Two concepts, intertwined yet distinct, dance at the heart of human motion: flexibility and mobility. Often mistaken for one another, these fundamental pillars of physical prowess form the bedrock of our functional capabilities. Their intricate interplay significantly impacts injury prevention, performance enhancement, and overall well-being.
Despite their importance, a knowledge gap persists in the proper application of mobility techniques. Many struggle to effectively train and measure progress in these areas. Recognizing this void, innovative entrepreneurs in the health and wellness sector are stepping up to the plate to answer the call for this need. They aim to bridge this gap by offering educational resources, functional training methods, and professional tools to integrate mobility work into regimens designed to build physical function and athletic performance.
In health and wellness terms, flexibility is defined as “the ability of a joint to move through an unrestricted, pain-free range of motion.” While flexibility is important for movement, performance, and overall health and wellness, mobility is just as important. Defined as “the ability to move or walk freely and easily … critical for functioning well and living independently” mobility is all about what you’re able to do with that flexibility.
Flexibility is important for reducing the risk of injury during movement, improving posture, enhancing performance, reducing pain and soreness, and maintaining ability throughout aging. Mobility is important for improving daily functional living, enhancing performance, reducing injury, and contributing to better overall balance, stability, and coordination.
As Bobby Aldridge pointed out to me… while flexibility is about how great your range of motion is, mobility is the ability to move properly within that flexibility. “[Some people] think of mobility as stretching, flexibility, no. Mobility is the joint moving properly.”
Both flexibility and mobility are important for overall function and maintaining quality of life in older aging. They are both crucial components of health and wellness, crucial in how they complement each other. Improving flexibility provides a greater range of motion, while mobility guarantees you can control your movements skillfully and safely within that range of motion. Together, they work to improve movement and function in daily life as well as physical performance.
Luckily, there are a few entrepreneurs concerned with function and mobility that can help you expand your offerings to your clients, and help them function better.
BAMmetrics: Created by Bobby Aldrige, BAMmetrics is a genius solution to the mobility problem so many people face. BAMmetrics allows its users to accurately measure and progress their mobility training in a tangible, straightforward, and refined manner. Great movement starts with great mobility, and BAMmetrics is a complement to any program or athletic training program, rendering that program even more effective. As Bobby shared about the BAMmetrics method, he reminded me, “Functional strength is more important than strength with compensation.”
The genius behind making mobility measurable is understated. Just like any other health indicator, it’s important to track progress with measurable outcomes. Whether it’s tracking how far you’ve come in your program or if you want to train symmetrically across both sides of the body, the BAMmetrics system is designed for accurate, engaging, and simple execution.
Bobby also offers continuing education opportunities to ensure those who want to utilize the BAMmetrics method for their clients do it safely and properly. CEC-accredited, these professional education courses allow coaches and trainers to utilize the metrics-based, data-oriented movement training method in a virtual setting. This provides a solid framework of knowledge and execution for those interested in improving their client’s mobility, function, and athleticism.
Stick Mobility: Stick Mobility came about as a way to build range of motion, coordination, and muscle activation, and to improve overall movement and function. Steve Katai, the Strategy and Operations Consultant at Stick Mobility shared with me the straightforward approach Stick Mobility takes to improving mobility.
What may seem like a simple, passive tool, is a way to engage with mobility, flexibility, strength, and isometric force for greater performance. It requires active movement, and is an incredible innovation that can increase range of motion, prevent injuries, and improve balance and posture.
Whether you’re looking to improve your mobility, you’re a coach, trainer, medical professional, or an athlete, Stick Mobility can improve your and your client’s performance and quality of life. They also offer continuing education courses for those who want to earn CECs and learn the essentials, Level 1, or Level 2 certification; offered in both on-demand and live platforms. Utilized by athletic teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, and Denver Nuggets, Stick Mobility is making monumental moves in the mobility market.
The distinction between flexibility and mobility is crucial for optimizing physical function and performance. While flexibility focuses on range of motion, mobility emphasizes the ability to make controlled movements in that range. As awareness grew around the importance of mobility training, innovative solutions like BAMmetircs and Stick Mobility emerged as a way to address this need. These tools offer state-of-the-art approaches to improve mobility, benefiting everyone from everyday individuals to professional athletes.
By incorporating mobility training into fitness regimens, people can enhance overall well-being, reduce injury risk, and improve functional strength. The emphasis on mobility will likely grow, opening new avenues for personal trainers, coaches, and health professionals to serve their clients in a better way and promote long-term physical health.
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