Movement Quality vs Quantity, and rethinking how we view Movement
Early on when people are taught to start thinking about exercise as a tool for longevity, we learn that to feel better, get stronger, or live longer, you simply need to move more. While I’m an advocate for movement quantity and diversity (moving as much, in as many different ways as possible) as a predictor of your health, there’s a deeper truth that most health and fitness conversations miss: It’s not just how much you move that determines your health, it’s also how well you move.
And how well you move can be evaluated at the macro and micro level. This examination of macro and micro movement quality is the foundation of osteopathy and one of the most important concepts a patient can understand if they want to reduce pain, prevent injury, and improve their long-term healthspan.
Movement Is More Than Exercise, it’s Biology in Motion
We tend to think of movement as something we do:
lifting weights
running
stretching
Pilates class
But movement is also happening inside your body at the physiological level.
Movement is:
muscles contracting
joints gliding through range of motion
fascia transmitting force
arteries delivering oxygen to tissues
lymphatics clearing inflammation and biochemical waste products
nerves conducting and coordinating movement
organs shifting with posture and breath
chemical exchange during cellular respiration
We have external markers for how we’re moving on the macro level: our step count, weight we’re lifting, a running split, a Whoop or Oura ring activity score. But we don’t often have immediate feedback on if our circulation is impeded, how well fascial is gliding on muscles are reducing range of motion, if we’re experiencing lymphatic fluid stagnation contributing to edema in our distal extremities, or if joint surfaces are articulating in the way they are intended to. And this certainly isn’t something you’re going to get feedback on from a group fitness class or even a personal trainer has the insight to speak to.
These are the deeper levels of anatomy that influence the way you move, load, and recover. They influence movement quality, and this is where osteopathy can be a useful tool. Osteopathy optimizes the quality so you can build capacity safely, consistently, and with less pain.
How Osteopathy Improves Movement Quality
1. Areas of Restriction
Can be motion tested and palpated at:
joints
fascia
viscera
diaphragm
2. Lines of Force
How load travels through the system. Where movement is being blocked or absorbed and influences weight distribtution, center of gravtiy and force production.
3. Influencing Vectors
Posture, habits, old injuries, repetitive tasks and asymmetries.
4. Movement Mechanics
gait
lifting
breathing
rotation
cranial rhythm
5. Structure–Function Relationships
Assessing the presence of:
pain
swelling
altered strength
impaired circulation
decreased mobility
Why Patients Should Care About Movement Quality
Movement quality determines:
how well you age
how you feel day to day
how much you trust your body
how effectively you can train
how quickly you recover
how much inflammation you carry
your risk of future injury
your long-term independence
And most importantly: Movement quality is the most important predictor of your ability to participate fully in your life.
Strength training, cardio, and mobility work build your body. Osteopathy keeps the system healthy enough to sustain it.
Together, they create a foundation for lifelong movement and healthspan.
Looking for an Osteopath in San Francisco?
If you’re navigating:
persistent pain
recurring discomfort
reduced mobility
stiffness
movement limitations
plateaus in training
or you simply want to optimize your long-term health
Osteopathy can help you move better, feel better, and stay active for longer. I encourage you to book an initial appointment or reach out to learn more about how osteopathy can fit with your needs.
