Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/672196
24 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | MAY / JUNE 2016 How do you define "flexibility" and "range of motion"? Flexibility, or the quality of bending easily without breaking, is an important component to musculoskeletal health. Improved flexibility can make the difference between scoring the winning basket or climbing the stairs without pain. ere are many ways to improve flexibility, such as yoga, stretching or therapy. Where does range of motion fit into this discussion? Range of motion, which we sometimes call ROM, is the measure of the extent that a given joint can move. Are there any particular joints that frequently experience ROM restrictions as we age? e neck, shoulder and hips suffer from the most ROM restrictions as we get older. Unfortunately, this is inevitable because the restrictions result from the aging of the joint system itself. In our 30s, we develop new joints in the neck called uncovertebral joints. e development of these joints leads to disk degenerations or, as I like to call it, "maturation." Maturation stiffens the neck's mobility in certain ranges. e shoulders and hips also go through degenerative changes with age. Significantly active individuals are more prone to experience change in particular tissues that can lead to injury. is doesn't mean you should take up being a couch potato as immobility can result in many ailments, as well. What are the consequences of the loss of mobility? Losing mobility can have functional and painful ramifications. It can make it harder to look over your shoulder while driving, to pick up laundry from the floor, Wellness By Tamela Thomas, Wellness Manager, and Stuart Eivers, Lead Physical Therapist H ave you ever met someone with a job in a fascinating field? Chances are you wanted to ask them a million questions, but you had to hold yourself back lest it look like you were trying to get their professional advice for free. I know I've seen a few doctors and lawyers suffer the third degree, and I always feel sorry for them. Just recently, I had an opportunity to question a medical professional without feeling I was taking advantage of him. I sat down with Stuart Eivers, lead physical therapist for MTI at the WAC Wellness Center. We talked about flexibility and range of motion, a topic important to people of all ages. As we grow older or get injured, we experience range-of- motion issues that can greatly affect our day-to-day quality of living. During our conversation, Stuart pinpointed common issues, defined technical terms, and gave suggestions for how to improve flexibility and range-of-motion problems. I hope you enjoy his wealth of knowledge. Tamela Thomas, Wellness Manager tamelat@wac.net 206.464.4639 Let's get physical Wellness in motion A question of flexibility and quality of life L U K E R U TA N