Mobility and flexibility – The difference?
Often people will refer to mobility and flexibility as the same thing, but there is a difference.
Flexibility is the ability of a muscle to lengthen itself and is a passive movement. For example, can you touch your toes? ! Mobility is more active and involves controlling your movements in both joints and muscles through their full range of motion. If you have good mobility, you should be able to move easily without stiffness. Mobility is an important component of physical fitness, allowing you to function normally in daily activities and ensuring the longevity of your body. Good mobility promotes joint health by allowing a joint to move better rather than just a muscle. If your mobility is limited, your range of motion will be, which means you simply won’t move or perform activities as well as you should. Your muscles will become tighter and you will also have an additional risk of injury.
So, in short, mobility allows the body to move more freely, and flexibility is how you can stretch your muscles.
How can Pilates help?
Pilates is about improving our movement patterns in all directions to boost mobility. It will take you further than a range that you can use day to day in a joint. It also incorporates stretches that improve both your flexibility and mobility. Our bodies are made to move, and it’s much happier when we do! We weren’t designed to spend long periods of time in static positions such as sitting in front of computer screens or watching television. The saying “if you don’t use it, you lose it” is so true! If you sit all day it is very likely that you will lose range (mobility) in your hips for example, especially in the opposite direction to how you would have had them. The good news though is that with some basic corrective Pilates exercises, the body can become freer and more mobile again.
Conclusionion
Mobility exercises are essential if you want to keep your joints healthy, prevent injuries and become more efficient in your movements. Flexibility, strength and stability combined are all essential elements of mobility and that’s why it’s so important to include mobility work in your training. Along with having good flexibility and mobility, being able to stabilize through our full range of motion is also essential. Pilates can do it all, so if you’re not already practicing, it might be time to give it a try!
