About 35% of older adults in the U.S. experience mobility limitations, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). It’s important to note that while mobility limitation is generally associated with old age, younger people too can suffer from mobility-related problems such as poor sitting posture and the inability to maintain the correct form during exercise. As such, it is vital for optimal health and vitality to incorporate mobility training into your workout regimen irrespective of age.
Here are five underrated benefits of mobility training.
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Improves Range of Motion
You can significantly improve your range of motion by performing mobility exercises. While strength training is good for your health, you may not achieve optimum fitness without incorporating mobility training exercises such as yoga and dynamic stretching of the spine, hips, and shoulders. Tense muscles and stiff joints typically limit your range of motion. Since strength training makes muscles tense, it is prudent to perform stretches before and after these exercises. Doing this will help relieve the tension in your muscles and joints, enhance your flexibility, and improve your range of motion.
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Helps Relieve Stress
According to research, tense muscles can lead to various health issues, including stress, anxiety, and other related conditions. The good news is that mobility training can relieve stress by releasing the tension in your muscles. This training also helps to improve blood circulation, which enables the body to relax and get rid of stress.
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Improves Performance in Other Physical Activities
As mentioned earlier, mobility training improves flexibility and the range of motion. These two are fundamental requirements for good performance in sporting activities or general physical activities. More specifically, mobility training can enable you to run faster, jump higher, squat lower, or have a better form during weight training.
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Reduces the Risk of Injury
Mobility training can significantly help lower the chances of getting injured while exercising. Falls, overexertion, and poor form are among the top causes of bodily injuries in fitness facilities. While your body has a limit on weight exertion and a specific range of motion, good mobility can extend this limit to a great extent. That’s why you can lift heavier weights or have a broader range of motion as you progress into your workout regimen. It is worth noting that mobility training can help you become more flexible and enhance your form. With these, you will be less likely to suffer injuries emanating from overexertion and poor form.
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Prevents Muscle Pain
Muscle tension is among the leading causes of muscle pain. It commonly occurs when you exert a force on your muscles, especially if they are not flexible enough to return to their original size and shape. Mobility training gives muscles much-needed flexibility to quickly recover the actual size and shape upon offloading. In other words, it ensures that no muscle tension builds up, and this helps prevent muscle cramps.
At Genesis Performance, we can help you adopt customizable holistic fitness and health plans in your daily life. Contact us today to learn more!
