Why is Mobility Training Often Overlooked?

Why is Mobility Training Often Overlooked?

Nov 27, 2024 mindpump

Mobility is not a glamorous pursuit. There is nothing novel or exciting about working through a full range of motion safely and slowly. Ironically, it’s the most important thing you can do. As we get older, how many people do you know get injured or lose quality of life because they can’t move like they used to? Compare that to how many wish they were super jacked? Mobility far outweighs longevity than packing on slabs of muscle.

What Is Mobility?

Mobility is the ability to move freely and easily through a full range of motion with stability AND strength. When people get injured, it is usually because they get put under a load or stress at an extended range their body was not prepared to handle. Dynamic movements are key here as they allow you to engage multiple muscle groups and take your body through various planes of motion. As mentioned before, it can feel less rewarding than strength training because it does not always equate to looking jacked or sexy in the mirror.

Consistency

We want results fast. Do a bicep curl for 20 pounds one week. The next you EXPECT to do curls for 25 pounds, and so on. That is immediate gratification. Mobility doesn’t work the same way. It’s not about adding pounds to the bar, or adding muscle to your frame. It requires patience and consistency, as the results can take a long time. In a world where we push intensity and go “balls to the wall” it can deter people from seeing the need to add this to their routine or keep up with it. It is often seen as a warm-up, or just something you do really quickly at the beginning or end of your workout.

Injury Prevention

The best way to not get injured is to proactively get ahead of it. We do the same workouts, and push heavier and heavier without keeping injury in mind. We don’t realize that all the weight we lift in the gym is adding more and more stress, even if we’re doing everything right. Imagine if your form is off? Now you are unnecessarily stressing your joints at an angle or placement that you groove over time. Or what if you are not using a full range of motion? You are now training your body to operate under this same shortened movement pattern that is incorrect. This can lead to compensatory movement that leads to a whole new set of injuries you didn’t need to have. By taking that extra bit of time to focus on full range of motion, with a nice slow and controlled pace, you will not only add MORE muscle, but you will be even less susceptible to injury.

How to Implement Mobility Training

Instead of traditional warm-ups consider priming routines. That is picking 2-3 exercises that address your biggest weak points in your day to day or in your lifts. This can involve dynamic stretches and movements that target those weak areas so that you can “wake up” those muscles and get them to fire the way they need to in order prevent injury. It also preps the body for that day’s workout so that you’ll use proper movement patterns.

Find down time at home to incorporate mobility training. This can be while you are watching TV or before or after you go to bed. Find a timeslot you know you can do consistently that isn’t invasive on your life. Choose a form of mobility training like yoga or a corrective exercise program, like MAPS Prime Pro. Even spending 10-15 minutes a day addressing mobility will pay dividends down the line as you get older.