Mobility & Flexibility

Aside from exercise, mobility & flexibility are two of the key components the human body needs to retain proper function throughout its structures.  The bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues work together to allow a range of movement and maintaining proper fitness. This, along with and a balanced nutritional diet, can help keep the body functioning properly. Great mobility means executing functional movements with no restrictions in the range of motion (ROM).

A flexible person can have core strength, balance, or coordination but cannot perform the same functional movements as a person with great mobility. Remember that flexibility is a mobility component, but extreme flexibility really is not required to perform functional movements.

Maintaining these abilities is key to being mobile in old age. Without mobility and flexibility, an individual will not be able to tie their own shoes or walk to the mailbox. According to Dr. Alex Jimenez’s compilation of articles on mobility and flexibility, individuals who don’t stretch their body often can experience shortened or stiffened muscles which decrease their ability to move effectively.