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Delaware Fit Factory

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December 7, 2025

How to Test and Improve Your Range of Motion

Whether you’re an athlete, a weekend mover, or someone just wanting to feel better day-to-day, range of motion (ROM) is one of the most important—and overlooked—components of fitness. It affects how well you lift, squat, press, run, and even how comfortably you sit, stand, and go about your daily tasks.

Improving ROM isn’t about becoming a contortionist. It’s about creating strong, controlled, pain-free movement so your body can perform the way it was designed to.

Let's break down how to test your current mobility and practical ways to improve it.

How to Test Your Mobility (Simple Self-Assessments)

Try these quick mobility checks at home or in the gym:

1. Squat Test

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and squat as low as you can while keeping your chest tall and heels down.

Ask yourself:

  • Do your heels stay rooted?
  • Can you reach parallel or below?
  • Do your knees track over your toes without collapsing inward?

Limited squat depth often signals tight ankles, hips, quads, or lats. Check out this video for more.

2. Shoulder Overhead Test

Stand tall and raise your arms overhead without arching your lower back.

Look for:

  • Can biceps reach in line with your ears?
  • Do ribs flare up or does your lower back compensate?

This often exposes shoulder, lat, or thoracic spine restrictions. Check out this video for more.

3. Hip Flexor Lunge Test

Get into a lunge position and gently shift forward. See this video demonstration.

Note:

  • Can you feel a stretch in the hip flexor?
  • Is your torso upright or does your pelvis tilt forward?

Tight hip flexors can contribute to low-back discomfort and weak glute engagement.

4. Ankle Dorsiflexion Test

Stand facing a wall. Place your toes about 4 inches away and try to drive your knee forward to touch the wall without your heel lifting. See this video demonstration.

Ask:

  • Can you touch the wall easily?
  • Does one ankle feel tighter?

Good dorsiflexion impacts squatting, running, jumping, and stability.

How to Improve Your Range of Motion

Mobility isn’t just stretching—it’s mobility + stability + consistency.

1. Stretch Daily

Short, frequent stretching beats occasional marathon sessions. Check out these 4 recommendations for squat days!

Try:

  • 5–10 minutes post-workout or before bed
  • Hold stretches for 30–60 seconds
  • Focus on hips, shoulders, lats, calves, chest

2. Add Mobility Drills to Warm-Ups

Prime your joints before loading them.

Examples:

  • Cossack squats → improve hip and groin mobility
  • Thoracic rotations → open upper back for better overhead position
  • Ankle rocks and calf raises → improve squat depth

3. Strengthen End-Range Motion

Own the range you gain.

Add:

  • Tempo squats
  • Pause overhead holds
  • Controlled articular rotations (CARs)

Strength at end range reduces injury risk and improves control.

4. Use Tools (Properly)

Foam rollers, lacrosse balls, bands, PVC pipes—simple tools can unlock a lot.

Use them intentionally:

  • Smash tight tissue
  • Mobilize joints
  • Follow up with active movement so gains stick

5. Be Consistent

Mobility changes come from repetition—not one good session.

Even 3–5 mobility sessions per week can create noticeable difference in weeks.

The Payoff

Improved range of motion means:

  • Better technique
  • Deeper squats
  • Stronger overhead lifts
  • Less pain and restriction
  • More confidence in movement
  • A body that feels good to live in

Your future workouts become safer, stronger, and more enjoyable.

Ready to Move Better? We’d Love to Help.

If you want help assessing mobility or need a plan tailored to your body, our coaches at Delaware Fit Factory are here for you. Whether you’re easing into fitness or chasing PRs, we’ll guide you step-by-step so you can move well, feel good, and get strong.

Small improvements add up fast — start today.

Let’s get you moving like you were built to. 💪

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