What’s the point?
I mean, seriously, what’s the point?
Mobility training is supposed to help improve joint movement.
It’s supposed to reduce pain.
But what’s the point if it will only do that for the people that can handle doing it?
Industry standard mobility methods have us contorting or supporting ourselves while we roll around on a foam roller, stretch, use voodoo bands, rolling sticks and other such gadgetry…and that’s fine for those clients who can manage that. But what about when your clients can’t manage to get down on the floor? Or if they aren’t able to understand the reasons why they should be doing it?
I remember when I was at primary school in the 1980’s, proudly wearing a pin badge with the slogan “Sport For All” on it, and I couldn’t agree more.
Participation in sport has long been shown to improve concentration, behaviour, mindset and much more in a myriad of different settings, across a massively diverse set of populations, but there’s one little hitch in the ideal…injuries.
While participating in physical activity has a multitude of benefits, the consequence is a higher risk of injury.
So, is it a case of “Sport For All” but only “Injury Prevention For Some”?
That doesn’t seem quite fair does it?
Sport England (Uniting the Movement) and UK Coaching (Duty to Care) have both developed outstanding programmes to help bring the power of sport, exercise and movement to increasingly diverse populations and help coaches develop the skills to communicate with those groups effectively.
But what about preventing injuries?
Do we resign our elderly population to their stiff, aching, or even arthritic joints because their bones are more likely to break if they use a foam roller?
And do we let our para-athletes suffer their injury fate if they can’t position their bodies to stretch?
And do we just ignore the subject if those with learning difficulties can’t quite grasp the concept of preventing injury in the first place?
Of course not!
But how can we bring these diverse populations the power of injury prevention if they have struggle with the industry standards?
Fortunately, the SMARTT® methods have been teaching sports and fitness coaches how to do exactly that for years, using the simple power of movement.
Like Chris, who blends his SMARTT® method injury prevention training with the dancing that his son Morgan, who has Down’s Syndrome and Autism, loves to do.
And Fiona, who blends her SMARTT® method training into the awesome sessions she delivers for para-triathletes
And Elijah, who is using the power of movement to help his mother, who is suffering from osteoarthritis.
Physical activity truly has the power to change lives and unite communities, but if we are going to bring this powerful force to such vulnerable groups, don’t we also have the responsibility to do as much as we possibly can to shield them from the injury risk that comes along with it?
After all, increased physical pain doesn’t just affect the individuals themselves, it makes life much harder for their family members and/or carers too.
To discover more about the SMARTT® methods and how sports and fitness coaches from all backgrounds can use them to help prevent injury in any population, I’d like to invite you to get a FREE copy of my book “The Coaches Guide to Long-Term Injury Prevention Success” here