Fitness

The fun in functional training and why it is important by Thordis Berger MD

There is more to life than repetitive movements. Functional training is not only fun but also focuses on movement patterns that have a purpose.

The fun of functional training and why it's important - by Dr. Med. Thordis Berger

Posted on Medical And tagged Medical, Thordis Berger, Functional Training, Functional

There is more to life than repetitive movements. Functional training is not only fun but also focuses on movement patterns that have a purpose.

Human movement functions as a system with various functional areas that act in dependence on each other and decisively influence each other. Everyone has different physical conditions, which are based on both their injury history and their genetics.

Functional is, by definition, means that relate to specific tasks, and functional training focuses on movement patterns that have a purpose. This purpose may be related to getting better at everyday activities — such as walking, carrying groceries, loading the dishwasher without pain or restrictions, or getting in and out of a chair.

For most people, the practical use of functional training is to perform daily activities more comfortably. However, functional training can also be used to prepare for competition in a sport, such as soccer or tennis.

A functional workout is simply a workout that strengthens you in a specific way that translates directly to an activity outside the weight room.

Our bodies aren't just made up of a series of parts — it's perfectly designed and intended for all of these parts to work together. Training that consists of isolated movements creates a stimulus within these parts. In contrast, a more functional movement promotes the use of the whole body at once with a more holistic innervation.

The majority of functional training movements are multi-joint, and a functional training program should include multi-level movements. This means moving forwards and backwards, from side to side, and including rotational movements. Functional training typically consists of compound exercises such as squats, lunges, and deadlifts, movements that coordinate the upper and lower body with areas that are alternately stable, moving, and back again. For this reason, exercises such as lunges are considered functional because they require full body coordination, stability, and strength.

Ideally, the movement principles are implemented from the results of a functional motion screen.

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is an efficient and reliable method for determining strengths and weaknesses in basic movement patterns. It identifies functional disorders, asymmetries, inhibitions or even pain. It also provides results on the person's motor strengths and provides information about which patterns can be easily trained. An obvious advantage of this body screening method is the low expenditure of time and materials in return for detailed information about the functional state of the body.

The FMS consists of a series of movement tests that require both mobility and stability. The movements put test subjects in positions where qualified trainers can identify weaknesses, imbalances, asymmetries and limitations.

It would help if you saw movements and exercises as opportunities to learn about yourself and move forward and improve at a pace that ebbs and flows naturally, not at a pace that is forced. This means that you make progress when you feel your movement quality is high and the ease of movement improves.

In other words, enjoy the trip!

In order to be able to carry out the test quickly and efficiently, it is advisable to perform the exercises in the specified order.