Thriving on Mobility Island

*The Route 56 Challenge: Day 28*

The following is the first post from Functional Fitness on the Bluff’s official Team Doctor, Dr. Lindsey Mathews. She has excellent insight into biomechanics, treatment, and mobility. Here is her short treatise on dynamic joint mobility:

Dynamic joint mobility drills are becoming more and more common. They are used to warm up, as a training tool, and a way to implement correct biomechanics and prevent injury while also enhancing optimal performance. Joint mobility is usually done through the range of motion that is utilized in the sport or fitness regime, unlike static stretching, which occurs at the very end range of motion. I know your coaches at FFOTB always talk about how each individual is different and everyone has their limits. Well, this is definitely one of those instances. Become familiar with you ranges of motion.

Ah, much better.

The benefits of mobility drills are beyond the surface. There are significant neural mechanisms operating. The presentation of the joint, muscles, and nerves that are associated with a particular movement pattern can be altered as that pattern is displayed in the brain.

Mobility drills work to improve your overall health. Think optimal performance. Since these drills operate on a neuro-functional level, the synapses and neurons associated along the pathway will only forward the information to the brain when they receive correct signaling. Think of the telephone game. When you encounter pain, stiffness, and maladies that obviously means something along the tract is off.

When you encounter pain, stiffness, or just an undesired sensation with a movement, don’t avoid the movement, but rather graciously overcome that roadblock. It may take two minutes, two weeks, or two months.

Your brain has compartments for all muscles, joints, movement patterns in your body. Each of these compartments must be maintained or you will lose them. When not used and/or avoided, they basically become stagnant and sluggish and fail to operate ideally. Think of the old saying, “use it or lose it.”

If you cannot understand your body or you do not know a correct movement pattern, this is a great opportunity to utilize your coaches. They are very knowledgeable and patient will help you out when you ask. It’s your body. Think quality so that you can function optimally every day. 

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lR4YADpUe8&feature=youtube_gdata_player]

Dr. Lindsey Mathews

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Saturday’s Workout:

2 min. max Push Ups

Then:

4 rounds for time of:
5 Heavy Dead Lifts
30 Mountain Climbers
200m Run

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