The Value of a Daily Mobility Routine

Most of us know we should work on our mobility. Our mobility is an integral aspect of our overall health and wellbeing.

With longevity being a hot topic these days, did you know that your ability to get up off the ground without using your hands is an indicator of your longevity?

How about arthritis? Multiple studies have shown that cultures that spend more time on the ground (sleep, sitting, etc.) and less in chairs, have less incidence of hip arthritis.

The western world is a lifestyle that revolves around chairs and cars. If we don’t proactively work on our mobility daily, we will lose it, and thus experience the consequences.

Improving mobility is a lot simpler than you think. Improving mobility comes down to some basic principles. With the most important principle being consistency.

When you're a strength athlete, you need to mobilize on a daily basis if you want to see mobility improvements.

Mobility requires effort but not a crazy amount. You can easily create a routine that doesn't take away from other aspects of your life. The benefits of mobility can't be overstated.

The benefits are not just about being able to move better now. It's about living better and maintaining a higher quality of life. 

The Importance of Consistency

Let’s talk about the importance of daily mobility. Improving your mobility is a tortoise vs hare scenario. That is, performing even just one mobility exercise daily for months is a lot more effective than performing one mobility session for 30 minutes, once a week. It’s consistency over intensity.

This is in large part due to how long it takes tissues to change. Studies suggest it can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to see permanent flexibility changes.

Before you freak out, let's put this in perspective. I’m not asking you to put in an hour a day of mobility work. I’m simply asking you to make a little time everyday for mobility. It’s the easiest way to decrease pain and maintain our movement capacity as we age. Even just 5 minutes a day will reap benefits.

When’s the Best TIme to Work on Mobility

The best time to work on mobility is whatever works for you and your schedule. Some people like to do it first thing in the morning, others perform it as part of their evening routine, and I’d say most like to use it as part of their pre workout warm up routine.

It also doesn’t have to be performed all at once. I often recommend splitting it up. I recommend certain mobility work in the morning or pre workout and others as part of an evening wind down. 

Where to Focus

Most people need to focus on their hips and shoulder mobility. So from a general sense, that’s where I would recommend starting. However, if you have aches and pains, then I would perform some specific mobility work to address it. 

If you have more chronic issues and would like some guidance on how to improve your mobility to make it stick, reach out to us and let us help you.