| March 16, 2026 |
NatNews |
ISSUE 209 |
MOVEMENT + MOBILITY TO HELP REDUCE TIGHTNESS
|
Kids who play youth soccer typically don’t seem to experience much pain or tightness and are simply able to go about their daily lives after their games with mini Gatorades or juice boxes in hand. A few decades later, and everything changes. One study found that 75 percent of elite distance runners experience musculoskeletal pain of some sort (usually in their legs, obviously) as a result of their chosen fitness activity. Though not everyone is considered an elite athlete, it is certainly not uncommon for common folk to endure similar pains as a result of running or participating in other sports. But ongoing tightness doesn’t mean one needs to stop an activity—it simply means additional measures might need to be taken. Dallas resident Drew Mbiam, an avid and competitive runner who recently ran a 17:24 at the St. Paddy’s Day Dash 5K, said he experiences frequent tightness in his hip flexors. “It reduces mobility and the ability to open my stride up when running,” he said. Thankfully, Mbiam said there is a solution he has found, as he understands the importance of strength training to help minimize and overcome such a tightness issue. “They’re tight because they’re weak and the body is trying to protect itself,” he said. “So, steps include strengthening, stretching, and mobilizing.” Mbiam added that building more strength is also a sustainable method of preventing similar tightness from occurring in the future. “It’s important to be more proactive with movement and mobility,” he said. “Use it to find weakness, and then strengthen it accordingly.” According to Dallas-area Doctor of Chiropractor Ismael Gonzalez, Mbiam is certainly on the right path. Gonzalez has treated a variety of athletes—including elite professionals in the NFL, NBA, FIFA, and USA Taekwondo—and specializes in functional movement, sports injury rehab, and full-body wellness. He said athletes who experience frequent or chronic tightness are often missing consistent strength and mobility programs in their regular routines. |
“These areas are commonly overlooked during training, regardless of the sport,” he said. “Runners, in particular, tend to focus on getting their miles in and sometimes neglect the additional strength and mobility work that helps keep the body healthy and resilient.” Gonzalez said individuals who include working out as part of their normal lifestyles and struggle with chronic tightness can overcome such an issue by incorporating consistent strength training, mobility work, and proper recovery into their routines. “Strength training helps build muscle and tendon resilience so that the body can better handle the physical demands of sport,” he said. “Mobility work improves joint range of motion and movement quality, which reduces unnecessary strain on muscles that often leads to tightness.” Gonzalez added that it is also equally important for individuals to prepare their bodies with proper warmups prior to the activities in which they are participating. He also advises maintaining consistency with such habits on a regular basis, not only when pain or tightness occurs. “When athletes prioritize these supportive components alongside their sport-specific training, they improve durability, reduce chronic tightness, and perform more efficiently,” he said. Gonzalez, who recently spent time providing care to professional football hopefuls at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, said he routinely helps athletes work through tightness by identifying the root causes of the issues, rather than simply treating the symptoms. “Through movement assessments, I look for mobility restrictions, weaknesses, or imbalances that may be contributing to the issue,” he said. “Treatment may include soft-tissue work, mobility exercises, and targeted strengthening to restore proper movement. The goal is to help athletes move more efficiently, reduce recurring tightness, and perform at their full capacities.” |
DID YOU KNOW?
|
Hummingbirds are the only birds that are able to fly backward (because they have a unique ball-and-socket shoulder joint allowing for 180-degree wing rotation). |
IS CHOREMANCING A GAME-CHANGING DATE IDEA?
|
More recently, some individuals trying to find their lobsters in the dating scene have been bucking the idea of what might have previously been considered more traditional dates and, instead, deciding to be productive while determining if potential partners are compatible. Known as “choremancing,” this new trend promotes accomplishing tasks such as grocery shopping together to learn more about one another while also ensuring that certain necessary adult responsibilities are achieved. Dallas resident Damon Yousefy said he believes that completing chores together has potential to be a quality date, depending on what the chores are. “To me, a date is meant to be relaxing,” he said, “so I would not recommend the chore of yard work, but I would recommend chores like cooking together and doing the cleanup together, accompanied by good music in the kitchen. It can always be a dance party with your partner.” While household chores might be a newer trending date activity for couples still getting to know one another, running errands together is a more familiar concept to Yousefy and one that can prove to be rather enjoyable. “Having someone to go to the grocery store or farmer’s market with can make a tedious task fun,” he said. “I also like the idea of making mall returns together and walking around a mall like NorthPark and getting food together since it combines necessary tasks with air-conditioned walking and many food options in addition to shopping.” Dallas-area resident Alexis Derrow is also a strong proponent of the errands date. She said while she thinks that other chore dates might be a good idea, she would prefer to run errands together rather than tackle at-home chores on the to-do list. She suggested such an activity for the fourth date, though it could possibly be ideal for the third date. “I think it helps you decide if you like the person or the fun stuff you’ve been doing on previous dates,” she said. “Errands force you to evaluate someone on their merits.” Thanks to social media platforms like TikTok, the concept of choremancing has grown. In fact, a recent survey by dating service Arrows revealed that nearly half of the 1,000 singles who participated in the survey (which included Gen Xers, millennials, and Gen Zers) indicated that they prefer choremancing over traditional dates. Derrow said she did not realize that chore dates had become somewhat common in today’s dating scene, though it makes sense to her, as she has been incorporating errand dates for quite some time now. “I get the appeal,” she said. “Your time is valuable, so why spend leisure time with someone who isn’t a sure thing?” Dallas resident Morgan Fritz said she had not previously considered chores as a date option but is likely to add it to her future date activities, as doing so not only helps a person get to know a potential partner but also allows the individual to achieve necessary tasks. “After really thinking about it, I think doing chores together is a great date idea,” she said. “To end your date and have crossed things off your to-do list is a win-win. It’s not like you’re ending your date and coming back to your list of things to do.” |
Dating can be filled with frustrations, and the aforementioned Arrow survey found that 43 percent of single Americans feel burned out by dating—which is one reason Fritz thinks that what was once considered traditional is no longer necessarily the standard for many individuals, particularly those trying to navigate the current dating scene. “I think the dating world is so all over the place right now that chore dates feel like a breath of fresh air,” she said. “Just kidding (kind of). But I think as a society, we are becoming more accepting (broadly) and now allow different kinds of dates.” And though she might try a chore rendezvous sometime soon, Fritz said her ideal date is on the fancier side. “I love dressing up,” she said. “But I think that there is a time and a place for chore dates and even ‘get stuff done’ dates, when you cross off random tasks that have been on your to-do list but aren’t urgent (canceling a subscription, etc.). Maybe ‘life admin dates’ would be a better title.” Yousefy also said he doesn’t classify knocking off chores as an ideal date, as such an evening for him entails being out of the house and making two stops, both within walking distance of one another “Dinner in Bishop Arts followed by a jazz show at Reveler’s Hall or dinner in Lower Greenville followed by gelato on a patio makes for a great evening,” he said. Dates certainly don’t need to be extensive or expensive, especially when they do involve a little bit of choremancing. Derrow said she appreciates conventional dates but also truly enjoys dates that involve errands, church, and volunteering. “I had a great date recently in which we both got dressed up, he picked me up at 4, we ran errands, had dinner at 5, and were home by 8,” she said. “Magical.” And for Derrow, the most important components of successful relationships are quite simple. “Shared values and actually liking to hang out with them,” she said. Yousefy said the essential aspects he seeks in a relationship are communication and a willingness to compromise. “Talking openly about date ideas or other aspects of the relationship and being willing to try new things can lead to memorable experiences and new interests that we may not even know we had—like listening to live jazz, enjoying art shows, or trying a new type of food,” he said. To Fritz, the most important part of a relationship is being able to feel comfortable as she is and not feeling like she has to perform in any way. She noted that a close second is compatibility, followed by similar morals and goals. “But really, I think if you feel like your most natural and truest self, then compatibility as well as morals and goals will likely align,” she said. “So instead of asking “do I like him?” or “does he like me?” I think the better question is “how do I feel when I’m around him?”
WEEKLY PHOTO OP     .jpg)  Fact: Dear reader Laura Hays is the best Pilates instructor |
| Upcoming Events |
Monday, March 16: Stars vs. Mammoth at the American Airlines Center |