Commentary by Adam Timm
At Concept 7 Fitness, we focus on “7 Lifestyle Principles” to improve health and fitness in our daily lives. Mobility is one of these principles and is very important for the young athlete as well as for the older population. Good mobility improves athletic performance, prevents injury, provides for better movement skills, and helps people just feel better.
When we speak of mobility, we are talking about being able to get into a wide range of positions without force or external assistance. An example would be squatting with both feet flat on the ground and the hip crease dropping below the knee joint. Many people have problems getting into this low squat position without pain or compromising safety.
Mobility helps us with everyday tasks such as getting up off of the floor and in outdoor activities like rock climbing. There are many different ledges and holds, but if you can’t move your leg in a way to put your foot up on the next ledge, you will not go very far regardless of your strength. While the older population might not rock climb on a daily basis, everyone should be able to get up off of the floor effectively and this also requires a degree of mobility.
This leads us to how you can work on improving your mobility. First, work on mobility exercises every day. Get into different positions and actively challenge your range of motion. Second, make sure you progress slowly. Do not force yourself into painful positions. It is better to be consistent and improve slowly rather than try to force yourself to do things for which your body may not be prepared. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments all take time to adapt to these new positions. Last, seek a professional that can assess your movement and guide you in your journey to better health and fitness.
Enjoy the journey to better health and fitness through movement!
Adam Timm is a Certified Personal Trainer through the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) and a Registered Pharmacist. Adam has a passion for working with others to help them achieve their goals and overcome obstacles. He enjoys staying active outdoors and spending time with his wife and two sons.
