Functional Training: A Great Way To Achieve Balanced Strength And Fitness

Many people realize that resistance training is necessary for a myriad of reasons yet the thought of using hulking barbells or machines turns them off

. Functional training is a great way to experience the benefits of strength training (such as better fitness, more mobility, greater resting metabolic rate, strengthened bones and connective tissues) in an easy and non-threatening way.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've read or heard about at least some of the benefits of resistance training. Resistance training can take many forms - weight training, various body weight exercises, and resistance bands are just a few of the more popular iterations. One of the most effective methods of resistance training, at least as far as benefits for sporting activities and everyday life, is functional training.

Functional training for sports usually involves a mix of activities including compound movement, multi-joint weight lifting, core training, plyometric training, balance work, and other exercises chosen to strengthen the specific muscles and muscle groups used in that sport.

Functional training for fitness enthusiasts and weekend athletes has never been more accessible. A number of better manufacturers are offering well designed, space efficient, easy to use functional training machines that just a few years ago would have looked at home in a sports performance or physical therapy setting.

There is a certain amount of commonality among these better functional training units. For example, all feature a weight stack (often times even 2 weight stacks), fully rotational pulleys, and a large amount of cable travel. The rotational pulleys allow multi-plane, 360 degree movements (think shoulder rotation, core rotation, and sport specific movements for golf, tennis, or baseball). The large amount of cable travel ensures that users will be able to do all movements (as compared to most traditional weight machines which have only a few feet of cable travel before the weight stack top plate reaches the top of the guide rods. Functional trainers have up to 11' or 12' of cable travel).

In addition to rotational pulleys, many units also offer a tremendous degree of adjustability. Some have adjustable pulleys on vertical posts with up to 30 different settings. This high degree of adjustability allows dozens of different functional training movements to be executed.

Regardless of personal goals, whether they be looking better, having more m mobility and endurance for every day activities, improved sports performance, better core strength and balance or what have you, functional training can deliver.

by: Bob Lachniet

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