Each joint has an “optimal” range of motion, Woodall explains, and if you can exceed the ideal range of motion for a particular joint, it’s hypermobile.Ī qualified trainer or physical therapist can help you figure out if you’re hypermobile, but it’s easy to test on your own, too. It is influenced by the relationship between your bony articulations (joint structures) and the soft tissue (muscle, fascia, tendons, ligaments), as well as your central nervous system.” On the flipside, flexibility refers only to the soft tissue. “Mobility refers to a range of motion of a joint. “First, it is important to establish what mobility is,” notes Kari Woodall, owner of BLAZE. But there is such thing as being too mobile - and while it’s not necessarily a bad thing, it can affect your workout in some crucial ways. Foam rolling, resistance band work and even self-massage with a lacrosse ball are all common components of many exercisers’ mobility routines. These days, you hear a lot about mobility in relation to recovery.
