Functional training is a type of exercise that prepares the body for everyday events, often used in physical therapy to improve specific situations. It can improve balance and coordination but is not a substitute for strength or cardiovascular training.
Functional training is a phrase derived from the field of physical therapy used to describe exercises that prepare the body for everyday events. Many physical therapists train patients during treatments to perform exercises that mimic routine movements. This will generally allow the patient more freedom and decrease the risks associated with injuries, such as falls.
Covering many fields of exercise, functional training is a broad term. Physical therapists generally try to improve specific situations. For example, a physical therapist may use the exercise to train and develop the wrist muscles of a person with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Physical therapists often use specific exercises for functional purposes, such as improving balance, strengthening core muscles, and improving coordination. Although used specifically in the medical field, the phrase is generally used differently by lay people.
In the field of physical fitness, functional training generally refers to simple exercises that burn fat and tone muscles. This workout is usually done using fitness balls, strength bands, and free weights. Plyometric exercises are fast, powerful exercises designed to engage the muscles and are also used in training for functional purposes. Although the same tools are used in physical therapy, the results differ.
Experts disagree on the benefits of functional training. Many experts believe that this type of training increases mobility, balance, coordination, and even stability. Strength training experts, on the other hand, maintain that functional training does not provide enough resistance and therefore should not be substituted for a strength training program. However, many experts agree that functional training could be an effective part of a diverse training program that includes cardiovascular training and strength training.
Cardiovascular exercises are those that supply oxygen to the muscles. Sometimes called aerobic exercise, cardio increases your heart rate, which generally makes your heart healthier. Among its many benefits, aerobic exercise generally decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Strength training exercises generally overload the muscles and spread the muscle fibers apart, allowing them to repair bigger and stronger. Strength training also has numerous benefits, including increasing bone density and lowering cholesterol.
Functional training can improve balance and coordination, but it usually doesn’t raise your pulse rate enough to be as heart-healthy as cardio. Similarly, functional training does not overload the muscles of the body enough to reap the benefits of strength training. For this reason, most professional trainers recommend incorporating functional training into an exercise program that already integrates a balance between strength training and cardiovascular exercise.
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