GOT MOBILITY?
We often get asked, “What exactly is mobility?” Unfortunately, this happens to be a very loaded question. This is because mobility or flexibility acquisition is comprised of many therapeutic derivatives, and one method does not exactly outweigh the other.
Mobility is defined in the Miller-Keane dictionary of medicine as “the ability to move in one’s environment with ease and without restriction”.
Now you may be thinking to yourself, “I don’t meet those requirements” due to the various aches and pains you may be experiencing, such as patellar tendon pain, shin splints, subacromial impingement (Shoulder pain that is associated with a pinching of a tendon) and other common injuries that an overwhelming majority of athletes and people experience on a daily basis. Yet, hardly any athletes facilitate these issues until there is a structural or debilitating issue at hand.
POINTS OF INTEREST FOR ATHLETES
- Strength (Max Strength, Power)
- Speed
- Cardiovascular Endurance
- Mobility/Flexibility
For the most part, athletes are facilitating the majority of these demands through some sort of strength and conditioning program where they are lifting and running. Unfortunately, not many people notice the importance of the last one listed, mobility.
Coincidentally this is the limiting factor in allowing an athlete to not only produce more force, but absorb more force as well. In short, it allows them to be stronger, accelerate, decelerate, and run safely and efficiently.
Why is having a mobility routine important?
- Injury Prevention
- Decreased Inflammation (recovery time increased)
- Range of Motion Acquisition
- Force Production
You have more than likely heard that you have to stretch, or you are going to get hurt! To an extent this is true, however many people don’t ever look past your ordinary static stretching and get into some of the other recovery techniques that, if done correctly and consistently, will ultimately yield the best results.
A great mindset to keep is that “movement is medicine for the body.” If you want to feel good you need to ensure that you can move optimally, which couldn’t be more true for an athlete. Too often we hear about athletes who have patellar pain or ankle pain and just sit out from physical activity to get better instead of working on their body and trying to eliminate the underlying issue.
“Dependability is more important than ability”- Bill Parcells
The reason I like to mention this quote is to put into context the importance of making sure you are healthy and available. Because what is the use of being an explosive and talented athlete if you cannot stay on the field and express it.
Fortunately, if you would like to further your commitment to your mobility, we offer a total body mobility routine and module:
This will be a great full body mobility routine that you can throw into the mix.
