Regularly incorporating mobility exercises into your training routine is essential for reducing joint pain, improving range of motion, optimizing performance, and preventing injuries in runners.

noli's read

Science supports the idea that mobility and dynamic flexibility improve joint range of motion, which can effectively promote a more efficient gait (meta-analysis, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research). Regarding injury prevention, the evidence is more nuanced: while good mobility is correlated with better mechanics, meta-analyses (e.g., British Journal of Sports Medicine) show that the direct protective effect of stretching or mobility on the overall risk of injury in running is modest or uncertain. The assertion that 'more mobility equals more performance' is a simplification; running performance also depends on strength, technique, and running economy. The advice is therefore generally based on sound biomechanical principles, but the idea of a direct and systematic causal relationship between mobility and the absence of injuries is slightly overstated. It is recognized that mobility improves the comfort and quality of movement, which remains a valuable wellness objective for athletes.

the sources

1. 1Weppler CH, Magnusson SP 2010
2. 2Behm DG, Blazevich AJ, Kay AD, McHugh M 2015