Functional fitness

The word "functional" is a very common catchphrase these days in the fitness industry. However, there seems to be limited understanding as to what a functional exercise is?

Functional fitness is an attempt to describe physical training that translates directly into athletic performance. Ideally, a functional exercise has a real world counterpart-an activity or action that the exercise directly replicates.

What makes an exercise functional? Perhaps a better question is, "what isn't a functional exercise?"

I will briefly outline exercises that are not functional:

1) Seated anythings: seated shoulder press, seated rows, seated bicep curls, leg press, leg extensions......anything where you sit is not functional.

2) Bench press: Although Bench press is a good exercise, it is not functional. Push-ups are a much more functional chest exercise.

3) Machines: Machines do not replicate funtional movements. They fix the limbs into a prescribed movement pattern that does not reflect the variation of natural movement.

Functional exercises replicate natural actions and primarily involve coordinated full-body movements. The next posts will focus on functional movements.

I will leave you with a video of function in action. Parkour or free-running involves the application of functional movement into a variable and potentially punishing environment. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEeqHj3Nj2c