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\u201cHey bro, we\u2019ve been stretching for an hour, can we start lifting now?\u201d \u201cYeah right! We\u2019ve only stretched our quads so far. It\u2019s time for the hammies!\u201d

Conversations like this happen between gym buddies everyday across the iron kingdom, but luckily I\u2019ve never been part of one.

In fact, many people in the gym have noticed I don\u2019t stretch much, and asked what my mobility routine is.

I\u2019ve touted the benefits of a daily short yoga routine, but beyond that, I don\u2019t do any stretching in the gym.

This may be surprising, because over the past decade or so, mobility work has become all the rage for lifestyle bodybuilders, powerlifters, professional athletes, and Crossfitters alike. Some people spend half their time in the gym just preparing to lift.

Why is it so popular? Is it really necessary?

To help explore the benefits of mobility work and find out what it can (and can\u2019t) do, I\u2019ve invited Sam Visnic onto the podcast.

Who is Sam, you ask?

He\u2019s a certified massage therapist, expert on corrective exercise, and the founder of Release Muscle Therapy, where he specializes in helping people become pain-free through movement evaluations, techniques to re-learn proper movement patterns, massage, stretching, and more.

In this episode, Sam and I chat about . . .

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• How do you get started with a mobility routine (and whether you need to)
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• How and why people became obsessive about mobility
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• Finding balance between mobility work and training
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• How mobility can improve nagging aches and pains and why pain might not be caused by lack of range of motion
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• Common pain problems and causes with the squat, deadlift, and bench press
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• How to test your ankle mobility
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• Foam rollers, massage guns, and other gizmos
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• And more . . .
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So, if you want to learn all about mobility work and how you can start nipping aches and pains in the bud, listen to this episode!

Timestamps:

7:05 - What are your thoughts on mobility work?

12:47 - What is your approach and how do you find a balance between gaining muscle and attaining mobility?

38:29 - What are some of the exercises that tend to create the most common problems?

41:38 - How can someone determine their ankle mobility?

45:21 - How about the bench press and its relation to shoulder pain?

47:41 - What are your thoughts on rotator cuff exercises?

56:22 - What are your thoughts on massage guns and foam rollers?

1:09:44 - Where can people find you and your work?

Mentioned on The Show:

Books by Mike Matthews: https://legionathletics.com/products/books/

Sam Visnic\u2019s Website: https://releasemuscletherapy.com/

Sam Visnic\u2019s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/releasemuscletherapy/

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