidence to teach foam rolling activities safely and effectively. 

You can complete this course entirely online and learn at your own pace.  The programme largely consists of eLearning that will guide you through a range of anatomical and kinesiological subjects relating to muscles and their fascia. The course also includes a wide-range of practical videos teaching you how to specifically target key areas of the body to improve tissue health, compliance and function. Throughout the course, there will also be a range of informal knowledge checks to ensure that you are mastering the content and making good progress. 

  • Entry requirements

    This is a continued professional development (CPD) programme, therefore, there are no formal entry requirements for this course. However, to teach foam rolling activities to others, you will need a formal fitness instructor or personal training qualification.

  • Accreditations

    This programme is endorsed by YMCA Awards as a CPD activity and is the ideal add-on to existing fitness instructor or personal training qualification. The YMCA Awards endorsement guarantees that students that complete this course will have their achievements recognised around the world.

  • CIMSPA points

    This foam rolling instructor course has been endorsed by YMCA Awards rather than CIMSPA. However, CIMSPA members will still be able to claim 5 CPD points for completing this programme.

Payment Options

We pride ourselves on our ability to provide provide industry-leading training products that are competitively priced and with flexible payment options. Helping you to achieve excellence in your field is what drives us each and every day and our team are committed to helping you to become more. 

Like all of our training solutions, this leading foam rolling instructor course is comprehensive, expert-led, flexible, and accessible. 

Special Offers, Discounts and Deals

We are committed to quality, fairness and transparency, which is why we openly list our course prices on our website for all to see. We don’t engage in discounting, bargaining or deal-making and our price promise ensures that all our students pay the same fair price for their training and qualifications.

Pay in Full

£175

Get a 5% prompt payment discount on orders with a value over £200.

Purchase Order

£175

Provide a purchase order on enrolment
and settle the invoice within 30 days*

*Only available for business bookings and subject to the appropriate due diligence.

What you'll learn

Providing best-in-class training services to your clients is much more than counting reps and repeating motivational platitudes. It’s about planning and delivering quality training that improves your client’s health, fitness and function, so that they can live longer and with more vitality. Foam rolling can play a crucial role in maintaining musculoskeletal health, especially in those who are very active, and or who experience regular muscle-related pain. Throughout this programme, you’ll study a wide-range of subjects that will broaden and deepen your knowledge and understanding about the science and application of foam rolling techniques. Specifically:

  • Anatomical properties of fascia

    Structure and function of connective tissue
    The role of fascia and myofascia
    Classifications of fascia
    Myofascial slings, including functional roles
    Introduction to releasing fascia
    Adhesions and trigger points

  • Cautions and contraindications

    Safe populations for foam rolling
    Situations when foam rolling should be deferred
    Absolute contraindications to foam rolling
    Foam rolling considerations for different populations

  • Understanding the kinetic chain

    Functional and dysfunctional kinetic chain
    Neuromuscular factors affecting myofascial release
    Stretching and releasing mechanisms
    Releasing and restoring fascia

  • Principles and benefits of self-myofascial release

    Introduction to self-myofascial release (SMFR)
    Other rolling and releasing approaches
    Benefits of rolling/SMFR
    Pain, proprioception and pressure
    Principles and modalities of SMFR

  • Foam rolling approaches and techniques

    Muscle energy techniques and PNF stretching
    Extensive range of practical SMFR videos
    Coaching and cueing techniques
    Adapting SMFR activities for different clients

HFE tutor foam rolling lat muscles

Award-winning support

Our learning support team personify the extra-mile philosophy and are committed to your success. Throughout your studies, you’ll have direct access to a dedicated team of support tutors that are invested in seeing you succeed. Whether it's simplifying a complex subject, or just helping you to better navigate the course materials, our team are here for you as and when you need them.

You can reach our learning support team via:

  • Phone

  • Email

  • Video

  • Webinar

Support tutor at whiteboard

A career without limits

Nothing says I'm serious about becoming the best PT or coach that I can be than continually expanding your knowledge, skills and qualifications. On completion of this foam rolling course, you'll be given exclusive access to our flagship CV Connect platform where you'll be able to join the tens of thousands of HFE graduates that have gone on to work with some of the worlds leading fitness brands.

Your Personal Training logo
David Lloyd clubs logo
Virgin active logo
Nuffield health logo
NHS logo
pure gym logo
Places Leisure logo
Bannatyne logo

How you'll be assessed

Throughout this interactive online course, you'll complete a series of learning checks that are embedded into the course content to ensure you are making good progress. These questions aren't mandatory but we're sure you'll find them useful to help keep your learning on track.

You'll also complete a series of short multiple-choice knowledge workbooks that are designed to ensure you have mastered the subjects before moving on to the next. These questions are mandatory and you must answer all questions correctly before you can complete the course. Finally, you'll need to complete a short practical assessment where you will record yourself teaching a small range of foam rolling and self-myofascial release techniques to camera. You'll simply record and submit this to us for marking via our online platform. This assessment will likely take about 15 minutes to complete.

50%

Assessment workbook

  • Multiple choice
  • Interactive
  • Unlimited re-attempts
50%

Practical assessment

  • 5 different MFR techniques
  • 2 different modalities
  • Record and submit online

Foam Rolling FAQs

If you're interested in this foam rolling course then it's only natural that you might have some questions about the techniques or the programme itself. We've featured some of our frequently asked questions below, but if you don't find the answer that you are looking for, feel free to get in touch with our Careers Team on the number at the top of the page.

  • Where can I work as a foam rolling instructor?

    This foam rolling instructor course is designed as an ‘add on’ CPD course for personal trainers and as such, it doesn’t result in direct employment opportunities. Most of the students that complete this course are already qualified fitness instructors and personal trainers looking to increase their scope of practice and deliver a wider-range of services to their clients.

    Many personal trainers incorporate the foam rolling techniques they master on this course into their one-to-one training sessions. However, many of our group exercise instructors also go on to deliver stretching and rolling classes specifically targeting problem areas with self-myofascial release techniques. We also know that some of our sports massage course graduates are incorporating these techniques into their self-care advice for clients.

  • Do I need a qualification to teach foam rolling?

    This course is designed for fitness instructors and personal trainers looking to learn the evidence-based principles and fundamentals of foam rolling (self-myofascial release) with the goal of delivering safe and effective foam rolling activities to clients (individual and groups).  If you are a qualified exercise professional that has been using a foam roller for some time and you have a firm grasp of the underlying science, then there is no formal requirement for you to complete a separate foam rolling instructor course.

    That said, most employers prefer their staff to undertake regular CPD to ensure that what they are teaching aligns with industry standards and best practice. Similarly, if you are using a foam roller with clients, they will likely also want to know that you undertaken quality training in this area. Finally, if a client were to injure themselves in a session taught by you and which uses a foam roller,  you might find that your public liability or indemnity insurance won’t cover you if you cannot demonstrate you are suitably trained.  For this reason, completing a course like this could literally pay for itself.

  • Is foam rolling the same as myofascial release?

    Foam rolling is a form of self-administered myofascial release, which is why it is often referred to as self-myofascial release. To the untrained eye, this approach might look and feel like the same type of myofascial release that is performed by a trained sports massage therapist or bodyworker, but it’s important to underline that the intent and effects of both of these techniques are very different.

    Self-myofascial release largely targets the superficial aspects of the muscle and its connective tissues (myofascia) and can be useful in terms of preparing for exercise and recovering from strenuous activity. It may also  help to target and release tender spots in the myofascia known as trigger points. However, myofascial release performed by a professional therapist can create much more transverse (cross) friction within the tissues, and the therapist can better identify where specifically the restrictions are, helping to deliver better outcomes for clients.

    For regular exercisers and athletes alike, self-myofascial release can be a great tool for maintaining good myofascial compliance, helping to improve performance and reduce recovery. However, it should not be confused with professional myofascial release techniques that target the deeper bodily tissues, and/or which are used to treat clients with specific symptoms (e.g., pain or dysfunction).

  • What are the benefits of foam rolling?

    Foam rolling is just one application of the technique known as ‘self-myofascial release’, or SMR. That said, the foam roller is the most widely used SMR tool that is used to deliver a host of benefits, including reducing restoring muscle balance with overactive (hypertonic) muscles, reducing the sensitivity of muscles, improving the length-tension relationship, improving range of movement, releasing trigger points (tender spots), and generally improving the function of the myofascia, both in terms of muscle tone (activation) and tissue (pliability and movement).

    As above, foam rolling is just one application and it’s possible to realise similar SMR benefits with other tools, including medicine balls, tennis balls, hockey balls, or any other soft implement can can apply pressure and roll. Throughout this programme, we’ll show you how to achieve the same effects as a foam roller with other tools also.

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