FLEXIBILITY VS. MOBILITY: THEY AREN’T THE SAME

Why the heck should I care about flexibility and mobility with my workouts, and aren’t they the same thing anyway?

Well, not quite. 

First and foremost, while flexibility may impact one’s mobility, they are indeed, not the same thing. Flexibility refers to the amount of motion that is possible at a specific joint, and involves what we call passive range of motion: picture someone laying back and pulling one knee to their chest with their hands - because the muscles of the targeted joint (the hip) are relaxed, this can be considered passive range of motion. Contrariwise, mobility involves active movement - picture standing and lifting one knee as high as possible, without the use of one’s hands - and encompasses how far a joint (in this case, the hip) can move, and the quality of that movement. What makes mobility so interesting is that it is influenced by many factors working simultaneously: flexibility, strength, balance, and movement control.

How it Influences Your Workout

Both flexibility and mobility can influence someone’s workouts, and both can be benefitted by working out regularly as well! When working with the coaches and personal trainers here at PFP, we’re always observing how someone moves, and are able to recognize ways to help improve both one’s range of motion and how well that movement occurs. One of the most fascinating things about regular strength training is that by moving through one’s full range of motion with resistance (barbell, bands, kettlebells, etc.) and appropriate technique, both flexibility and mobility are being trained at the same time, and is more effective for enhancing flexibility than strictly flexibility-training alone! 

The Injury-Risk Connection

Another cool thing about full range of motion strength training is that while improving flexibility and mobility, it may influence one’s injury risk potential. To be clear, that’s not to say that someone will never experience an injury again so long as they strength train, but rather, by teaching our bodies to move through their full natural range of motion with beautiful technique and particularly with resistance, our bodies adapt to those end-range positions and the severity of an injury may be reduced. Picture losing one’s footing on ice and quickly regaining control: all sorts of weird positions are experienced in these moments, but the body’s more used to functioning now in many of them, helping us react more quickly, and hopefully spare a full-on spill on the ice. 

If flexibility and mobility are among your wellness concerns, why not meet with a friendly PFP trainer and see how we can help!