What is Mobility?

Mobility is defined as the ability to move freely and easily. Mobility is very important, especially as we age, and it is critical aspect of being healthy. Mobility is an important aspect of any exercise routine, since you must be able to move a joint freely through a full range of motion to decrease the risk of injury, to increase strength, and to ensure you are getting the most out of your exercise routine. If you do not have proper mobility and flexibility, other joints will compensate for the lack of range of motion, which will decrease strength gains and increase risk of injury. Mobility and flexibility are not the same, since flexibility is dependent upon the range of motion of our muscles. Mobility will increase the range of motion and stabilization of the muscles around each joint, which will enable you to be more flexible.

By training mobility, we can improve the range of motion of our joints and muscles, improve posture, increase body awareness, and decrease daily aches and pains. It is a good idea to engage in mobility exercises as a warm up. Some ways to train mobility are foam rolling, ball rolling, dynamic stretches, and body-weight movements, like squatting. Activate the muscles you will be using during your workout in a slow and deliberate fashion. You will feel better and reach your goals more quickly as your mobility increases.