Flexibility + Strength = Mobility

 

With great flexibility comes great responsibility, (i.e. Flexibility + Strength = Mobility.)

Or

You wouldn’t drive your car without brakes.

MOBILITY

— Increasing Joints Ability to Move

• Joint Structure – Bone – Ligament – Capsule
• Physiological – Muscle – Tendon
• Neurological – Fascia – Tone

— Multi-Variant

— Multi-Planar

— Functionally Driven = What it Produces, Not What it Looks like.

STABILITY (Reflexive Strength)

• Control in the presence of change

• Functional Stability

— Motor Control

— Timing of Tonic and Phasic Muscles Contracting

• Smaller “Local” muscles (stabilizers) and bigger “Global” muscles (the big movers)
• Stabilizing and Mobilizing

• Passive Stability

— Joint Capsules, Ligaments

— Joint “Centration” (the stabilization and stacking of the joints along a central axis)

• Dependent on Motor Control

The body is an interdependent kinetic system, and relies on a balance of flexibility and stability. As with many other aspects of movement (Bio-Motor Skills) too little or too much can cause an imbalance. Congenital laxity can be a major problem from a medical perspective. Movement – based and athletic implications aside, hypermobility may not always be benign.

The Beighton Scale, Hypermobility Screen is as below with an interval scoring system.

1. Extend the little finger over the back of the hand — if 90 degrees or greater
Score:

1 Point Left
1 Point Right

2. Flex the thumb toward the forearm — if the thumb touches the forearm
Score:

1 Point Left
1 Point Right

3. Extend the arm — if 10 degrees or more of hyperextension at the elbow
Score:

1 Point Left
1 Point Right

4. Extend the leg — if 10 degrees or more of hyperextension at the knee
Score:

1 Point Left
1 Point Right

5. Flex at the waist with straight legs — if you are able to touch your palms to the floor
Score:

1 Point

Total your points and compare below:

1 – 3 Points = Low Flexibility
4 – 6 Points = Moderate Flexibility
7 – 9 Points = High Flexibility

Score of four or more, Moderate – High Flexibility (either now or in the past) and/or joint pain for longer than three months in four or more joints you may be hypermobile. *Possible hypermobility will be addressed within the FEEL BETTER phase and referred to our Physical Therapy Partner, Pivotal Connections.

BIO-MOTOR SKILL INTERDEPENDENCE:

If it is merely a matter of hypermobility within the kinetic system, we recommend that training emphasize precision, clean movement mechanics, stability and strength. Using properly targeted training protocols, balancing bio-motor skill development can build the formerly hypermobile individual into a functional or athletic person.

 

Click Here For: BEIGHTON TEST