A Short Guide to Maintaining Mobility

Note: mobility and flexibility are different

Flexibility and mobility aren’t the same things. While they are often lumped together, they are unique in terms of how they are developed and their benefits.

Mobility is the ability of a joint to move through a range of motion. Take the shoulder, for example — the greater the range of motion that can be achieved, the greater the mobility.

Flexibility is the ability of a muscle to lengthen passively through a range of motion. The classic example is stretching your hamstrings — the more flexibility, the further you can reach past your toes.

Mobility is determined by the strength and flexibility of muscles surrounding a joint, alongside the function of the joint itself. Flexibility is a component of mobility, so it’s not exactly right to contrast them, but they shouldn’t be lumped in together.

When developing a training program, it’s easy to gloss over mobility, and most people ignore it until it becomes an issue. An area of the body becomes tight or sore, so mobility becomes a focus, but then it comes good, and mobility is back on the burner.

I know this because I am someone who puts mobility on the backburner. I understand its importance, but it’s still the first thing to go from…