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Tips on How to Break Up Exercise Throughout the Day February 26, 2021 How to stay healthy and injury-free while indoor cycling March 23, 2021 Many of us have heard the terms flexibility and mobility, both buzz words in the health and fitness industry, but what you might not know is that they don’t mean the same thing. Mobility is dynamic or active, where flexibility is passive. For example, flexibility is when you can pull your thumb back with your other hand, so it touches your wrist. In contrast, mobility is the ability to get your thumb to that exact same spot on your wrist without the help of the other hand. Flexibility can be achieved when you “stretch” (e.g., holding a static position for 30 – 60 secs), and your muscle relaxes and lengthens. This form of stretching reduces tension but also reduces nervous system activity in those muscles. This may be a good idea AFTER a workout, but not be indicated BEFORE a workout. Before a workout, a focus on improving mobility will enhance the ability of your nervous system to activate those muscles for movement. Mobility improves the contraction of the muscle fibers by the nerves that activate them, while simultaneously lengthening the muscles and the surrounding connective tissues, i.e., fascia. This increases blood flow to the targeted muscles, increases joint range of motion, and ironically, decreases tension! Mobility training incorporates the entire body moving as one unit, enhancing coordination for precise, controlled movement. Mobility is a big part of taking care of our whole system of movement. Fitness and working out can be an exercise culture, but we support thinking of it more as a culture of movement. A common assumption is that if we simply exercise or work out, we will automatically be able to move better. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. Doing specific exercises repeatedly will most likely improve only those exercises. This improvement will typically not generalize to your whole system, and no single exercise can represent the full spectrum of human movement. In summary, holding static stretches to increase flexibility will only increase range of motion in a passive manner around a specific joint. Alternatively, mobility training builds strength and coordination throughout the range of motion of the muscles around a specific joint, or multiple joints – and can actually be a workout in and of itself! Here are some great mobility exercises that can not only help you warm up for exercise or for a run, but it’s also going to help build strength and coordination as well. Hip Internal Rotation Mobility Thoracic Rotation Mobility Hip and Thoracic Spine Mobility: Spider-Man Thoracic Extension, Lat, and Hamstring Mobility Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, and check out more mobility exercises to get you moving and feeling better! At Beacon Physical Therapy, we can help if you are having issues with flexibility, mobility or both! If you are having an issue, make an appointment today. We’d love to meet you and get you back to doing what you love. SummaryRead the full fact sheet
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Content disclaimerContent on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Which type of exercise is most likely to increase range of motion around a joint?To increase ROM, all types of stretching are effective, although PNF-type stretching may be more effective for immediate gains. To avoid decrease in strength and performance that may occur in athletes due to static stretching before competition or activity, dynamic stretching is recommended for warm-up.
Which part of the exercise program is designed to increase your joints range of motion and may decrease your risk of injury?Stretching exercise — Stretching exercises are movements designed to improve flexibility and prevent injury. Improving flexibility allows joints to move over a wider range of motion. Good range of motion in all joints helps to maintain musculoskeletal function, balance, and agility.
Which fitness component has the ability to move joint in full range of motion?Flexibility is an important component of physical fitness. Flexibility refers to the ability to move a joint through its full range of motion (ROM) with ease. Flexibility is joint specific.
What kind of exercises would be more effective for the promotion of flexibility and prevention of muscle stiffness?Flexibility is the range of motion in a joint or group of joints or the ability to move joints effectively through a full range of motion. Flexibility training includes exercises that stretch muscles to lengthen them. Examples of commonly used flexibility exercises are Pilates, Tai Chi, Yoga and Stretching.
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