It can be a humbling experience watching your once effortless movements become more difficult as you progress in age, after an injury or through lack of regular activity.
Whilst there can be many factors that can contribute to reduced mobility, generally it can be vicious cycle; the less you move, the less mobile you are and the less you move and so on.
What is mobility?
Mobility is your ability to move your muscles or group of muscles through an entire range of motion with control. It is often a good indication of our general health and how efficiently we move. When it comes to performance, your ability to efficiently control your muscle groups through these movements, not only prevents injury but can also aid in the conservation of energy.
Fortunately, there are proactive measures you can take to address these issues before they become out of hand. Below is a list of suggestions to help improve your mobility.
Our top 5 Mobility tips:
- First and foremost, remain active. While you may be injured, sick or life is just getting in the way, taking 5-10 minutes out of your day to exercise can improve mobility and lead to increased wellbeing.
- Maintaining a healthy diet is essential, as a poor diet can decrease energy levels, increase your BMI and lower your overall wellbeing.
- Using a foam roller can help to heat up the fascia. Warm tissue is more pliable, becoming sensitive to movement and enabling engrained movement patterns.
- Invest in comfortable shoes that have been properly fitted. Your feet take the brunt of almost all activities in your life, poor fitting or worn out shoes can lead to impeded mobility or even cause injury.
- Understand your bodies limitations. Not listening to your body though a workout, pushing through pain or not fully rehabilitating an injury are all key factors in decreased mobility. While there in an importance in “stressing” your body to maintain your mobility, it is more important to be able to maintain your day to day activity to reduce any down time you have.
Remember to keep moving!
