There’s been a significant rise in the creation and introduction of various training programs thanks to today’s health-aware and body-conscious society. You’ve got dynamic strength training programs, circuit training programs, the traditional aerobic and anaerobic training program, and the one that’s gradually become everyone favorite—the functional training program.
Because of the buzz it’s making in the fitness arena, more and more people want to know; what is functional training, and what does a functional training program entail?
How the Functional Training Program Came to Be
The functional training program actually has its roots in rehabilitation. Physical therapists developed this method to rehabilitate returning soldiers after World War I. The program was designed to help them regain the ability to accomplish daily tasks like walking, sitting, standing, and bending. It basically focused on rebuilding the patient’s core strength and mobility to help them achieve functional independence.
Through the years, it’s been adopted into the fitness industry as supplemental exercises to bigger training circuits, like body building. Functional training, in this context, uses weight-bearing tasks that target muscles in the lower back and abdomen.
Today’s Definition
Simply put, functional training is actual or real world fitness that helps people perform at optimum levels during daily activities or sports-related activities through specific exercises. Generally targeted towards athletes, the use of functional training enhances and stabilizes repetitive movements—like a tennis player practicing his swings.
Contrary to popular belief, the standard of functionality this program enhances is actually based on the clients rather than the generic set. In simpler terms, functional training programs will vary from client to client.
Unfortunately, some functional training is geared more towards athletic exercise. This obviously does not apply to all trainees.
So, What’s crossfit accessories workout routines the Fuss?
Let’s get right into the benefits of subscribing to a functional training program:
1. Improves your posture. Because this training uses multiple muscles at a time, it effectively improves your balance and strength. The smaller muscles are forced to join and operate the larger muscles, especially in the back area.
2. Reduces your risks for injury. Because conventional trainings use exercises that don’t mimic regular body movements, it leaves athletes and regular trainees unused to daily strains. As opposed to this, functional training prepares you for everyday movement to help you cope with stress while simultaneously helping reduce potential injuries that usually occur with regular trainings.
3. Minimizes joint and back pains. Because it’s rooted in rehabilitation, functional training effectively restores your body’s disposition to its earlier and healthier state. This is ideal, especially for those suffering from chronic back and joint pain, as it eases trainees for regular movement once again and relieves the discomforts it usually causes.
Knowing and understanding the training programs you’re interested in is important to help you know which will fit your needs. More so, it’ll help you make an informed decision. While you now know the bare basics of functional training, you definitely need to have a more comprehensive understanding of it before delving into the program. Hence, better call a professional trainer and learn how you can best prepare for the program should you ever try it.