Overhead mobility is not often something we think a lot about unless our sport requires it or we experience pain with that movement. But I want to challenge you to test your overhead mobility right now!
I’m not looking for pain. (If this is painful, you should let us know)
I want to know if you can pass the test. Can you get your thumbs to the wall without losing contact between the wall and your back or your head? If you can’t, you should. Let me tell you why overhead mobility is so important as we age.
How many daily activities involve bringing your arms overhead? Putting away groceries, reaching into cupboards, hanging clothes, the list goes on and on. We want to hang on to this ability forever- not only for our independence, but for fall prevention. One common reason for loss of balance is reaching for something we can’t get to.
Picture it: You go to put a box on a high shelf in the pantry. Your arms can’t reach very high, and as you attempt to get that arm a little higher, you rock backward and fall. So very preventable.
As I am working with clients with shoulder issues who are lacking mobility, I’m not only looking to reduce their pain, but decrease their risks of falls in the future.
If you fail the test for shoulder mobility, I suggest you work with a movement specialist to develop a short list of exercises for you to work on in getting that mobility back!
Holler with questions!
Dr. Rachel Atufunwa PT, DPT