Joint mobility is a fairly new concept to North Americans. Most people mistakenly equate it with stretching and flexibility. There are certainly some elements of stretching involved in joint mobility drills, but those are side effects of the movements....Simply put, joint mobility is the active pursuit of joint health through movement.So-called joint mobility drills typically involve gentle sequenced movements designed to lubricate, loosen, and strengthen the joints. There are many different joint mobility drills available across the web. Though I have not done comparison shopping, I am a fan of Steve Maxwell's joint mobility routines. Here's a very brief sample of the type of movements Steve promotes:
As Steve explains on his DVDs (see below), and I'm paraphrasing here, the difference between flexibility and mobility is that the latter develops strength throughout the entire range of motion by focusing on movement into and out of the extended ranges, rather than just the ability to sit still in a particular extension. This should hit home for anyone like me who has concerns about mobility associated with their hips and back.
Steve offers a 3-DVD series entitled Encyclopedia Of Joint Mobility DVD Series for Total Joint, Muscle and Body Fitness, Flexibility and Strength.
The DVDs have separate segments for backs, hips, shoulders, and other body parts. His segments on the hips and the back have proven extremely valuable for me, especially at times when I have experienced unusual tension in those areas. For those who may have an interest in learning more about joint strength and joint mobility, Steve's stuff is definitely worth checking out.
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