Something to Do At Your Desk Right Now

My friend Tracy Griffen ( featured in Harpers Bazaar as one of the best body trainers in the UK this month – go Tracy!) has been talking about the importance of range of motion in her newsletter.

Basically, if you don’t use the full range of motion your body is capable of then you lose it bit by bit. And let’s face it, we often don’t use our bodies much in the course of everyday life these days.

Tracy says..

By taking a joint through all the directions possible, you ensure that the joint has the necessary length of tendons and ligaments (the bits that hold your joints together) to cope with all movements necessary.

As an example, you can check the range of motion in your ankles right now at your desk.

Raise your leg a little and try to “draw” a circle with your big toe, circling your foot slowly from the ankle joint as far as you can in each direction. Make sure you move only your foot and not your leg.

If your circles are far from circular then you have work to do on your joints.

And in any case, whether you have good range of motion now or not, it’s a good idea to practice the movement every day to ensure your ankle joints stay flexible and less prone to injury.

February 27, 2008 | Filed Under Fitness Tips