Mobility Training South Austin: Enhancing Your Movement Potential
August 2, 2023 | Functional Range Conditioning
For the last year and a half (while Motive Training ATX was being built), I worked in a local gym in South Austin. The gym is excellent, but most members focus on powerlifting, strength training, strongman training, or Olympic lifting. Rarely do I see gym-goers spend time stretching or working on their mobility, which is not surprising to me in the slightest. Is it unfortunate? Absolutely. Mobility training should not be overlooked when it comes to getting stronger or improving one’s health. However, most people neglect to learn how to move before they load their joints.
By incorporating mobility training into your workout regimen, you can enhance your functional movement, improve your athletic performance, and reduce the risk of injury. And if you’re looking for a place to do that in South Austin, we have you covered.
An Introduction to Mobility Training
Mobility training is the practice of improving the body’s range of motion through a series of exercises. It goes beyond the traditional notion of static stretching, encompassing a broad spectrum of techniques to enhance flexibility, mobility, and strength. Activities such as dynamic stretching, eccentrics, positional isometrics, and loaded stretching form part of mobility training, working towards a common goal of improved movement and greater range of motion.
The Critical Role of Mobility
Incorporating mobility training into your fitness routine might seem challenging due to time constraints or other factors. However, the benefits it offers make it a worthwhile addition. Here’s why mobility plays a pivotal role in our overall fitness:
Optimize Performance and Minimize Injury Risk
Good mobility can significantly enhance your performance regardless of your fitness activity, whether gym workouts or sports. For instance, in weightlifting, adequate mobility allows you to get into optimal positions and execute movements flawlessly, enabling you to lift heavier weights safely. With better range of motion, you can move faster, jump higher, and push harder in any activity. Furthermore, good mobility can reduce the risk of injuries by ensuring that the targeted muscles undertake the load, preventing weaker muscles from compensating and leading to potential injuries.
Counteract Sedentary Lifestyle Effects
Even the most active individuals often sit for extended periods in modern times. Long hours of sitting can result in mobility issues, causing a poor range of motion in joints and muscle tightness. Mobility exercises can help counteract these adverse effects, promoting healthier movement patterns.
Enhance Functional Movement
Mobility exercises can also improve your everyday functional movement–actions that we often take for granted, like sitting, walking, or lifting groceries. As mobility naturally decreases with age, it becomes even more essential for older adults to focus on mobility training.
The Road to Improved Mobility
There’s a multitude of ways to enhance mobility, and the ideal choice depends on your specific needs and fitness goals. Here are some categories and examples of mobility exercises:
Eccentrics
Eccentrics refer to putting a muscle through length under load. There’s a ton of research on the benefits of eccentric training (1), mainly when we apply it under the Functional Range Conditioning lens.
Loaded Stretching
Loadest stretching means putting a joint into a lengthened position and loading it isometrically. For instance, we might set up a client to stretch their glutes in a pigeon pose and then load that tissue isometrically, as we instruct in this video.
Positional Isometrics
Positional isometrics aren’t necessarily stretches. They are isometrically loaded positions that you may struggle to get into. For instance, if you’re having trouble getting your hamstrings to fire because your quads are tight, we may employ passive range holds or similar methodologies.
Mobility Training South Austin
In conclusion, mobility training is a critical aspect of fitness that shouldn’t be overlooked. Incorporating it into your workout regimen can enhance your athletic performance, reduce the risk of injury, and improve your overall quality of life. So, if you’re looking for mobility training in South Austin, reach out to us today using the link below.
References
Written by:
Brian Murray, FRA, FRSC
Founder of Motive Training
Are you looking for a sound, effective fitness program? Reach out to us today.
We’ll teach you both how to move with purpose so you can lead a healthy, strong, and pain-free life, and we’re available online or in Grand Rapids, MI, and Austin, TX. You can find us in the Heartside district of Grand Rapids, MI, and the St. Elmo district in South Austin, TX.
