Make daily activity easy

Nov 14, 2010

FUNCTIONAL fitness and exercise training are commonly used words among fitness professionals. But what do these words mean, and how can you make them work for you? <br>

FUNCTIONAL fitness and exercise training are commonly used words among fitness professionals. But what do these words mean, and how can you make them work for you?

“Functional fitness” is the level of fitness necessary for a person to take care of personal, household, social and daily living needs. It focuses on improving your ability to perform daily living activities, such as walking, lifting, standing and carrying.

This concept is ideal for anyone who has experienced changes in gait, balance, coordination, and in some cases, levels of fatigue and/or reduced strength. The exercise requires more energy for the body to compensate for areas of dysfunction.

The first step should be to teach your body to control or balance its own weight. Start with simple movements, such as one-legged squats and other balance exercises.

Be sure to switch sides during each manoeuvre to promote balance and muscle integration on either side of your body.

Once you can control and balance your own body weight, you can start working with added weights. Put a five-pound dumbbell on a level chair, and do the same one-legged squats, but this time, pick up the dumbbell as you come up.

Next, pick up the same weight from the ground while doing the squat. This challenges your total body integration and teaches the upper body to work with the lower body.

Other popular tools that promote functional exercise are stability balls and the “wobble board,” both of which force you to work your core to keep your body balanced while you’re lifting a weight.

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