In the competitive world of sports, athletes are constantly looking for an edge—anything that might enhance performance on game day. One common strategy is to increase flexibility and range of motion (ROM). However, during the season, pushing the limits of your ROM might not be the wisest choice. Let’s explore why putting the brakes on increasing ROM during the season could benefit athletes more than pressing forward.

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1. Performance Stability

Athletic performance is like a finely tuned symphony. Each movement pattern is a note, and together, they must harmonize perfectly for optimal performance. During the season, your body's movement patterns are ideally set for this symphony. Introducing radical changes, such as significantly increased ROM, can disrupt these patterns, potentially affecting your game-day execution. It’s about optimizing what works, not maximizing for the sake of it. When you alter your ROM mid-season, you risk detuning this symphony, leading to potential decreases in performance.

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2. Injury Risk

The athletic season is already demanding, with regular games and practices placing considerable stress on the body. Pushing for greater flexibility or mobility during this time increases the risk of injury. Tissues adapt over time, and sudden changes can push them into unfamiliar territories, making them more susceptible to strains or sprains. Extended ROM can also mean longer times under tension, further increasing the likelihood of injury. It’s crucial to respect your body’s current capacities and allow gradual adaptations rather than forcing abrupt increases.

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3. Focus on Efficiency

Instead of striving for more flexibility, athletes should aim for better efficiency within their current movement patterns. This approach can yield more significant performance gains than merely extending the limits of flexibility. Enhancing how well your body performs with its existing capabilities can lead to improvements in both power and endurance, ultimately benefiting game-day performance more than increased ROM alone.

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Behind the Scenes Insights

Professional athletes often maintain peak performance not by continually pushing their physical boundaries but by optimizing their current condition. They tailor their training to what their bodies need at the moment, avoiding the pitfalls of overstretching or overtraining, which can lead to downtime and injuries.

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Seasonal Strategy

Intensive mobility work is best saved for the off-season, a time for recovery and adaptation. The off-season provides an opportunity to gently introduce and strengthen new ranges of motion without the immediate pressures of competition. During the season, the focus should shift to maintaining strength at current ROM levels and fine-tuning existing movement patterns. This strategy helps preserve the athlete’s current state while still allowing for incremental improvements in performance.