In the journey of enhancing physical fitness, understanding and mastering the balance between strength and stability across different planes of motion is crucial. Today, I’m excited to share a mini-series of articles and videos that delve into this concept, illustrating a progressive approach to training that can help you achieve optimal movement. Let’s dive into each step of this progression.

In the fitness and rehabilitation world, a long-standing debate has existed over what should come first in training and therapy: mobility or stability. While both are crucial for optimal movement and injury prevention, I propose that neither should be the initial focus. Instead, alignment should be the foundation upon which mobility and stability are built. Without proper alignment, efforts to improve mobility or stability can lead to joint torquing or compensatory patterns that may cause more harm than good.

Have you ever thought about what “optimal movement” really means? It’s a term often thrown around in the realms of physical therapy, fitness, and sports, but how do we define it? Interestingly, optimal movement can differ for each individual because we are all unique in our biomechanics, strengths, and weaknesses. However, there are two fundamental principles that generally characterize optimal movement: