What Is Functional Strength Training?

It’s recommended for optimal health that adults work out for at least 30 minutes each day.

Despite this, only 5% of adults get the amount of exercise they need to live a healthy and happy life.

Do you work out regularly? If not, it’s time to start. Functional strength training is one of the best ways to keep in shape and make everyday tasks easier.

Do you want to learn more about functional strength training? Read on to learn what it is and the benefits that come from practicing it.

What Is Functional Training?

Functional training is a term that describes any exercise that helps you to perform life’s everyday activities with ease. The exercises target multiple muscle groups at a time, if not the entire body, leading to a strong core and optimal balance.

Functional training is a great workout to incorporate into your exercise and weight lifting routine in order to reduce your risk of injury both now and as you age.

Examples of Functional Exercises

Now that you have a basic overview of what functional training is let’s talk about some exercises that fall into this category. Many of these exercises can be done at home, but going to a fitness center and getting a personal training session to make sure you have the right form when you begin is a great idea.

Here are some exercises to try:

  • Glute bridges
  • Squats
  • Pushups
  • Lateral lunges
  • Planks
  • Deadlifts
  • Dumbbell rows
  • ​​Goblet squats
  • Romanian deadlifts
  • Burpees

All ten of these exercises are functional moves that are great for people at any fitness level.

However, remember to ask for help from a personal trainer if you’re unfamiliar with any of these exercises and want to be sure that you’re doing them correctly. They can also help you explore other exercises to try and put together a routine that works your entire body efficiently.

Benefits of Functional Training

Because functional training mimics the movements of real-life activities, it helps better equip you for any situation that might come up.

Taking the stairs, running, jumping, bending over, reaching, carrying groceries, and more is made easier and less likely to cause injury when functional training is a regular part of your workout routine.

As you get older, you begin to lose around 5% of your muscle mass every 10 years. Along with this, your balance and agility suffer too. Practicing functional strength training can help you to:

  • Be stronger
  • Become more flexible
  • Maintain agility
  • Build and maintain muscle mass
  • Become less injury-prone

Taking time to work functional training into your routine can have a hugely positive impact on your health.

Start Functional Strength Training Today

This article walked you through what functional strength training is and why exactly it’s so beneficial to begin doing it right away. Whether you’re 15 or 55, functional training can help you to get through the tasks of your day-to-day life with ease and greatly reduce your risk of injury along the way.

If you’re interested in learning more about crafting an effective and personalized workout routine, please don’t hesitate to contact us today for more information.

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