In our on-going 4 part series we have discussed a few spondylolisthesis exercise terms you should know.
Part 1 is on strength and located HERE.
Part 2 is on stability and located HERE.
The third term that you should know is mobility. Mobility is a term that many do not know or understand. A majority of the time mobility is confused with or closely related to flexibility, but the two are very different.
Mobility is basically the ability of your joints, ligaments, soft tissues and muscles to work together to create a desired movement.
SOUNDS PRETTY SIMPLE, I MUST HAVE GREAT MOBILITY.
Sound simple, right?
It actuality is pretty simple to understand, but it is hard to actual have great mobility. Some people are blessed with great mobility, but most are not.
One of the main reasons for poor mobility is due to so many outside factors affecting mobility as we age. This leads to lacking the adequate amount required in a few specific areas to stay healthy.
If you suffer from a spondylolisthesis or spondyloysis there is a high probability that you too have a lack of mobility in one or more areas.
Let’s go back to our baby analogy. If you picture how well babies (or in the picture below, a toddler) can bend, torque, twist and move it is shocking. The range of motion and positions they put themselves in is unreal.
Part 1 is on strength and located HERE.
Part 2 is on stability and located HERE.
The third term that you should know is mobility. Mobility is a term that many do not know or understand. A majority of the time mobility is confused with or closely related to flexibility, but the two are very different.
Mobility is basically the ability of your joints, ligaments, soft tissues and muscles to work together to create a desired movement.
SOUNDS PRETTY SIMPLE, I MUST HAVE GREAT MOBILITY.
Sound simple, right?
It actuality is pretty simple to understand, but it is hard to actual have great mobility. Some people are blessed with great mobility, but most are not.
One of the main reasons for poor mobility is due to so many outside factors affecting mobility as we age. This leads to lacking the adequate amount required in a few specific areas to stay healthy.
If you suffer from a spondylolisthesis or spondyloysis there is a high probability that you too have a lack of mobility in one or more areas.
Let’s go back to our baby analogy. If you picture how well babies (or in the picture below, a toddler) can bend, torque, twist and move it is shocking. The range of motion and positions they put themselves in is unreal.
Not many adults or teenagers can safely achieve this position.
If you have every paid attention to how a baby/toddler can squat then you can understand what I am saying. Toddlers have an unreal amount of hip and upper back (thoracic) mobility that allows them to achieve these crazy positions.
Babies are born with this unbelievable mobility. But babies and toddlers also have not been subjected to horrible, repetitive postures, habits and lifestyles that can negatively affect mobility. They also have been fairly injury free throughout their young lives.
For the most part babies and toddlers have avoided.….
·Repetitive movements in sports (swinging the same direction, repetitive throwing, jumping the same way etc.)
·Excessive sitting
·Slouched positions achieved during typing, reading or playing with phones, video games.
·Injuries that affect soft tissues, ligaments, and tendons.
For you and I and others who suffer from spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis we can likely check off 2 or more of the previously listed areas and perhaps all 4!
These postures, injuries and lifestyles can affect our mobility. Movements that were once a piece of pie as a youngster are often laughed at as we age.
Hips become tight, legs become stiff, shoulders become creaky and immobile. When these areas are called upon to create movement they simple say, “no way, I can’t move like that”.
Then something along the body has to pick up and help to create this movement.
More often than not it is the low back or other areas. For those that have spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis the low back is often the poor, overworked area who needs a vacation.
The best way to do this is to improve mobility of certain areas like the hips and upper back (also called the thoracic spine). Once mobility is lost in the hips and thoracic spine, the low back starts working overtime to assist with movement.
CONCLUSION
To counteract this it is important to learn proper mobility exercises for areas that you show restrictions in. The best way to do this is from a screen or assessment. Mention this to your therapist or strength coach to get this process underway.
It is crucial to regain proper mobility in the hips and thoracic spine to avoid flare ups and inflammation of your spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis.
Make sure to follow our newsletter to get example exercises and further information on this important term. You can do so by signing up for our beginners guide on the right hand side or by signing up for our newsletter.
You can also check out our SpondySolution Home Program that covers this term in detail and provides exercises to help correct all of the issues related to spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis!
Babies are born with this unbelievable mobility. But babies and toddlers also have not been subjected to horrible, repetitive postures, habits and lifestyles that can negatively affect mobility. They also have been fairly injury free throughout their young lives.
For the most part babies and toddlers have avoided.….
·Repetitive movements in sports (swinging the same direction, repetitive throwing, jumping the same way etc.)
·Excessive sitting
·Slouched positions achieved during typing, reading or playing with phones, video games.
·Injuries that affect soft tissues, ligaments, and tendons.
For you and I and others who suffer from spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis we can likely check off 2 or more of the previously listed areas and perhaps all 4!
These postures, injuries and lifestyles can affect our mobility. Movements that were once a piece of pie as a youngster are often laughed at as we age.
Hips become tight, legs become stiff, shoulders become creaky and immobile. When these areas are called upon to create movement they simple say, “no way, I can’t move like that”.
Then something along the body has to pick up and help to create this movement.
More often than not it is the low back or other areas. For those that have spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis the low back is often the poor, overworked area who needs a vacation.
The best way to do this is to improve mobility of certain areas like the hips and upper back (also called the thoracic spine). Once mobility is lost in the hips and thoracic spine, the low back starts working overtime to assist with movement.
CONCLUSION
To counteract this it is important to learn proper mobility exercises for areas that you show restrictions in. The best way to do this is from a screen or assessment. Mention this to your therapist or strength coach to get this process underway.
It is crucial to regain proper mobility in the hips and thoracic spine to avoid flare ups and inflammation of your spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis.
Make sure to follow our newsletter to get example exercises and further information on this important term. You can do so by signing up for our beginners guide on the right hand side or by signing up for our newsletter.
You can also check out our SpondySolution Home Program that covers this term in detail and provides exercises to help correct all of the issues related to spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis!
