Mobility is the ability of a joint to move freely through its full range of motion within motor control. It is a crucial aspect of general health and quality of life through daily physical activity and movement.
Having good mobility means that we can move your bodies without pain or discomfort, giving you the freedom to perform your daily tasks with ease. Mobility is essential for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or physical condition. It is even more for sport people who need to perform specific movements during their practice. It is important to note that mobility is different from flexibility.
Flexibility is the ability of a muscle to stretch and lengthen without any pain.
Mobility, on the other hand, is the ability of a joint to move freely through its full range of motion while keeping a full control on it. Mobility is free from any external help.
Mobility is the perfect mix between flexibility and motor control.
Having good flexibility does not necessarily mean that you have good mobility. You can be flexible but still have poor mobility if you cannot move your joints through their full range of motion without help.
Good mobility benefits
Having good mobility has several benefits. It improves your general health (are you working on these important parts of your fitness?), reduces the risk of injuries, and enhances your athletic performance.
Here are some of the benefits of good mobility.
Reduced risks of injuries
Having good mobility reduces the risk of injuries.
When you have good mobility, you can perform exercises correctly, reducing the risk of strains, sprains, and other injuries. It makes even more sense to develop mobility for sport people and athletes. It can be a very plus in terms of performances and results.
It also helps you maintain proper posture even though science showed that a bad posture does not necessary leads to pain but that it is more a matter of esthetic.
Improved athletic performances
Good mobility is essential for sport people as it enhances their performances.
Depending on the sport performed, a good mobility can help you to reach certain positions that might be advantageous.
Good mobility help you perform exercises correctly, increasing your strength, speed, and agility. It also enables you to move your bodies more efficiently, reducing the risk of fatigue and improving your endurance.
Difference between mobility and stretching
Mobility and stretching are different concepts.
Stretching is the action of lengthening a muscle to improve its flexibility.
On the other hand, mobility is the ability of a joint to move freely through its full range of motion. Stretching can be benefitials for some specific goals, but it does not necessarily improve mobility. It only improves flexibility by elongating the muscles. Stretching a muscle can have some pain relief effect, especially on the long term, and practicing regular long stretching at the right moment will develop your flexibility.
Mobility, on the other hand, improves the range of motion of the joint, allowing you to move your bodies freely without discomfort. It is flexibility with force.
Conclusion
Mobility is the ability of a joint to move freely through its full range of motion. It is essential for general health and fitness, reducing the risk of injuries, improving athletic performance, and improving quality of life through daily physical tasks.
Good mobility is different from flexibility, as it focuses on the range of motion of the joint rather than the length of a muscle.
Stretching and mobility are complementary concepts, both important for overall health and fitness.