Having good mobility is a sign of longevity

Mobility is an area of health and fitness, which is all too often sorely (pun intended) over looked. There are now studies, which prove how important mobility is for longevity. They show that the more mobile you are, the better quality of life you will have and the longer you will live.

Think about that for a second. If you improve essentially the range of movement in your body, you can increase your life expectancy.

Mobility (n) : The ability to move or be moved freely and easily. Referring to the ability of the joint to move through its full range of motion.

So why do so many people not understand mobility? I see it all the time in my gym, clients that simply do not understand their life would be better if they were more mobile.

So what is mobility exactly?

Mobility is simply your ability to move freely and easily. It occurs when you have healthy joints and muscles.

Here are a few tests you can use to check your mobility and a video for visuals.

Mobility Test 1:

Next time you are at the gym or at home ask yourself and try, how hard is it for you to get down to the ground and lay on your belly and then get back up again.

Can you do it effortlessly or are you stiff, trying to find certain angles to help yourself down there.

Mobility Test 2:

If there is a big ledge, can you step up on to that easily or do you have to crawl up?

Mobility Test 3:

Stand with your back to a wall and make sure your back keeps contact with the wall. Can you reach your arm up over your head easily without arching your back so they are past your ears or touching the wall?

Mobility Test 4:

Can you sit with your legs crossed on the floor and then stand up without any help from your hands or minimal wobbling?

If you can’t do these things with ease you many need to improveyour  mobility.

And it is a part of Health and Fitness industry which is grossly overlooked. People who train hard need to be practising mobility to keep their joints healthy and avoid injury.

But the most important part for me is improving people’s quality of life. You actually don’t realise how much insufficient mobility can affect you until you fix it.

So I urge you, next time you are in your gym or have a trainer, ask them about mobility, if they don’t know what it is, find a better trainer and learn how to move better for better health and a better quality of life!