Mobility therapy aims to improve how you move. Physical therapists strive to not only improve mobility, but to restore function to limbs and the rest of the body and improve quality of life. Once movement has been restored, strengthening and stabilization can then begin.
**This is not medical advice. Please consult your medical provider for more information.
Mobility vs Flexibility
It is important to distinguish the difference between mobility and flexibility. Mobility and flexibility are often used interchangeably, however they are quite different.
Flexibility is the body’s ability to achieve a certain position, which may involve outside forces. For example, imagine an athletic trainer stretching one of their athlete’s hamstrings. The goal is to feel a stretch, pushing the limit of the hamstring beyond what the athlete may be able to perform on their own. This would be an example of flexibility.
Mobility is your own ability to actively move your body into certain positions without any assistance. Now imagine you are on the ground and trying to lift your leg as high up as it can go without bending your knee. In this case, mobility refers to how high you can lift your leg without any help from a strap, your hands, or somebody else pushing your leg.
Mobility is the body’s ability to move freely, normally, and efficiently.
What is Mobility Therapy?
Physical therapists combine manual techniques with targeted mobility-based exercises to improve range of motion throughout the body. This may include working on the muscles, joints, or both.
A number of techniques may be combined to address mobility deficits. This may include joint mobilization, passive and active stretching, use of modalities, therapeutic exercise, and neuromuscular re-education. Your physical therapist will determine which techniques may be most beneficial to you from your initial assessment and by determining what you respond to most.
What are the Benefits of Mobility Therapy?
Physical therapists can address mobility after injury or surgery by restoring the movement of joints and muscles. Furthermore, they can help reduce pain caused by poor posture, lack of movement, too much movement, and decreased strength. Here is what improving mobility may help you with:
Posture
Poor posture can lead to sore muscles, painful joints, stiffness, and lack of movement. Unfortunately, the world we live in now is not conducive to keeping the body in prime positions for good posture. Nowadays, we commonly see a forward head and rounded shoulders from staring at our phones and commonly accompanied with neck and upper back pain. Sitting for long periods of time in an office chair, being stuck in traffic, and coming home to sit in front of the tv can lead to stiff hips and often back pain as well. Improving posture focuses on restoring movement to joints and muscles and taking the body out of the positions that often lead to pain and injury.
Lowers Risk of Injury
If certain areas of the body are stiff and don’t move well, other parts of the body need to make up for it. This can result in an increased risk of injury from overwork. Improving your body’s mobility is essential in creating a balanced distribution of work and force throughout the body.
Treats Various Pain Points Throughout the Body
Pain can be triggered by a lack of movement at a certain area in the body. Low back pain can come from tight hip flexors or hamstrings. As a result, these tight muscles pull the pelvis into either an anterior or posterior pelvic tilt and creates increased stress to the low back. Working on improving mobility of the hips can help reduce low back pain. Mobility therapy targeting other areas of stiffness may help alleviate pain in other areas of the body.
Reduces Stress
Mobility therapy can be a form of self care. Set up your favorite yoga mat. Light a candle. Play some calming music (or whatever puts your in a good mood). And start moving your body in a way that feels good. Movement helps reduce stress. Why not help your body move better and reduce stress at the same time?
Mobility Exercises to Try
- Thoracic mobility exercises for better posture
- Shoulder mobility exercises for better arm movement
- Full body mobility exercises to make it through your day pain free
TL;DR
As movement specialists, physical therapists focus on helping the body move better. In order to make sure your body is strong and functional, you need to be able to move appropriately. Mobility helps posture, reduce risk of injury, and reduces stress. Strengthening can begin once mobility is achieved!
Tera Sandona is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and the founder of PT Complete. She helps high-achieving women break out of cycles of chronic pain, stress, and burnout through her Regulate and Rebuild Method, a sequenced approach that addresses the nervous system first and builds strength second. Her work focuses on helping women finally understand their bodies, rebuild strength, and create lasting resilience that fits real life.
