Mobility or Mapping?

Mobility is different from flexibility. Flexibility is the ability of a muscle to lengthen passively through a range of motion while mobility is the ability of a joint to actively and easily move through a range of motion. Dancers need both. They should mobilize their joints prior to class, getting the synovial fluid moving, and preparing their muscles to rock and roll by dynamically mobilizing key joints. It’s okay to passively stretch after a class or rehearsal to work on the flexibility of a particular muscle.

What is mapping? Mapping refers to the ‘map’ in the brain that movement is built off of. We could even use a GPS analogy. GPS works by taking information from at least 3 satellites to map your location on the ground. Your brain, like a GPS unit, takes information from the visual, vestibular and proprioceptive systems to ‘map’ your movement.

For example, an ankle sprain. It is common to shift the weight over to the uninjured side when you tweak your ankle. If you don’t re-map balance and full foot and ankle range of motion afterwards, you can be left with an incomplete or fuzzy map.

Your brain’s first job is to keep you safe and it may send out warning signals..be careful… keep the weight on the big toe side… don’t push off too strongly - which may be appropriate in an acute stage, but at some point the ankle and foot need to relearn all the joint actions that are necessary for fully functioning movement.

I saw this multiple times in recent months working with some professional dancers and how important it was to check that the joint is moving well in all planes, without pain, in order to update the map in brain. The dancers and I were kinda in awe… seeing how simple mapping movements, not strength, not flexibility, but mapping movements could turn a chronic injury site into a healthy and dependable area.