Physical activity and exercise are becoming increasingly important in our society. We like to believe it is the fountain of youth, and it certainly does help us in more ways then one as we age. A topic of interest in the fitness industry is the concept of functional movement. This is one reason most of us exercise on a regular basis. We want to remain functional, and capable, as we get older. To run, jump; take the groceries in the house by the armload effortlessly.
If you walk in to most health clubs and gyms around the nation you will bear witness to trainers working with their clients on Swiss balls, fancy weight machines, and assisted cardiovascular equipment (elliptical, stair climber, ect). It is true that an exercise program should fit the individual, and each persons athletic profile will be different from a 20 year old man to a 50 year old woman. However, irrespective of an individuals’ capability we all have day to day activities which demand us to move our bodies dynamically. Activity such as hiking up a steep incline to bending over to tie up our shoes, to moving a household object are all dynamic activities. In specific exercise terms, performing a seated leg extension does not translate well into to everyday life as well as exercises such as squats, dead lifts, or a single arm clean. While leg extensions provide isolation of one muscle, whole body movements like squats require the use of multiple muscle groups. Exercises like squats are functional since their use translates well into everyday tasks. If we extend this to the cardio realm we find that running outside is far more functional than on a treadmill. Running on ground requires us to propel our bodies ahead and adapt to the surface we are moving on. On a treadmill, the surface is steady and is moving for us where we are not required to propel ourselves forward.
Essentially, you need to be shown exercises that will make your quality of life improve and provide long term benefits. Bent over rows are not easy to teach, but a good trainer will take five to ten minutes to teach this particular skill for a client. The take home message is that your program should make the use of every minute dedicated to exercise since you want to see actual results. Your time would be best spent on exercises that will help you become functionally fit.
