Functional Training
What is Functional Training?
Functional training is an exercise method used to improve daily living movements, sports performance or a specific activity. Its purpose is to increase the functionality of the body, to improve physical features such as strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, endurance, and to be more effective and efficient in sports or daily life activities.
Functional training takes a holistic approach and aims to work different parts of the body together. In this method, instead of focusing on a single muscle group, different muscle groups in the body work together. It is aimed to improve body functions by using exercises and movement patterns similar to movements performed in real life.
Functional training can be performed using various equipment and tools such as weight lifting, balance board, exercise balls, barbell, TRX bands. Exercises involve complex movements involving multiple joints and muscle groups. For example, lower body exercises such as squats, deadlifts, lunges, upper body exercises such as shoulder presses, pull-ups, push-ups can be part of functional training.
What are the Benefits of Functional Training?
Functional training has many benefits. Here are some of the benefits of functional training:
1. Functionality and Performance of Daily Living: Functional training enables to be more effective and efficient in daily life activities. It aims to work the muscles together and to develop natural movement patterns. Thus, you can perform the movements that need to be done in daily life more easily and more effectively.
2. Muscle Balance and Coordination: Functional training works multiple joints and muscle groups to improve muscle balance and coordination. This allows different parts of the body to work together, making movements more balanced and coordinated.
3. Muscle Strength and Stamina: Functional training increases muscle strength and endurance. It works and strengthens the muscles more effectively by using various exercises and movement patterns. It also increases endurance by increasing the continuity and intensity of the exercises.
4. Range of Motion and Flexibility: Functional training allows the body to move more freely by increasing range of motion and improving flexibility. It increases flexibility in the muscle groups being worked and allows the muscles to have a wider range of motion.
5. Body Awareness and Posture: Functional training increases body awareness and improves posture. During the exercises, attention is paid to the posture, balance and alignment of the body. This provides a more correct posture and better body mechanics.
6. Reducing the Risk of Injury: Functional training reduces the risk of injury by strengthening muscles, improving balance and coordination, and using the right body mechanics. It helps prevent injuries by providing balance and increasing stabilization in muscles and joints.
7. Sports Performance: Functional training is an effective method to improve the performance of athletes. It targets the movement patterns and muscle groups they need in their sports, making them stronger, faster and more durable.
8. Metabolism and Fat Burning: Functional training accelerates metabolism by increasing intensity and supports calorie burning. This increases fat burning and helps in weight control.
The benefits of functional training vary from person to person, and better results are achieved when practiced regularly. It is important that the training program is planned individually according to the needs and goals.
