Two women practice yoga near the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Several studies have found that mobility practices like yoga, Pilates, and dynamic stretching can improve daily, functional movements.Before your next workout, you might breeze through a few static stretches, thinking you’re preparing your muscles and joints. However, while these stretches can enhance your flexibility, you may need to do more for your mobility.
However, mobility becomes paramount in scenarios where the emphasis is on joint movement within specific ranges, such as in sports requiring quick changes in direction or depth of movement . Even if these small dips aren’t significant to you, they’re a strong indication that static stretching alone isn’t the secret to proper preparation. In his research, Behm found that an appropriate amount of static stretching combined with dynamic stretching and active movements eliminates these performance decreases.Mobility is needed for everyday tasks, such as climbing stairs or sitting in a chair, which is why Behm suggests that mobility work be a part of your daily routine.