77 Oestrogen, which induces ligament laxity, is one of the reasons why women have better mobility and flexibility than men. Do you know any of these tools? If you don t, search the web. MOBILITY Mobility is the ability to move our body freely through its full range of motion. The main parts involved in this skill are the joints, which are placed at the end of the bones and whose anatomic structure allows movements in every direction. Often the term flexibility is used to describe mobility, but these two abilities are different: flexibility is how well joints can passively move (i.e. how far a physiotherapist can move your leg and stretch your hamstring), whereas mobility is how well you can actively move your joints (i.e. how far you can stretch your leg yourself without any external help). Factors that affect mobility Mobility is directly connected with strength, resistance, and speed, and there are some key factors that affect it: Training to improve mobility There is a great variety of specific exercises that can improve mobility. For a harmonious development of this skill, it is necessary to stimulate all the joints equally. There are three main types of exercises: active, which are based on the traditional physical exercises which comprise continuous movement without static stages. They usually follow a sequence pattern and involve oscillations, limbs rotations, and push-ups; passive, which are based on pressure and traction techniques and require the use of external force, such as the physiotherapist s action or the use of specific tools ; temperature: hot temperature facilitates mobility, cold temperature reduces it; attainable: raggiungibile hamstring: tendine posteriore del ginocchio palsy: paralisi workload: carico worn out: consumato neurological and musculoskeletal disorders: osteoarthritis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson s disease adversely affect mobility; traumatic injuries: skeletal fractures, head injuries, or spinal injuries can compromise mobility; lifestyle: a too inactive lifestyle or an excessive workload can damage joints; age: elderly people have reduced mobility due to worn out joints; sex: generally, women have better mobility than men. 150 SCIENCE AND PHYSICS stretching, which can also benefit muscles and which consists of achieving a specific position starting with tension and then keeping that position for at least 20 seconds.