If you’re looking for ways to improve your overall mobility, exercise can be a great place to start. Whether you’re an athlete or just someone who wants to stay in shape, there are several types of exercises that can help you move better. Let’s take a look at some of the best exercises for increasing mobility.
1. Yoga
Yoga is a great way to improve your flexibility and range of motion. This type of exercise encourages you to move through different poses, which helps stretch tight muscles and increase joint range. There are also specific yoga poses that target specific muscle groups, such as Warrior I and III for the leg muscles or Eagle Pose for the shoulders and upper back. Yoga is great for all levels, from beginners to advanced athletes.
2. Weight Training
Weight training can help improve your strength and power as well as boost your mobility. By lifting weights, you are able to improve the strength and stability of various muscle groups throughout the body which may help with everyday activities such as walking up stairs or carrying groceries, while also improving joint stability during dynamic movements such as running or jumping. You don’t need a gym membership either – bodyweight exercises like pushups and squats work just as well!
3. Plyometric exercises
Plyometric exercises involve quick bursts of energy that can help increase power output while improving reactions time and coordination. Plyometric drills like box jumps, bounding drills (jumping forward with both feet at once) or single-leg hops can help build explosive power while also helping improve balance, coordination and overall agility. This type of exercise is more suited towards athletes who already have good underlying strength but want to take their performance up another level by adding explosive power moves into their training program.
4. Stretching
Stretching is an important part of any exercise regimen, as it helps to improve flexibility and range of motion. Stretches can be done before or after a workout, and they should target all the major muscle groups in the body. Dynamic stretches that involve movement such as arm circles or leg swings are great for warming up before a workout while static stretches like toe touches or cobra poses help with recovery afterwards. Regular stretching will also help reduce your risk of injury by keeping muscles limber and flexible. So don’t forget to add some stretching into your routine!
5. Joint self-mobilization
Joint mobilization techniques are an effective way to improve your mobility without having to rely on external help. These techniques involve actively moving and stretching the joint tissues in order to increase range of motion and reduce stiffness. Joint mobilization can be done with a foam roller, lacrosse ball, or a mobilization belt/resistance band. The key is to move slowly and deliberately while focusing on breathing deeply into the area being mobilized so that it remains comfortable throughout the entire process. It’s important not to push too hard as this can cause injury or further damage if done incorrectly. With consistent practice, you should start seeing improvements in your mobility over time!
There are many different types of exercises that can help improve your mobility—from yoga and weight training to plyometrics drills to stretching and joint mobilizations—and each one has its own unique benefits for increasing strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, agility, and overall performance.
So whether you’re looking for ways to become more mobile or just trying to stay in shape, there’s sure to be an exercise out there that will work for you! Taking the time each day (or week) to focus on these types of exercises will go a long way towards helping you achieve your goals!
Remember, your health is a priority!
~ Dr. Dallin Page
