Were you ever told, “Don’t forget to stretch?” Stretching is the most common form of movement for pre and post-physical activity. But what about mobility? How can you participate in physical activity by moving your muscles but not your joints? You can’t. Having flexibility means you can get into a position with some help, but it does not mean you can get out of that position. Flexibility doesn’t translate into movement. It does not guarantee you can absorb or produce force into this position. It just means you can get there. But that also doesn’t mean it is pointless, passive mobility (flexibility) is the prerequisite to active mobility. Mobility on the other hand means having active control of the joints in different positions and mobility translates to much easier movement. More mobility = more movement variability = injury mitigation. Learning to control the end ranges of your joints is so important to be able to truly own the movement. Let me break it down for you. Stretching is about the muscle’s ability to lengthen which leads to flexibility. Whereas, mobility is about your joints. It is the ability to allow your joints to move through their full range of motion without restriction or discomfort, and truthfully mobility is very underrated. Both are vital to your body. This is not just vital to your physical health but your emotional health as well. the majority of us carry some sort of trauma, anxiety, and/or depression experience in our bodies that present as physical symptoms.
Mobility is underrated but hip mobility is one of the most underrated joints individuals tend to work on and unless you have hip pain it will not be something most individuals practice. Some of the other joints to be worked on include the shoulders, neck, spine, and ankles. The more you practice mobility the easier it will be for you to maintain joint health and achieve optimal fullness.
Some of the most uncommon muscles individuals tend to forget to stretch include the Latissimus Dorsi, Pectorals, Hip Flexors, Hamstrings, and Calfs. The more flexibility and mobility you add to your daily routine the lower the risk of injuries and overall postural imbalances including joint inflammation and overall muscular tightness.