What is it all about?
Functional training may seem like a new catch phrase on the rise in the fitness community, but it’s one of the oldest and most common types of training around. Functional training started in the physical rehabilitation field and was created by physical therapists to improve patient recovery after injury or disability. Specific exercises were developed to help patients regain function and return to activities of daily living. Which is why as Biokineticists, it seems only natural that we’d want to offer this type of training to the people in our community
Functional fitness exercises train your muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common movements you might do at home, at work or in sports. While using various muscles in the upper and lower body at the same time, functional fitness exercises also emphasize core stability and if done with an upbeat tempo, can add the benefit of a cardio workout at the same time.
A good example of a functional exercise is a squat because it trains the muscles used when you rise up and down from a chair or pick up low objects. By training your muscles to work the way they do in everyday tasks, you prepare your body to perform well in a variety of common situations.
Exercise tools, such as exercise balls, kettle bells, weights, elastics and steps are often used in functional fitness workouts but equipment is not imperative, a knowledgable trainer is!
What are the benefits of functional fitness training?
As a Biokineticist, we can create and teach functional exercises that use multiple joints and numerous muscles. Instead of only moving the elbows, for example, a functional exercise might involve the elbows, shoulders, spine, hips, knees and ankles. This type of training, properly applied, can make everyday activities easier, reduce your risk of injury and improve your quality of life.
Functional exercise training can be beneficial for all age groups of life, no matter what your needs are for activities of daily living, it is our job to make sure we create a comprehensive program to improve your balance, agility, co –ordination, flexibility and muscle strength.