ironguides

Mobility and stability coexist to enable efficient movement in the human body.

To understand this a little better, flexibility is the ability to elongate a muscle while mobility involves both the muscle and joint, basically a non restricted freedom of movement. Strength on the other hand is the ability to produce force or movement; stability is the ability to control force or movement.

At ironguides one of the five key systems we train is the neuromuscular system for motor pattern programming (skill acquisition). A simple concept is to think of the body like a computer which is made up of hardware (the actual machine) and software (the commands or instructions). Our body's hardware is what makes up our big red meat computer (muscles, joints, ligaments etc.) Our body's software are the motor programs or instructions we provide.

When we learn a certain skill for the first time we develop a motor program that allows us to repeat the skill again and again without having to relearn the mechanics. The aim is to get the motor program so refined that we can perform under varying conditions and high levels of physical and mental stress.

We develop efficient motor programs from repeated practice and focus, however not all practice is necessarily good if we are aiming to create an optimally efficient motor skill.  If this repeated skill is done with restricted movement or poor form it will be recorded and stored within the motor program.

This repetition of a motor pattern ie. stride rate conditioning also teaches us neuromuscular control. With less neuromuscular control our systems (CNS) would limit our movements and without that control our stability and subsequent good structural alignment would be compromised.

This is where optimal mobility and stability comes into play as they influence the motor program. If you are restricted in movement - poor mobility (muscular tension or joint stiffness) or have less than optimal stability (poor strength, co-ordination or control) our movement patterns become altered to compensate.

Since movement patterns are continually and consistently repeated, muscular adhesions, scar tissue, injuries and past injuries that are not properly rehabilitated create limited mobility and stability. Muscle tension and joint/nerve restriction is fairly easy to fix through some simple techniques (see here) which in turn provides a more optimal platform for developing greater stability that is developed through specific strength training.

Since mobility and stability work in unison they provide the fundamental building blocks for strength, motor skills, speed, race pace tolerance and endurance. By developing your mobility and stability you will create correct body movements, which lead to increased efficiency, reducing effort on your part and saving you energy. Thus your ability across the five systems is improved.

So when your muscles and connective tissue are in an appropriate state from the soft tissue work undertaken. The specific training we do within The Method such as stride rate on the run, paddle work in the swim and big gear work on the bike allows for optimal stability, neuromuscular control and a greater rate of return from the sessions we undertake.

Work on your mobility and stability and make 2009 an exceptional year.

Kristian