Functional Exercise Training Will Help With Everyday Tasks
Steven McCune, PT, PES
Procore Physical Therapy P.C.
Whether your goal is to find everyday chores easier, become more physically capable at work, or enhance your athletic ability, something called 'functional training' is here to help.
If your current exercise program is not making your life easier, or if you are disappointed with the results of an old routine, it is time for you to try functional training.
The benefits of traditional exercise programs often do not carry over to everyday life, and may not enable everyday tasks to become easier.
Frustrated with the lack of progress, many of us are inclined to adopt the philosophy that more exercise is better for achieving our goals. More time on the treadmill, or more steps during aerobic class, or more weight on the shoulder press, may not be the answer to your dilemma.
Your use of time and your fitness training could be much more efficient with a change to what is known as 'functional training.'
Functional training is when exercises simulate everyday tasks in life, which will strengthen your body and render these tasks easier.
The goal of functional training is to become better conditioned to tackle your daily activities.
Daily activities can be different from person to person. For one, they may involve holding a toddler in one arm and lifting a baby carrier with the other. For another it may be the demands of a physical occupation, and for a third it may be daily sport participation.
Functional exercise training should engage the CORE muscles first, and progress to include various movements of the torso and limbs. The CORE refers to the muscles, nerves, and ligaments of the lumbar-pelvic-hip region with the thoracic spine included. Core muscles include the abdominals and lower back muscles.
The exercises used for functional training are designed to include the type of movements that occur during everyday activity.
For example, the arm could move in a diagonal pattern starting from the opposite hip, crossing the body, and raising above the shoulder, thereby engaging many muscles at one time. Advancing this exercise would be to perform it while balancing on one leg.
This is in contrast to older style training where the arm would move up in one straight line with the body supported in a chair or on a bench. This kind of exercise involves far fewer muscles then desired.
Functional training is appropriate and can be geared for all ages. For example, seniors can benefit by doing exercises that will improve their balance and ability to climb stairs. An athlete can use functional training to enhance their sport performance and give them that competitive edge.
Our fitness industry has learned a great deal about exercise, and exercise programs have evolved becoming much more efficient and functional.
With time a premium for most of us, functional training is geared to produce greater and more useful gains in less time.
People of all ages and all fitness levels should take advantage of what we have learned, and make the switch to functional training. The purpose of functional training is to make life's activities and chores safer and easier.
Consult your healthcare professional or trusted fitness trainer for more information, and how functional training will help you.