Originally published August 7 2005
Functional exercises should be incorporated into your workout routine
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Although you may look fit, your body might not be up to the tasks that you ask of it. To combat this problem, incorporate exercises that mimic movements like lifting and stretching.
You bench-pressed more weight than ever before; your "lats" popped with definition on each pull-down; and the muscles in your thighs rippled as you worked the leg press machine.
You may look fit, but chances are you may not be functionally fit.
To move through life more efficiently and with less risk of injury, no matter if you're picking up a toddler, lifting a suitcase into the overhead bin or balancing on a step- ladder, functional exercises that mimic normal movement patterns should be incorporated into every fitness regimen.
"We used to focus on fitness to only improve our muscular or cardiovascular strength, but never really asked ourselves, 'OK, I'm getting fit, but what does it mean to me and how I pursue my life?'" says Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise.
"We now see that by using an integrated approach to exercise and training muscles to work not in isolation but in concert as they do in life, we can make our jobs, recreation and normal, mundane chores easier and less stressful on our bodies."
It demands that you're physically fit to do the job effectively," says Deputy Fire Chief Jon Handley, manager of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department's Wellness Program, which assesses firefighters' fitness, health and nutrition and works with them to make needed improvements.
Functional fitness works multiple muscles on multiple planes, simulating how we use them in real life.
They also improve coordination and balance, prevent strength imbalances and target the stabilizing muscles that we call on many times a day.
Performing several sets of biceps curls while seated at an exercise machine may eventually give you strong and nicely defined upper arms.
At the same time, in either the lunge or one-legged position, the core (abdominal, gluteal and lower back muscles) would get a workout as it's forced to contract and tighten to help you keep your balance.
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