What is mobility?
Mobility is the ability of your body’s joints to move through a full range of motion. Depending on the joint, the range of motion or ROM varies significantly.
For instance, your knee joint only allows you to move your knee forwards and backward. Alternatively, your shoulder socket will enable you to move your shoulder up and down in a circular motion.1
Why is mobility important?
Mobility is not just crucial to athletes. Mobility impacts our ability to perform daily tasks like sitting down, getting up, and even walking. These functional movements often require different joints to work in sync. This is why stabilisation, strength training, and dynamic stretching are all critical to improving your mobility. The older we get, the more critical good mobility becomes, especially when helping to reduce the chance of falling.2
How to improve your mobility?
To improve mobility, consider the following recommendations:
1) Assess your current level of mobility with simple tests, such as the shoulder mobility test outlined, to identify areas that may need improvement.2
2) Engage in mobility-increasing activities, which can include a range of motion exercises, myofascial release (e.g., foam rolling), dynamic and static stretching, and muscle activation.3
3) Regular practice is the key. Incorporate mobility exercise into your daily routine to enhance your capacity for movement.1
While mobility-enhancing techniques are generally harmless, precautions should be taken. Always listen to your body and avoid pushing into painful ranges of motion. Ensure that your mobility practice does not exacerbate pre-existing conditions, and seek professional guidance if necessary.3
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