Functional Training Program
What is Functional Strength Training?
Functional strength training refers to workouts that make it easier for a person to perform daily activities. This training prepares the body for everyday activities such as bending, squatting, lifting, loading, pulling, and more.
In most cases, a functional training workout involves multi-joint movement patterns that engage the knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, wrists, or spine. These exercises build strength and improve the range of motions while targeting core strength and stability. Most importantly, these exercises help improve the quality of life and minimize the risk of injury.
How is Functional Training Different From Non-Functional Training?
Non-functional training is mainly bodybuilding type strength training, and it usually focuses on just one group of muscles, which doesn’t provide as many benefits as functional fitness training.
For example, when a person does a bicep curl, the exercise only targets the bicep. However, when a bicep curl includes a reverse lunge, the combination targets the whole body while testing the participant’s balance.
Based on one’s goals, every workout has the potential to be functional in one way or another. All the same, multi-joint and multi-muscle movements often provide the best outcome. This means not all forms of exercise can fit the definition of functional strength training.
Benefits of Functional Strength Training
Before you choose to join a functional training program, you need to know what’s in it for you. Here are the benefits of this form of strength training: